The Unforgotten – Episode 16: "Linking the Chains"

Podcast: The Unforgotten
Producers: Free Range Productions
Hosts: Wes Ferguson & Carol Dawson
Date: June 30, 2025
Season: 1 Bonus Episode – "The Labor Day Ghost"

Episode Overview

This bonus episode revisits unresolved threads in the 1993 disappearance and murder of Shelly Salter Watkins, a young mother found dead in the Trinity River, Texas. Hosts Carol Dawson and Wes Ferguson uncover new stories and witness accounts related to the chains used to weight Shelly’s body, providing potentially pivotal details that could move the case forward. This episode focuses on two testimonial threads—one a deathbed confession, the other a firsthand account—both brought to light as the community becomes more willing to share long-withheld information.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Community Testimony

• Carol reflects on the phenomenon of people coming forward after hearing the podcast:
  “It's just interesting to see how brave people are getting and also how for so many people listening to what we have had to share, all of a sudden the penny drops and they realize that there is something that they know that they hadn't realized the full importance of before.” (00:17 – Carol)

2. The Deathbed Confession – Richard’s Story

• Carol recounts a testimonial given to her in confidence:
  • Richard, a truck driver for Watkins Construction, discovered all the chains missing from his 18-wheeler on the morning after Shelly vanished (01:20).
  • Upset, Richard accused another driver and then, receiving denials, dropped the matter—but realized the full meaning when Shelly’s body was found weighted by chains in the river.
  • Richard was a private man, reluctant to raise suspicions about his employers (the Watkins), and kept silent for years.
  • During his terminal illness, Richard told his son and others about the suspicious chain theft as a deathbed confession (05:38).
  • “One of the things that he confessed on his deathbed was the story about his missing chain ... he had realized what it meant that the chain was missing after Shelly's body was found, but that he had never told anybody and he did not want to suffer repercussions.” (06:33 – Carol)
  • Carol notes that deathbed confessions are not considered hearsay in court but can be direct testimony (06:55).

3. The Police Connection and Second Chain Story

• Former police officer Lemoyne Lohan, previously interviewed in the podcast, unknowingly adds another crucial piece (07:50).
  • In 2009, while working as a courier alongside Luther Palos (brother of a Watkins associate), Lemoyne inquires about Shelly’s murder.
  • Luther recounts that, on the night Shelly vanished, he was awoken by Carmack Watkins (founder of Watkins Construction) and told to collect a chain from the shop and “dispose of it” immediately (17:44).
  • “Carmack called me in the middle of the night. I was in bed asleep, and he woke me up, and he told me, you need to go down to the shop right now. And when you go in the door over in the corner to the right, there's some chain. You need to get that chain and go dispose of it.” (17:37 – Carol relaying Luther’s account)
  • When asked what he did, Luther replied:
    “Well, I went and got the chain, and I did what I was told, but I didn't know what it was about.” (18:41 – Luther via Carol)
  • Lemoyne regrets not pressing for details on how the chain was disposed of and notes there are rumors about its being dumped in a ranch tank (pond), but nothing is substantiated (18:51).

4. Intertwined Business and Police Relationships

• Carol provides context on the intertwined relationships between the Watkins family, police officials, and the business community:
  • Lewis Palos, police sergeant and close friend of Jerry Mack Watkins, lived on Watkins property and operated a business (Lewis Palos Enterprises) with Jerry Mack (10:17–15:25).
  • These business ventures leveraged minority-owned business tax benefits but have not been proven or accused of wrongdoing; the observations are based on opinions from others (13:32–13:52).
  • The familial, business, and police ties intensified the complications and possible cover-ups surrounding the case.

5. Theories on the Chain’s Role and Evidence Handling

• Wes and Carol attempt to synthesize the two chain stories:
  • Richard’s missing truck chain and Luther’s call to dispose of chain are believed to be two parts of the same chain—one used to weight Shelly’s body, another to be disposed of to prevent discovery (21:24–22:49).
  • The visibility and distinctiveness of the chain were key to the discovery of Shelly’s body:
    “The fisherman that we spoke to ... commented on how distinctive that chain was when it was the first thing they saw shining in the sun as they were boating down the river.” (23:11 – Wes)
  • Carol is careful to state these are theories based on witness testimony and cannot be treated as certain facts (24:01).

6. Legal and Investigative Follow-Through

• All new information has been shared with law enforcement, and the hosts reiterate their commitment to confidentiality and thorough investigation (24:45–25:30).
• Carol encourages anyone with knowledge about the chain or related rumors to come forward (25:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On witness courage:
  “It's extraordinary to me how these pieces start fitting together.” (01:20 – Carol)
• On deathbed confessions:
  “Deathbed confessions are not considered hearsay in court. They are actually admissible in court as direct testimony.” (06:47 – Carol)
• Connecting the chains:
  “Wait a minute. I now have two chain stories, and they happen to connect with each other, and they happen to be from people who heard the stories from the people directly involved...” (20:20 – Carol)
• On chain disposal and cover-up:
  “...the implication would be that it was possibly the leftover chain from what was taken from Richard’s truck and used to weight Shelly down. Because if those two pieces of chain were ever put together, it would become clear that they were from the same amount of chain.” (22:13 – Carol)
• Wordplay and closure:
  “...just another link in the chain of this, you know, story that we've been putting together for so long.” (25:48 – Wes)
  “Don’t you love it when a metaphor becomes literal?” (26:21 – Carol)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:17 – Listeners’ growing willingness to share new information
• 01:20–07:05 – Richard’s story and the weight of deathbed confessions
• 07:50–15:25 – Insights from Lemoyne Lohan and the Palos/Watkins connections
• 17:08–19:54 – Luther Palos’ late-night chain disposal account
• 21:24–22:49 – Theorizing the chain connection and its importance as evidence
• 24:45 – Assurance that stories have been shared with law enforcement
• 25:30 – Call to action for others to come forward
• 25:48 – "Another link in the chain" wordplay and reflection

Conclusion

This episode unearths long-hidden accounts surrounding the disposal of the chains, potentially linking key community members to Shelly Watkins’ murder and possible cover-up efforts. By weaving new witness statements into existing facts, hosts Carol Dawson and Wes Ferguson demonstrate the evolving nature of cold case investigations, the importance of community testimony, and the intricacies of small-town interconnections. The message to listeners is clear: every piece of information matters, and the pursuit of truth in Shelly Watkins’ case continues.

To share information or contact the hosts:

• unforgottenpod.com
• Facebook Messenger (Unforgotten Podcast)

“We will just keep on keeping on, as my mama used to say.” (26:46 – Carol)