Episode Overview
Podcast: The Unforgotten
Episode: 9. Jake (Season 1: The Labor Day Ghost)
Date: August 26, 2024
Hosts: Carol Dawson & Wes Ferguson
Guest: Jake Felt
This emotionally charged episode features a rare and candid interview with Jake Felt, the soon-to-be-ex-husband of Ashley Watkins, the daughter of murder victim Shelly Salter Watkins and Jerry Mack Watkins, the prime suspect in the 1982 killing. Jake steps forward with troubling claims and personal experiences from his thirteen years inside the Watkins family. The episode explores generational trauma, secrets, the destructive long-term impact of Shelly’s unresolved murder, and Jake's growing conviction that Jerry Mack was responsible for her death.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jake’s Personal Background and Relationship to the Case
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Introduction to Jake’s Family Ties
- Jake Felt is an oil and gas entrepreneur from Dallas, married to Ashley Watkins, Shelly’s daughter. They share custody of two boys. (00:48)
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Initial Perceptions of Jerry Mack Watkins
- At first, Jake viewed Jerry as a hard-working, blue-collar man caught in tragic circumstances. Becoming part of the family revealed "who he really is." (02:02)
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Marriage and Integration with the Family
- Jake recounts his early romance with Ashley, their wedding, and the shift from feeling unwelcome to being embraced by the Watkins family—until deeper tensions surfaced. (02:56–07:38)
- Notable Moment: Jerry's lengthy and bizarre wedding speech, suggesting he was under the influence and making inappropriate jokes. (06:15–07:38)
2. Inside the Watkins Family Dynamic
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Superficiality and Control
- Over time, Jake observed Jerry’s gestures of love as methods of control: “Everything was so incredibly superficial...an attempt to control more than anything—new cars, watches, things.” (09:39)
- Jerry’s priorities: “Number one, does it benefit me? Number two, do I want it? That’s the foundation of how Jerry operates.” (08:40)
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Jerry’s Treatment of Kay (Wife After Shelly’s Death)
- Publicly dismissive and verbally humiliating to Kay, often acting as if she weren’t present. (11:31)
- Quote: “He had no problem saying that in front of people that he really didn’t even know… The only reason I don’t leave that bitch is so she doesn’t have any of my money.” (12:19)
- Kay confides in Jake about her fear of returning home—not for her life, but of enduring Jerry’s daily emotional abuse. (13:18)
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Inappropriate and Alarming Behavior by Jerry
- Jerry once nonchalantly compared another woman's figure to his daughter Ashley’s, deeply unsettling Jake. (14:56)
- Jerry allegedly bragged to Jake about an inappropriate sexual relationship (with a person whose identity is withheld), with no sense of remorse—“this guy is capable of anything.” (15:30–16:52)
3. Trauma, Secrecy, and the Silencing of Shelly’s Story
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Ashley's Unprocessed Trauma
- Ashley never received therapy or professional support for her mother’s murder—“that’s criminal within itself.” (20:30)
- Jake suggests the family saw therapy as a threat—in case Ashley might reveal something from her memories that could implicate Jerry. (21:16)
- Shelly was never discussed at home; Ashley grew up with negative perceptions, “as though someone is telling her these things.” (22:00)
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Family and Community Complicity
- Carol and Jake touch on Corsicana’s longstanding silence around the case—privately, many have believed Jerry Mack was the killer, but publicly, very few take a stand. (28:14)
4. Turning Point and Jake’s Moral Stance
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Confrontation with Jerry Over Racist Behavior
- A pivotal moment: Jerry used racist language in Jake’s home, in front of Jake’s children and wife. Jake forcefully ejected him and their relationship never recovered. (24:35)
- Resulted in increased estrangement from the Watkins family and placed strain on Jake’s marriage. (25:53)
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Evolving Conviction of Jerry's Guilt
- As Jake pieced together more information about the timeline, behaviors, false explanations, and the way Ashley and her sister were kept in the dark, he grew convinced Jerry was behind Shelly’s murder.
- Quote: “The most damning evidence against Jerry had nothing to do with the actual evidence… it had to do with me getting to know the man.” (34:23)
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Jake’s Commitment to His Own Children
- Determined to “provide them with the tools to become healthy, educated, thoughtful, loving, and morally sound men,” protected from Jerry’s influence. (34:57)
- He’s candid with his children: “Someday if they want to talk about it, we can talk about it. I want to make sure...I’ll shoot them straight.” (34:20–35:36)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Jerry’s Motivation:
- “Why Jerry does what he does, thinks what he thinks...I think boils down to two things. Number one, does it benefit me and my own self interest? And number two, do I want it?”
— Jake Felt (08:40)
- “Why Jerry does what he does, thinks what he thinks...I think boils down to two things. Number one, does it benefit me and my own self interest? And number two, do I want it?”
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On Jerry’s Callousness:
- “This person has no remorse. The normal aspects of right and wrong and moral foundation that people apply...is not present in this man.”
— Jake Felt (16:41)
- “This person has no remorse. The normal aspects of right and wrong and moral foundation that people apply...is not present in this man.”
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On Family Silence:
- “Shelly was not discussed...over a 13-year period of time. I can’t remember ever hearing Shelly’s name spoken of, at least in the family setting.”
— Jake Felt (22:32)
- “Shelly was not discussed...over a 13-year period of time. I can’t remember ever hearing Shelly’s name spoken of, at least in the family setting.”
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On Ashley’s Unacknowledged Trauma:
- “Ashley never received any professional support…that leaves them in a space where they’re forced to deal with everything…by themselves. To me, that’s criminal within itself.”
— Jake Felt (20:30)
- “Ashley never received any professional support…that leaves them in a space where they’re forced to deal with everything…by themselves. To me, that’s criminal within itself.”
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On Community Complicity:
- “You are making a conscious choice to turn your back on what you know is the right thing, and you’re doing it to fulfill your own self interest and telling yourself otherwise.”
— Jake Felt (29:02)
- “You are making a conscious choice to turn your back on what you know is the right thing, and you’re doing it to fulfill your own self interest and telling yourself otherwise.”
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On Conviction of Jerry’s Guilt:
- “What was damning to me about Jerry was that I knew who he was and I knew that that man was capable of anything…We can’t be certain about anything, but I have absolutely no question that he killed Shelly Watkins.”
— Jake Felt (35:09)
- “What was damning to me about Jerry was that I knew who he was and I knew that that man was capable of anything…We can’t be certain about anything, but I have absolutely no question that he killed Shelly Watkins.”
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:48 — Jake’s personal introduction and family background
- 02:02 — Early perceptions vs. reality of Jerry Mack
- 06:15–07:38 — Jerry’s inappropriate wedding speech
- 09:39 — Control and superficiality in Jerry’s relationships
- 11:31 — Jerry’s treatment of Kay
- 14:56 — Inappropriate comments about Ashley; sexual bragging
- 20:30 — Ashley’s lack of trauma support
- 24:35 — Jake’s confrontation with Jerry over racism
- 28:14 — Corsicana’s silence and moral failure
- 34:23 — Jake’s explanation for his certainty of Jerry’s guilt
- 34:57–35:36 — Jake’s resolve to protect and equip his children
Conclusion
This gripping episode offers an intimate look into the silent ripple effects of an unsolved murder: the generational trauma, pervasive secrecy, and distorted narratives that shape a family for decades. Jake’s story is a rare inside perspective—deeply personal, unflinching in its honesty, and ultimately, a painful reckoning with the man he came to believe murdered his mother-in-law. The episode closes with Jake’s commitment to break the cycle by being honest and present for his own children.
For more information, case files, and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit unforgottenpod.com.