The Unforgotten – Bonus Episode: Pardon Our Take
Release Date: August 29, 2024
Podcast by Free Range Productions
Host(s): Carol Dawson, Wes Ferguson
Summary by: Podcast Summarizer
Overview
This special bonus episode of The Unforgotten diverges from typical true-crime investigation to provide a nuanced, personal look at Jake Felt—the former husband of Ashley Watkins (daughter of Shelly and Jerry Mack Watkins, key figures in Season 1’s case). The episode explores Jake’s background, his relationship with Ashley and her family, and the psychological legacies of Shelly Watkins’ unresolved death. Through candid interviews, the hosts and Jake reveal how wealth, grief, and control have shaped multiple generations in this entangled story of love, loss, and resilience.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. A Sports Connection Reveals a Deeper Story
[00:02-01:33]
- The episode opens with a clip from sports talk show “Pardon My Take,” featuring NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford recounting his Highland Park, Dallas days alongside teammate Jake Felt.
- Highlight: Stafford describes Jake as an outstanding athlete and friend. “I'll tell you what. He was eighth grade, you know, this guy was shaving in the eighth grade... hitting bombs. Launching it.” (Matthew Stafford, 00:47)
- Jake’s athletic exploits are contextualized (“Five touchdowns in the state championship game.” -- 01:26), setting up a contrast between his public persona and private reality.
2. Challenging Stereotypes of Privilege
[01:34-03:28]
- Host Wes Ferguson admits he initially stereotyped Jake as a “rich kid from Highland Park.”
- Jake clarifies that, while Highland Park is generally affluent, he grew up middle-class, notably lacking access to luxuries common among his peers:
- “We didn’t have cable TV, we didn’t have a computer... all these things that were just part of these other kids’ everyday lives, you know, were just completely foreign to me.” (Jake Felt, 03:06)
- This background sets up Jake’s ethos of hard work and facing failure.
3. Family Hardship & Life Lessons
[03:28-05:09]
- Jake recounts his mother’s battle with liver cancer and the resulting struggles for his young family.
- He learned “nobody was gonna give me anything. If I was gonna be successful at anything in life, I was gonna have to outwork the guy next to me... even through all of that hard work, it doesn’t mean that you’re still not gonna fail.” (Jake Felt, 04:17 & 04:56)
- Jake gained maturity early on, experiencing both hardship and resilience.
4. Relationships, Parental Approval & Family Dynamics
[05:09-11:58]
- The hosts and Jake examine his early relationship with Ashley, and her parents’ initially cool, even hostile, treatment—especially from Ashley’s mother, Kay.
- Jake reflects on how Ashley struggled with parental approval: “She’s constantly kind of seeking their approval. I think that’s what made me upset at the time... not that long goes by and... they love me. It was like snap of a finger. Things change.” (Jake Felt, 07:33 & 09:01)
- The conversation shifts to control dynamics, suggesting Ashley’s parents—particularly Kay—used emotional withdrawal to wield power, not just over Jake, but more damagingly over Ashley herself.
- “There is a strategic and aggressive attempt to implement control... you are able to keep and stay in power over another person, which in this sense is family, a child...” (Jake Felt, 10:29)
- He describes this as “a very twisted and just dysfunctional and kind of dark reality.” (Jake Felt, 10:53)
5. The Shadow of Shelly Watkins’ Death
[11:58-20:15]
- Ashley’s struggle is linked to her resemblance to her murdered mother, Shelly—a similarity that unsettles her father.
- “She just really does remind me of her mother... I didn’t know what that meant. I still don’t know what that means.” (Jake Felt, 13:00)
- The unresolved trauma and enforced silence in Ashley’s home regarding her mother’s loss created a lifelong psychological burden:
- “Ashley was essentially put in a situation to where she lost her mother, but then was... told we’re not going to talk about it... you only become more curious over time. But you were never given the ability to, you know, mourn that loss... None of those things happened.” (Jake Felt, 18:30 & 19:12)
6. Parallel Lives: The Children of Shelly’s Legacy
[15:51-18:30]
- The podcast draws poignant parallels between the experiences of Ashley and her cousin Courtney—both lost their mothers to the same violence, both shouldered responsibility for their families, and both suffered under the weight of silence and expectation.
- “She [Ashley] felt it as a responsibility to protect her little sister from things that no child should ever be exposed to, much less feel a responsibility to protect—people should have been doing that for her.” (Jake Felt, 17:23)
7. Love, Comfort & Ashley’s Character
[20:15-24:28]
- Jake fondly recalls what drew him to Ashley: mutual comfort, true companionship, unguarded affection.
- “I had never been around somebody that I truly had fun with just because of their presence... I also loved how she loved me at first. I could tell she really loved me...” (Jake Felt, 20:22 & 21:58)
- His favorite memories are quiet, intimate—simply being together after hard weeks.
- “I think some of my favorite memories are... seeing Ashley and literally, like, putting our phones away and... just spending every second, every day with each other...” (Jake Felt, 22:04)
- Friends would describe Ashley as loving, fun, open, and unfiltered in an innocent and endearing way.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Matthew Stafford on Jake’s athletic prowess:
“He was winning MVP, hitting bombs, launching it.” [00:47] -
Jake Felt on his Highland Park upbringing:
“By no means were we poor, but I would consider us middle class. Money was an issue at times.” [03:06] -
On failure as a life lesson:
“Even through all of that hard work, it doesn’t mean that you’re still not gonna fail... it builds the character into you.” [04:56] -
On Ashley's parental struggles:
“They tend to be disinterested and ignore her more than Lane. But at the same time, it’s very apparent that they depend on her to keep everything together.” [14:35] -
On the effect of enforced silence after Shelly’s death:
“It just leaves these questions... you want to know more about her, and you only become more curious over time. But you were never given the ability to, you know, mourn that loss.” [19:12] -
On protecting her sister, Lane:
“She felt it as a responsibility to protect her little sister from things that no child should ever be exposed to...” [17:23]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Matthew Stafford guest clip & Jake’s sports background: [00:13 – 01:33]
- Debunking the Highland Park stereotype: [01:34 – 03:28]
- Jake recounts family hardship & lessons: [03:28 – 05:09]
- Difficulties with Ashley's parents: [05:34 – 11:58]
- Reflections on the Watkins family control dynamics: [10:29 – 11:58]
- Shelly’s death & its effect on Ashley and Lane: [15:51 – 18:30]
- Ashley’s experience with grief and silence: [18:30 – 20:15]
- Jake on love and meaningful moments with Ashley: [20:15 – 22:59]
- Jake and hosts on Ashley’s character: [22:59 – 24:28]
Tone and Overall Feel
The episode is raw, compassionate, and deeply introspective—pulling back the curtain on personal pain rarely revealed in true crime storytelling. Though there is weighty analysis of family dysfunction and trauma, moments of warmth and admiration for Ashley’s strength and kindness shine through, especially in Jake’s recollections. The casual language and emotional honesty create a sense of intimacy between guest, hosts, and listeners.
For listeners seeking depth behind the crime and the people it affected, this bonus episode offers a rare, moving exploration of what it means to love, endure, and heal in the shadows of loss.