DNA breakthrough in 1993 Shelley Watkins murder case

New DNA evidence has provided a potential breakthrough in the 33-year-old unsolved murder of Shelley Watkins. Watkins, a mother of two, disappeared in Corsicana, Texas, in September 1993. Her body was later recovered from the Trinity River, wrapped in plastic and weighted down with cinder blocks.

While her husband, Jerry Mack Watkins, was previously charged, the case against him was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. The investigation was further complicated by a corruption scandal involving the local prosecutor at the time.

Following investigative work by podcasters Carol Dawson and Wes Ferguson on the ‘The Unforgotten – Labor Day Ghost’ podcast, law enforcement agencies have re-engaged with the case. Forensic testing conducted on items recovered from the scene has successfully identified a DNA profile from an unknown male that does not match any members of the Watkins family. Three different law enforcement agencies are now involved in the investigation.