“Unforgotten” seeks answers in the chilling case of Shelley Watkins, where justice was buried beneath silence and influence.
More than thirty years have passed since Shelley Lou Salter Watkins was found murdered. Her case, once front-page news, quietly faded from view. But for those who knew and loved her, the pain never left. Now a new investigative podcast called Unforgotten is bringing national attention back to this East Texas mystery and asking the questions the justice system never answered.
Launched in March 2024, Unforgotten is led by a team of veteran Texas journalists and investigators. The podcast retraces the days surrounding Shelley’s death and explores the powerful forces that may have prevented justice from being served.
The Murder That Shook Corsicana
In September 1993, Shelley Watkins disappeared from her home in Corsicana. Her body was later discovered in the Trinity River, bound and submerged. Early investigations focused on her husband, Jerry Mack Watkins, a well-connected local businessman and the head of Watkins Construction Company.
A grand jury indicted him for her murder. But before the case could go to trial, it was dismissed under suspicious circumstances. The district attorney, E. Ray Andrews, was later accused of soliciting a bribe to drop the charges. Though he was disbarred, no one else was ever held accountable. The case was never reopened.
The indictment vanished, and so did the public urgency. Jerry Watkins walked free, and Shelley’s daughters were left without answers or justice.
Digging Up the Truth
The Unforgotten podcast is more than a true crime series. It is an investigation, a memorial, and a call for justice. Hosted by journalist Dana Robinson, each episode uncovers new leads, forgotten testimony, and voices that were once too afraid to speak.
“We weren’t just asking what happened to Shelley,” Robinson said. “We were asking why so many people let it happen, and why so many chose to stay quiet.”
The podcast features exclusive interviews with former law enforcement, close friends, and individuals from inside the Watkins family circle. It draws a disturbing picture of influence, silence, and a legal system that broke its promise to protect the innocent.
Breaking the Silence in Corsicana
For years, the people of Corsicana lived in the shadow of this case. Watkins Construction held major sway across the city. Many avoided speaking out. But that is starting to change.
The Unforgotten team has received hundreds of tips since the first episode aired. Some came from former residents of Navarro County. Others were from people who had kept quiet for decades. With each new message, a clearer picture emerges of what really happened, and why the truth was never brought to light.
Will There Be Justice After All This Time?
The question remains whether this podcast can push local or state authorities to take action. But one thing is already clear. Unforgotten has reignited public awareness. It has given Shelley’s story a new voice. And it has sparked something powerful.
A community is listening. The silence is cracking. And the people are remembering what was almost erased.
Shelley Lou Salter Watkins deserves more than a cold case file. She deserves truth. She deserves justice.
👉 Help us keep the pressure on. Share Shelley’s story. Demand accountability. Corsicana deserves the truth.
#JusticeForShelley
#UnforgottenPodcast
#BringTruthToCorsicana
