Wife Arrested for Husband's Murder 22 Years to the Day

A Christmas Cold Case Comes Full Circle

On a December morning exactly 22 years after her husband was shot dead in his bedroom, Jody Johnston was arrested for capital murder in connection with the Dec. 22, 2003, death of her husband, Jerry Don Humphrey, 40 . The timing wasn't coincidental—investigators deliberately chose the anniversary date, with one officer calling it "a powerful reminder that justice has no expiration date" .

The alleged murder came to light when John Dewitt Gray, Johnston's father, called 911 at 3:21 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2003, to report that he had found Humphrey in bed and not breathing after his daughter asked him to wake him up . Humphrey, who ran a tow truck and repo operation in Stafford, Texas, was shot to death as he slept in his bed. Humphrey, 40, lived with his wife and their two young daughters. He was found dead in his bed by his father-in-law, who lived across the street and had gone to Humphrey's house to wake him up .

The case had remained unsolved for more than two decades, despite extensive investigation and even assistance from the television show "Cold Justice." On March 25, 2020, Angel Amescua was arrested by the Stafford Police Department and charged with Humphrey's murder , but now Johnston herself faces charges as the alleged mastermind.

A Marriage Marked by Violence and Deception

Court documents paint a picture of a troubled relationship fraught with abuse and financial motives. Gray, who said he initially suspected that Humphrey's home may have been burglarized, told a detective that while he got along well with Humphrey, his son-in-law was "really bad to his daughter," explaining that Humphrey allegedly physically abused her . The detective spoke to a family friend who said a few days before Humphrey was killed Johnston told him he had "beaten her up again." She also told him that the only way out of the marriage was in a body bag and that (Humphrey) had told her that multiple times .

The investigation revealed Johnston had been living a double life. The "Cold Justice" team's deep dive into Jody's background reveals that she was "having affairs with two other men" . Even more damaging was the discovery of hidden financial incentives. Johnston told authorities she and her husband had no life insurance policies other than one for $100,000 they had taken out to secure a business loan, according to the affidavit. But then the detective discovered four policies listing her as the beneficiary totaling nearly $400,000 .

Humphrey had allegedly made a comment to a family member that he was "worth more dead than alive" and that "if something happens to me" Jody would be well-off . This prescient observation would prove tragically accurate.

The Alleged Conspiracy Unfolds

According to the arrest affidavit, Johnston employed "Amescua or other unknown individual to murder Jerry Humphrey for remuneration or the promise of remuneration, namely money belonging to Jody Humphrey" . Amescua Jr. was a former employee of the victim. Amescua was allegedly fired by Humphry after accusations surfaced against him that Amescua had allegedly had with an underage teen girl , providing a potential motive for revenge.

The case gained momentum when another witness is unafraid to come forward and tell investigators that he "could have sworn" he saw Amescua near Humphrey's truck on the day of the murder . This eyewitness testimony became crucial evidence linking Amescua to the crime scene.

Johnston was ordered to be held on a $750,000 bond , while officials said the investigation is still pending, Jody is the second person arrested in this case .

Justice Delayed, Not Denied

This case demonstrates how cold cases can suddenly heat up with new evidence and witness cooperation. The involvement of the "Cold Justice" television program helped bring fresh eyes to the investigation, ultimately leading to both arrests. With scant physical evidence to review, the "Cold Justice" team counts on witnesses to fill in the gaps in the long-stalled case. "Hopefully after 17 years they'll be more willing to tell us what they know" .

The timing of Johnston's arrest serves as a stark reminder that serious crimes don't simply fade away with time. For families of victims, cases like this offer hope that justice can prevail even decades later. The collaboration between local law enforcement, television investigators, and the district attorney's office shows how persistent investigation can eventually crack even the most challenging cases.

As this case moves forward through the courts, it will test whether prosecutors can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Johnston orchestrated her husband's murder for financial gain. The combination of witness testimony, insurance fraud, and alleged conspiracy charges creates