Wife Arrested for Husband's Murder 22 Years After Texas Cold Case Shooting

Cold Case Breakthrough on Anniversary

On the exact 22nd anniversary of Jerry Don Humphrey's death, Stafford Police arrested Jody Johnston (Humphrey) on a warrant Monday and charged her with capital murder in connection to the death of her husband . The timing was no coincidence – "Making an arrest on the 22nd anniversary of this crime serves as a powerful reminder that justice has no expiration date," said Lt. Luciano Lopez .

Jerry Don Humphrey was found dead on Dec. 22, 2003, shot dead in his bedroom . Humphrey, who ran a tow truck and repo operation in Stafford, Texas, was shot to death as he slept in his bed . 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 .

Troubled Marriage and Multiple Suspects

The investigation revealed a complex web of potential motives. Jerry and his wife, Jody, had a troubled marriage to the point that Jody had even accused Jerry of abuse. She never filed a police report . Even more telling, 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 .

The case gained renewed attention when the TV show "Cold Justice" investigated in 2021. The "Cold Justice" team's deep dive into Jody's background revealed that she was "having affairs with two other men," says Siegler . Additionally, "My brother came to me and told me a significant amount of money was missing," she claims. Jan and Jody were the ones who did the company books for the cash-based towing business .

Previous Arrest and New Evidence

In 2020, Stafford police arrested Angel Amescua, Jr., a former employee of Humphrey, for Humphrey's murder . He is expected to go to trial on April 7, 2026 . The arrest came after the strongest evidence, including the eyewitness account of Amescua being at the Humphrey home on the day of the murder, makes him the focus .

Stafford police report an extensive review of evidence and investigation efforts by the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office, which helped Stafford police make the arrest of Johnston . Johnston was booked at Fort Bend County jail without incident .

Justice After Two Decades

The arrest brings some closure to a family that has waited over two decades for answers. The victim's sister, Rita Humphrey, has been actively trying to help authorities move forward in the case. In a Facebook post she provided names and contact numbers for investigators in an attempt to make progress. She noted: "My brother was killed in his home dec 22, 2003" .

While the investigation continues, this arrest demonstrates that cold cases can still find resolution even after decades. The combination of new investigative techniques, fresh eyes from television producers, and persistent family advocacy has breathed new life into what seemed like an unsolvable case. As both suspects now face the legal system, the Humphrey family may finally get the answers they've sought for more than twenty years.