A Texas woman has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of her husband — a case authorities describe as a long-running “Christmas Cold Case” that resurfaced with a major break exactly 22 years later.
On Monday, Dec. 22, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Jody Johnston for capital murder in connection with the Dec. 22, 2003, death of her husband, Jerry Don Humphrey, 40, the Stafford Police Department said in a statement.
“After more than two decades, and on the 22nd anniversary of a Christmas Cold Case, detectives have made an arrest in a capital murder investigation,” police said.
Humphrey, who ran a vehicle repossession business with Johnston, his wife of ten years, was found dead in his bedroom with three gunshot wounds to the head, police said, citing details in an arrest warrant affidavit.
Johnston is not the first person accused in the case. On March 24, 2020, Angel Amescua Jr. — a former employee Humphrey had fired — was arrested and charged, police said at the time. He has pleaded not guilty, and online court records show his trial is expected to begin April 7, 2026.
Investigators continued pursuing leads, ultimately leading to Johnston’s arrest, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit alleges that in 2003, Johnston hired “Amescua or other unknown individual” to kill Humphrey “for remuneration or the promise of remuneration,” specifically money allegedly belonging to Johnston.
According to the affidavit, the case began unfolding the afternoon of Dec. 22, 2003, when Johnston’s father, John Dewitt Gray, called 911 at 3:21 p.m. and reported finding Humphrey in bed and not breathing. Gray told investigators he initially believed the home may have been burglarized, and he described Humphrey as someone he generally got along with — while also alleging his son-in-law treated his daughter poorly and physically abused her.
A family friend told investigators that days before Humphrey was killed, Johnston said Humphrey had “beaten her up again,” the affidavit alleges. The friend also reported that Johnston said the only way out of the marriage was “in a body bag,” and that Humphrey had allegedly told her that multiple times.
Investigators also interviewed Amescua’s ex-girlfriend, who told detectives that Amescua and Johnston “were close,” according to the affidavit.
Johnston told authorities she and her husband did not have life insurance policies aside from a $100,000 policy taken out to secure a business loan, the affidavit says. Investigators later discovered four policies listing Johnston as the beneficiary totaling nearly $400,000, the affidavit alleges.
Johnston was ordered held on a $750,000 bond. It is unclear whether she has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf. She is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 2, 2026.
Amescua’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
