Jody Johnston was arrested on December 22, 2025, exactly 22 years after her husband Jerry Don Humphrey was found shot dead in their Stafford, Texas home. The 40-year-old victim, who co-owned a vehicle repossession business with Johnston, suffered three gunshot wounds to the head. She faces capital murder charges for allegedly hiring Angel Amescua Jr. or another person for the killing.​
Case Background
Humphrey’s father-in-law discovered the body after Johnston asked him to wake her husband; no signs of forced entry or theft were found. An earlier arrest occurred in 2020 when Amescua, a fired employee, was charged; he pleaded not guilty with a trial set for April 2026. Johnston, now 51, was at work during the discovery, with their children absent.​
Key Evidence
Investigators uncovered four life insurance policies on Humphrey totaling nearly $400,000 with Johnston as beneficiary, despite her claim of only a $100,000 business policy. Witnesses reported Humphrey’s alleged physical abuse, with Johnston saying the marriage’s only exit was “in a body bag.” Amescua’s ex-girlfriend described their close relationship.​
Legal Status
Johnston is held on $750,000 bond and scheduled for court on February 2, 2026. She did not resist arrest, and no attorney statement is available yet. The case stemmed from renewed evidence review with the Fort Bend County DA’s office.​
