FROM THE VAULT: The Murder of Jessica Wilkerson

Originally published on our Patreon on 6/22/26. We usually wouldn't release episodes so recent from the vault, but this was a very special one! This week, Mogab is telling the story! We're heading to the heart of Kentucky horse country for a case involving wealth, power, and murder. Seventeen-year-old Jessica Whitaker seemed to have it all. The daughter of one of the most prominent families in the Derby world, Jessica was known as a rising equestrian star with a bright future ahead of her. But after attending the Whitakers' annual Spring Soirée, she was found dead near the family pool, the victim of blunt force trauma. Police quickly focused on Daniel Preed, a worker at the Whitaker estate who was seen near the barn on the night of the murder. With an arrest made and the community eager for answers, the case appeared to be closed. But not everyone was convinced. Jessica's friend Emma believes investigators arrested the wrong person. Even her mother—a prosecutor who worked on the case—had serious doubts about Daniel's guilt. When she pushed back against the official narrative, it cost her everything. Determined to uncover the truth, Emma launches her own investigation into the secrets hidden behind the gates of one of Kentucky's most powerful families. What really happened to Jessica Whitaker? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices