Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and murder. Reader discretion is advised.
An episode of Murder in the Heartland will revolve around the murder of Jessica Dishon and the subsequent conviction of her uncle, Stanley Dishon. A synopsis of the episode, titled “Family or Feud,” reads, “After teenager Jessica Dishon is murdered in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, police must sort through her past relationships, jealous friends, and an old family feud to find the killer.” It will air on ID on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
Stanley Dishon was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the death of his niece, Jessica Dishon. Jessica was last seen leaving for school on September 10, 1999. Later that day, her mother found her red car parked in the driveway. Her mother became suspicious after Jessica’s purse, keys, backpack, and cell phone were all found in the vehicle. Police suggested that Jessica might have willingly run away, but the parents contacted the FBI, Courier-Journal reported.
Despite an investigation, the case went cold. Then, in 2001, authorities charged Jessica Dishon’s neighbor, David Brooks, in the murder. He was acquitted of his charges after a mistrial two years later. However, in 2013, jailhouse informants told police that Stanley Dishon claimed to have killed his niece, Jessica.
At that time, Stanley Dishon was serving time for a conviction of sodomy in 2005. He had also been charged with the sexual abuse of a minor girl and had a history of sexual abuse, per CBS News. Moreover, he reportedly told prison informants that he killed Jessica to make sure she didn’t tell her parents that he was sexually abusing her.
Where is Stanley Dishon now?
According to Kentucky Online Offender Lookup, Stanley Dishon is serving time at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. He reportedly pleaded guilty after he was offered an Alford plea. The acceptance of the plea suggests that the accused didn’t admit guilt but agreed that there was enough proof for the court to find them guilty. WDRB reported that although Stanley is behind bars, he continues to maintain his innocence. He claims that he didn’t kill or harm his niece.
After his brother was named a suspect in the case, Jessica’s father, Mike Dishon, told authorities that Stanley’s behavior had been “overbearing.” He reportedly panicked when authorities got closer to Jessica Dishon’s body. He even vomited after her remains were found. Moreover, he told inmates that he dismembered Jessica’s body before moving it. The police found a foot and several fingers missing from her body.
WHAS reported in 2014 that before Stanley Dishon was convicted, an investigation led to the police finding Jessica Dishon’s bedsheet in a barn close to her home. A matching pillow cover was also found, and her mother told the police they probably belonged to her. Authorities then deduced that the killer might have held Jessica in the barn and tortured her for days before killing her.
“Family or Feud” will air on ID on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
