The Crime: Forging a Million-Dollar Will

Donna Herring’s downfall began in 2015 after the death of Matthew Jacobs, a Camden, Arkansas, man who survived the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and received a $1.7 million settlement. Jacobs died in a car crash at age 34, leaving behind a teenage son, Jordan Jacobs. Herring, who had connected Jacobs with her daughter Alex Peterson (his fiancée), orchestrated a scheme to forge his will, diverting nearly all his estate to her daughter instead of his rightful heir, Jordan.

Using her sister Marion Kinley’s debit card, Herring created a fraudulent will on Formswift.com, falsely naming Alex as the primary beneficiary. She then enlisted Marion and her brother-in-law, John Kinley Jr., to sign as witnesses after Jacobs’ death. The forged document was planted in Jacobs’ gun safe, which Herring accessed using a combination provided by her daughter.

Sentencing and Early Release

In November 2019, Herring was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-conspirators received lighter sentences:

• Marion Kinley: 18 months
• John Kinley Jr.: 12 months
• Alex Peterson: 6 months of home confinement.

However, Herring’s prison stint was cut short. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was released after serving just 13 months in 2021, followed by three years of supervised release. During her incarceration, Herring downplayed the experience, stating, “Prison was not anything scary. I played a lot of cards. Read a lot of books.”

Life After Prison: Defiance and Strained Relationships

Since her release, Herring has maintained a defiant stance. She claims to have “paid [her] debt to society” and insists on moving forward, though her relationship with her daughter Alex remains “very strained.” Notably, she frequently visits Matthew Jacobs’ grave, a gesture met with skepticism by locals who still question her involvement in his death (though she was never charged).

Financially, Herring’s life has been turbulent. In 2019, she faced bankruptcy with $101,000 in debts and foreclosure proceedings. Today, she lives a quieter life in Camden, Arkansas, avoiding the public eye but occasionally resurfacing in media, such as her participation in Oxygen’s Southern Fried Lies special.

Unresolved Questions and Community Fallout

While Herring’s legal saga centers on fraud, darker suspicions linger. Jordan Jacobs, who eventually reclaimed most of his father’s estate, still wonders if his father’s death was accidental. “I hope there’s still a chance I could get those answers,” he said in the documentary. The case exposed Camden’s gossip-riddled underbelly, with Herring herself quipping about the town’s “dog s--t dumb” mentality.

Conclusion: A Case of Moral Ambiguity

Donna Herring’s story is a stark reminder of how greed and familial loyalty can collide tragically. Her early release highlights systemic debates about prison overcrowding during the pandemic, while her unrepentant attitude fuels ongoing controversy. As Southern Fried Lies reveals, the truth in Camden remains as murky as the Arkansas backroads—a blend of Southern charm, secrets, and unresolved justice.