Suvechha Sarkar
William B. Embert, affectionately known as Jake, was a dutiful father and a loving brother. However, the life of the 53-year-old came to an abrupt halt in June 2014, when he was found dead in his home in Albany, Georgia. What was initially considered a suicide soon turned out to be a murder. The case is revisited on NBC’s ‘Dateline: Malice,’ which retraces the timeline of the events of that fateful day and how it took almost 12 years for justice to be served. It also features interviews with his family, friends, and the authorities who worked diligently to bring out the truth.
Jake Embert’s Untimely Demise Was Initially Considered a Suicide
On May 12, 1961, Hazel Bernard and LaSelda June Embert were overjoyed to welcome their beloved son, William B. Embert, into their lives. He was lovingly known as Jake and grew up in a supportive household in Wilmington, Delaware. Jake had always been a loving brother to his sisters, Yvonne Magnus, Barbara MacDowell, Joyce Tims, Bonnie Rodriquez, and Carlene Humphreys. He was known among his loved ones as a fun-loving person who always had a smile on his face. After completing his education, Jake followed his desire to serve his country and joined the US Army. Following his discharge, he moved to Albany, Georgia, in 1994, where he joined the Marine Corps Logistics Base as a mechanic.
In adulthood, Jake crossed paths with Betty Sue, and they soon began dating. In his early 20s, they tied the knot, and over the next few years, they welcomed their daughter, Rachel, and son, William, into the world. Unfortunately, the relationship between the pair didn’t work out, and they parted ways around 2010. Just two years later, Jake reportedly opened an account on an online dating site, where he met Susan Marie Embert. Soon, they hit it off, and in December 2012, she moved in with him at his residence on North Hibiscus Road in Albany. In March 2013, Jake and Susan finally got married, but things took a turn when his health began to deteriorate. According to reports, doctors were unable to determine the cause.
Fortunately, by June 2014, his health began to improve, only to change on June 28, 2014. On that fateful day, Susan called 911 and claimed that Jake had shot himself and was bleeding from his head. When paramedics arrived at the scene, they unfortunately found him dead from a gunshot wound to the head. They found a bullet hole in the nearby wall, and the gun was in Jake’s hand. According to law enforcement experts, he had a close-contact wound. Official records state that no autopsy, gun residue test, or any toxicology test was performed on Jake’s remains. Ultimately, the authorities ruled the case a homicide shortly after his death. As per reports, within hours of his untimely demise, Jake’s remains were cremated.
Evidence Uncovered by a Private Investigator Helped Officials Arrest the Killer
When officials questioned Susan at the scene, she claimed that she was in the shower when she heard a bang and allegedly went to check on Jake. According to investigative reports, shortly after his death, Susan discarded the mattress with blood on it in the alley behind Jake’s house. His daughter, Rachel, stated that when their family was unable to find any indication of Jake being tired of his life, they grew suspicious that he may not have died by suicide, which led them to hire a private investigator. As per court records, an expert hired by the investigator noted that the projectile and the positioning of Jake’s remains were inconsistent with suicide. Furthermore, they found that there was a lack of blood spatter on his hand, which didn’t match what would be expected from a close-range gunshot wound, reports say.
When the detective dug deeper, he reportedly found that Susan had lied about being a nurse. Reports suggest that she was previously married several times, and in one instance, one of her exes got a restraining order against her. According to court records, during the 911 call, Susan also claimed that Jake tried to die by suicide because he was allegedly gay. After the court appointed Rachel as executor of Jake’s estate in August 2014, Susan moved all the belongings from the residence and took them with her to Florida, according to reports. Rachel stated that shortly after, she and Will reportedly discovered empty pill bottles in Jake’s house and further recovered a hairbrush with Jake’s hair.
When Jake’s hair was tested, it showed traces of antifreeze and insecticide. According to court records, it led the private investigator to believe that Jake was allegedly poisoned in the months leading up to the murder, since the doctors were unable to determine the cause of his constant sickness. Additional reports indicate that they also found several hundred dollars being transferred from Jake’s bank account to Susan’s. Ultimately, Susan was arrested in Florida in February 2015 and was extradited to Albany. On June 24, 2015, she was indicted on the charges of felony murder, malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, aggravated assault by shooting, and aggravated assault by causing the victim to ingest certain toxic substances.
Susan Embert is Currently Incarcerated at a Georgia Prison Facility
Following Susan’s arrest, she was initially released on bond and placed on house arrest. Her first jury trial began in December 2019, during which the prosecution presented the expert testimony, along with other evidence. They also claimed that Susan staged the crime scene to make it look like a suicide and was allegedly motivated by property and money to commit the murder. On the other hand, the defense insisted that Jake died by suicide. She was ultimately convicted on all charges and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for malice murder. Susan also received 10 years in prison for aggravated assault and 5 years for the firearms charge, to be run consecutively.
Court records specify that another aggravated assault and felony murder charge was merged or vacated. In February 2024, Susan’s convictions were overturned when a judge found that her constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated. In the following May, she was released from prison but was again taken into custody on August 14, 2025, when another judge reportedly found that her right to a speedy trial was not violated. Susan was eventually released on a $75,000 special conditions bond on August 25, 2025.
Susan’s second jury trial began in December 2025, during which the coroner’s testimony included a reference to “antifreeze,” which was ruled prejudicial. Consequently, on December 5, the judge declared a mistrial without prejudice. The third trial of Susan commenced on January 7, 2026, and the jury finally convicted her of the malice murder, aggravated assault, felony murder, and a firearms charge on January 16. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and an additional 5 years in prison on January 28, 2026. As of writing, Susan is serving her sentence at the McRae Women’s Facility in McRae-Helena, Georgia.
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