Wes Henderson, the CEO behind Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey, has been fired after family members accused him of secretly recording them in a lawsuit that has been sealed. Henderson has denied the allegations .
The company’s board and leadership ended his employment with immediate effect, according to a statement released Saturday morning. Wes Henderson has been fired as CEO of TKC Distilling, the company behind the Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey. The decision followed allegations outlined in a sealed lawsuit , as per WLKY. The company did not share more details about the allegations. They accuse him of invasion of privacy, voyeurism, and possession or viewing of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. Some of the cameras could reportedly live-stream. The family members later handed the cameras and recorded footage to law enforcement. After returning home, they reviewed some of the footage. It also alleges that some footage showed Henderson placing the cameras and positioning them to record views of a bed.
The family members were staying at Henderson’s home near Melbourne, Florida , in June 2025 when they found several hidden cameras, according to the lawsuit. The filing says they removed about 15 hidden cameras and their SD cards. “there are a total of 40 people identified as being captured without their knowledge, according to the filing.
“The company remains committed to addressing the matter with responsibility and to ensuring that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and fairly,” the statement said. “Since these are allegations only before I could issue a notice of suspension, Deputy Henderson stepped away from his position with the Coroner’s office, taking an unpaid leave of absence until further notice,” Pendleton said. Family members of Henderson filed the lawsuit in June in Oldham County, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. A court filing says some underage family members were captured nude on the cameras. It showed intimate acts, as well as images of the family members undressed and using the restroom, according to the filing. The lawsuit says the cameras were hidden in several places, including fire alarms, behind a mirror, inside a fan, a clock, a speaker, a bathroom air vent above the toilet, charging blocks and plug outlet extenders. The filing further says some videos from the SD cards showed sex at the Kentucky Castle, which the lawsuit says is connected to one of Henderson’s business interests.
On Friday afternoon, an attorney for Henderson issued a statement, as per the Herald-Leader .
He is best known as the founder of Angel’s Envy, which was reportedly sold to Bacardi in 2015 for $150 million. He has owned it since 2023. He also launched a new whiskey brand, True Story, with plans for a $92 million distillery nearby. Architects Luckett & Farley, which designed the shelved distillery, says it is owed more than $936,000. Bourbon Hall of Famer Peggy Noe Stevens says her consulting company is owed more than $510,000. In another lawsuit filed in June, GMR Marketing says TKC Distilling owes it more than $120,000.
Kyle Henderson will take over as CEO for both the Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey. Pendleton did not share more details about the allegations or say how long the leave will last. “Wes unequivocally denies the allegations in the lawsuit. It is our understanding that the complaint will be voluntarily dismissed. If that does not happen, he is prepared to vigorously defend himself. Henderson is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. He later bought the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, in Woodford County, a wedding and tourist spot with a hotel and restaurant. Those plans are now on hold. All three lawsuits are still pending.
The board said it will conduct a “full and independent investigation” into the allegations. Henderson is also facing other lawsuits over unpaid debts linked to his distilling and hospitality businesses, according to the Herald-Leader.
