Kentucky bourbon CEO fired after lawsuit alleges hidden cameras recording family members, minors nude: reports
Kentucky bourbon executive Wes Henderson lost his job earlier this month after family members accused him of using hidden cameras to record relatives and guests at his homes and a castle resort, according to reports.
TKC Distilling, the parent company of The Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey, terminated Henderson as CEO Oct. 3.
Relatives filed the lawsuit against Henderson in Oldham County, Kentucky, in June, according to The Courier Journal, which obtained the now-sealed complaint.
Wes Henderson, Angel's Envy Chief Innovations Officer at the time, attends the Unbridled Eve Gala during the 144th Kentucky Derby at Galt House Hotel & Suites on May 4, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. (Getty Images for Unbridled Eve)
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Now, the Department of Homeland Security is examining hidden recordings Henderson allegedly made, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment.
"Wes unequivocally denies the allegations in the lawsuit," Henderson's attorney said in a statement, according to the Herald-Leader. "It is our understanding that the complaint will be voluntarily dismissed. If that does not happen, he is prepared to vigorously defend himself."
Family members alleged that they discovered concealed cameras during a June 2025 stay at Henderson’s vacation home near Melbourne, Florida. They said they removed about 15 cameras, including devices disguised as fire alarms. They also found cameras hidden in a fan, a clock, a speaker, charging blocks and outlet extenders.
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They also reportedly found a camera hidden in a bathroom air vent and footage showing Henderson positioning a camera in front of a bed.
The complaint described footage of guests changing clothes and using bathrooms while unknowingly being recorded, along with people engaged in sexual acts. Some recordings allegedly showed Henderson, who is married, having sex with other women.
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The complaint also alleged that cameras recorded minors while they were nude. After reviewing some of the recordings, family members turned the evidence over to authorities.
According to the lawsuit, Henderson's wife later gave relatives permission to search the couple's Oldham County home, where additional hidden cameras had been installed.
Other memory cards allegedly held footage recorded at The Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky, owned by Henderson.
Kentucky Castle in Lexington, Kentucky. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The lawsuit reportedly identified 40 people who appeared in the recordings without their knowledge or consent, including an alleged homeless person carrying what appeared to be a medical device into a restroom.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for pain and suffering and medical expenses. They have requested a jury trial, according to the Courier Journal.
Charity Bird, an attorney for TKC Distilling, told Fox News Digital the company is not a party to the lawsuit, and that Henderson's son, Kyle Henderson, will take over as CEO of The Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey.
"The Board and leadership of TKC Distilling, the parent company of The Kentucky Castle and True Story Whiskey, have terminated the employment of CEO Wes Henderson, effective immediately, in light of allegations outlined in a recently filed lawsuit," Bird said in an emailed statement.
Henderson's attorney denied the allegations in a statement to the Herald-Leader. The attorney said Henderson expected the plaintiffs to drop the case, but would fight the allegations if they continued to pursue it.
Wes Henderson attends the 145th Kentucky Derby Unbridled Eve Gala at The Galt House Hotel & Suites Grand Ballroom in Louisville, Ky., on May 3, 2019. (Getty Images for Unbridled Eve)
Separately, TKC Distilling and related businesses have faced lawsuits over allegedly unpaid architectural and consulting bills.
Henderson, a former firefighter, recently took a leave of absence as the Oldham County deputy coroner, Oldham County Coroner David Pendleton told the Courier Journal.
Meanwhile, the exact location of the recordings and devices remains unclear.
The Brevard County Sheriff's Office in Florida and the Oldham County Police Department in Kentucky did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment on whether they have taken possession of the evidence.
Versailles Police Chief Rob Young told Fox News Digital that his department is "not involved in the investigation."
"We don't know anything about it," Young said.
Bird said that TKC Distilling’s board plans to "conduct a full and independent investigation into the allegations."
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"The company remains committed to addressing the matter responsibly and to ensuring that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and fairly."
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