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No matter how small the detail
Last year, a tremendous team effort resulted in the identification of a previously unidentified homicide victim. For 40 years, she was known to Williamson County investigators, and the nation, only as “Orange Socks.”
She is buried in section ‘M’ of the Oddfellows Cemetery in Georgetown, and now that she has been identified, her simple headstone has been shown a great deal of love and remembrance from those who knew her, and those who care about her simply as a fellow traveler in life.
This month, you have an opportunity to help Sheriff Robert Chody and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office bring even greater dignity to her memory, and help them purchase a formal memorial for Debra’s grave.
HER STORY
On October 31, 1979, a civilian notified police of a body in a concrete ditch on the southbound frontage road at IH-35 near the Walburg exit.
She was nude, except for a pair of orange socks, but was described as a white female in her late 20s, approximately 5’4” and weighing approximately 125 lbs. She had reddish-brown hair and hazel blue eyes. She was wearing a silver, elongated oval ring with a white stone on her right middle finger. Autopsy results showed her cause of death to be asphyxia by manual strangulation and the manner of death was homicide.
Notorious “Confession Killer” Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder, but he couldn’t identify her and later recanted his confession. Ironically, although he confessed to many hundreds of murders, hers was the conviction that put him on death row. His death sentence was commuted to life in prison by Governor George Bush when he recanted.
Sheriff Chody says the recent Netflix documentary series on Lucas further convinced him Lucas was not responsible for Debra’s death and has led his team to look at every case closed after one of Lucas’ confessions. “Every elimination keeps us on a path and gets us a little closer to the truth.”
“FINDING DEBRA”
Thanks to improvements in forensic sketching and the DNA Doe Project, Orange Socks regained her identity as Debra Louise Jackson. The cold case team was already deep into the DNA process when a revised rendering by forensic artist Natalie Murry caught the eye of Jackson’s sister. She came forward and the familial DNA was a match.
WCSO Cold Case Sgt. John Pokorny says, “Now we know who she was, we can treat this like any other murder case. We can visit places she worked or may have been seen, and interview people who knew her.”
TODAY
By the time you read this story, the Sheriff’s Department will have launched their campaign for Ms. Jackson’s headstone in collaboration with a local non-profit organization.
Sheriff Chody says it is important to him and all of his detectives to participate; “We want people to know that we will always be here for you.”
Visit Facebook at Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Cold Cases; and click the donation link to contribute or get information about Debra’s memorial. You can also Like their page to read the latest updates on their cases or submit tips on any of their 14 active cases (photos right).