Lady Orange Socks AKA Debra Jackson
After 40 years,"Orange Socks" has been identified Debra Jackson. 23-years-old when she left home in 1977, but her parents never filed a missing person's report because she was known to have left home before.
This year, Jackson's sister called authorities after seeing the newest forensic image of "orange socks" on the news, and believed that she was her missing sister. Photos obtained from Jackson's family were compared with the forensic image, and family confirmed additional physical characteristics matching orange socks. Her identity was further confirmed with assistance from the DNA Doe Project through the process of DNA genealogy with Jackson's relative.
Records show Jackson worked at a hotel in Amarillo in 1978 and an assisted living facility in Azle the same year.
The sheriff's office is now asking for anyone from Abilene, Amarillo, and Azle with information on Jackson's whereabouts between 1977 and 1979, or worked with her, to contact their cold case unit tip line at 512-943-5204.
A female body was found on October 31, 1979 in a culvert on interstate 45 in Georgetown, Texas.
The only thing she was wearing was orange socks.
It is believed that she was to have died only a few hours before the discovery.
She was white and had been sexually assaulted.
She had been dragged to and thrown over a guardrail.
The cause of death was ruled as strangulation, as a large amount of bruising was visible on her neck.
Other bruises were also visible, caused by the body having been dropped from the overpass.
The victim's legs were unshaven with a large number of insect bites.
She had very long toenails.
Her fingernails were painted and a hairline scar was observed beneath the chin.
She had not broken a bone during her life.
She had reportedly suffered from salpingitis, due to previously contracting gonorrhea.
She had long brown hair with a reddish tint, hazel eyes, and her age ranged from 15 to 30 years.
She was approximately five feet eight inches to five feet ten inches tall, and weighed between 140 and 160 pounds.
Two of her teeth were missing.
The rest of her teeth were well-maintained.
A silver ring was found on her hand, containing an abalone or mother of pearl stone and her ears were pierced.
A towel was found at the scene along with the body,
It was likely used in place of a sanitary napkin, as though the victim was attempting to use it as a feminine napkin or tampon.
One of two matchbooks found at the scene belonged to a hotel from Henryetta, Oklahoma, which supported the theory she was a hitchhiker or drifter.
In 1982, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder.
There was no physical evidence that he had been involved in the killing, sexual assault or disposing of the body.
He stated that he picked her up in Oklahoma, where they had sex.
And when he asked her for sex again while he was driving and Orange Socks said "not right now" and attempted to leave his car.
This is when he killed her and raped her corpse.
He then drove her body to Georgetown.
Lucas told authorities that the victim had stated her name as being "Joanie" or "Judy".
He had previously showed officers how he had supposedly dragged her body over the guardrail when taken to the location where her body was found.
Interrogators stated that he had contradicted himself several times when confessing to the murder, and his defense also stated that he was shown images of the crime scene before his interview.
Lucas later recanted this statement after his conviction in 1984 and, by involvement of the then state governor, George W. Bush, his death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, as the death of Orange Socks was the only case that resulted in his receiving a capital punishment.
Lucas confessed to upwards of 3,000 murders.
Lucas himself recanted his confessions, stating that the only murder he had committed was that of his mother, Viola.
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