Murder of Debra Jackson

"Debra Jackson" redirects here. For the nurse, see Debra Jackson (nurse).

Debra Jackson
Undated photograph of Debra Jackson
Born
Debra Louise Jackson

September 23, 1956
Harris County, Texas, U.S.
Disappearedc. 1977
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
StatusIdentified August 6, 2019
DiedOctober 30 or 31, 1979 (aged 23)
Cause of deathMurder by strangulation
Body discoveredGeorgetown, Texas, U.S.
Resting placeOdd Fellows Cemetery, Georgetown, Texas[1]
Other names"Orange Socks"
Known forFormerly unidentified decedent
HeightBetween 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
and 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) (approximate)
Murder of Debra Jackson
LocationGeorgetown, Texas, U.S.
DateOctober 30 or 31, 1979
Attack type
Murder by strangulation, rape
VictimDebra Louise Jackson, aged 23
PerpetratorDisputed
ConvictedHenry Lee Lucas
VerdictGuilty
ConvictionsCapital murder
SentenceDeath; commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole

Debra Louise Jackson (September 23, 1956 – October 30 or 31, 1979),[2] informally known as "Orange Socks" when unidentified, was an American murder victim who went unidentified for nearly 40 years before being identified through a DNA match with her surviving sister in 2019. Her murder is believed to have taken place on October 30 or 31, 1979 in Georgetown, Texas. Her body was found naked except for the pair of orange socks from which the nickname was derived.[3][4][5] She had been strangled and was believed to have died only hours before the discovery.[6][7][8][9]

Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder and was convicted. Although doubts have been raised about his complicity in this crime, Lucas's conviction was not overturned. His death sentence was commuted by Texas governor George W. Bush in 1998, and Lucas died in prison in 2001. Strong evidence exists indicating that Lucas was in Florida when Jackson was murdered.[10][11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference continues was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Garner, Erica (September 3, 2019). "Police looking for info on cold case murder victim with ties to Abilene". KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "Inside the Criminal Mind". Time Life. 2014. p. 21.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference DPS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "One-eyed drifter to die for 'orange socks' killing". AP Online. March 31, 1998. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference doe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference bl was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Michael Graczyk (June 17, 1998). "Orange Socks tombstone simply reads: Unidentified Woman 1979". Abilene Reporter-News. Archived from the original on March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference mystery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference beg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference dri was invoked but never defined (see the help page).