Artistic renderings of the victim; images of victim's ring.
Identified...Identified...Identified
Artistic renderings of the victim; images of victim's ring.
Date of Discovery: October 31, 1979
Location of Discovery: Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas
Estimated Date of Death: Hours to 2 days prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by strangulation
Estimated Age: 15-30 years old
Race: White
Sex: Female
Height: 5'8" to 5'10"
Weight: 140 to 160 lbs.
Hair Color: Reddish brown, 10 inches long.
Eye Color: Hazel
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Legs were unshaven. Toenails were unpainted and extremely long. Fingernails were "dirty" and of medium-length, painted reddish-pink. She had a 1/4 inch-long hairline scar under her chin. Thick eyebrows. Healed scars from insect bites were visible on both of legs. Pierced ears. No previous fractures.
Dentals: Available. Her teeth were in very good condition and there was no evidence of dental work or cavities. All virgin teeth, but missing teeth 1 and 16.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Available.
Clothing: A pair of orange socks.
Jewelry: Large, elongated oval-shaped silver ring with an abalone shell or mother of pearl-like stone in the center.
Additional Personal Items: Two matchbooks were found at the scene; one was from a Motel 6, the other from a Holiday Inn in Henryetta, Oklahoma. The only other evidence was determined to be a makeshift sanitary napkin, which was labeled among the evidence as a bloody towel.
The victim was located near Interstate 35 in a culvert 9.4 miles south of the Williamson and Bell County line at 4:30 AM.
Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to the victim's murder in 1982, three years after her death. He informed authorities that he picked her up while she was hitchhiking in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the day before her murder in 1979. He claimed that her name may have been "Judy" or "Joanie." Lucas was convicted of her murder in 1984 and sentenced to death; he recanted his confession shortly thereafter. His death sentence was commuted to life in prison shortly before his execution.
Aside from Lucas' possible involvement in this case, authorities are searching for an anonymous female caller who phoned them on three separate occasions with information regarding this case. The caller claimed that she saw the victim hitchhiking near Georgetown the day of her murder.
In 2019, the DNA Doe Project successfully obtained a sample of the victim's DNA and are working toward identifying her through genetic genealogy.
Nicknamed "Orange Socks," the victim is buried in a grave marked "Unidentified Woman" in Georgetown, Texas.
Agency Name: Williamson County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Natalie Murry
Agency Phone Number: 512-943-1389
Agency E-Mail: natalie.murry(at)wilco.org
Agency Case Number: 79-10-116
Agency Name: Williamson County Department of Justice
Agency Contact Person: Jennifer Giesecke
Agency Phone Number: 512-943-1501 or 512-854-9960
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: PA 79-60
Agency Name: Texas Department Of Public Safety
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 800-346-3243 or 512-424-2810
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: U8904002
NCIC Case Number: U925334164
NamUs Case Number: 8056
NCMEC Case Number: 1213120
NamUs
TXDPS MPCH
Wikipedia
NCMEC
DNA Doe Project
KXAN
Abilene Reporter News Archive
TexNews.com News Archive
America's Most Wanted
Added: Prior to 2001; Last Updated: 7/2/19
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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