Updated: 3:00pm
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has a new break in a 40-year-old cold case. Sheriff Robert Chody reports through years of work and a phone call from a possible victim family member, the 1979 Jane Doe found in Williamson County known as Orange Socks has been identified as, then 23-year-old Deborah Jackson of Abilene.
While the victim has been identified, Chody said they don’t have a suspect in mind. But they do have have a few leads to follow up as of where Jackson worked to look into.
Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody is expected to hold a Wednesday afternoon press conference regarding a cold case that is four decades old.
Crucial break in the 40 year old case commonly referred to as “ORANGE SOCKS.” Victim is now positively IDENTIFIED after 4 decades. A press conference is scheduled tomorrow August 7th @ WilCo SO ,2pm. Expect official press release in the morning. No other info until conference. pic.twitter.com/k8fRl39bnP
— Williamson County Sheriff Chody (@SheriffChody) August 7, 2019
In 1979, a woman was found slain along I-35 in Georgetown. Authorities were unable to identify her by name, but because the woman was wearing only a pair of orange socks when her body was discovered, she has come to be known unofficially as “Orange Socks” by investigators.
In 1982, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas actually confessed to killing the woman, but he later recanted that confession in the early 2000s, once again sending investigators back to square one.
Chody is expected to announce the woman’s identity at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.
In 2017, Chody renewed the department’s focus on cold cases, including the high-profile disappearance of Georgetown woman Rachel Cooke in 2002.