Orange Socks

"Orange Socks"

Born approx. 1949–1964
Status Unidentified for 35 years, 5 months and 27 days
Died 30 or 31 October 1979 (aged 15–30)
Cause of death
 Strangulation
Body discovered
 Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas, United States of America
Other names "Joanie Doe", "Judy Doe", "Georgetown Jane Doe"
Known for Unidentified victim of homicide
Height Between 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
and 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)(approximate)
Weight Between 140 lb (64 kg)
and 160 lb (73 kg)(approximate)

Orange Socks (also known as Joanie Doe, Judy Doe and the Georgetown Jane Doe) is the informal name given to an unidentified female who was murdered on 31 October 1979 in Georgetown, Texas. The body was found naked, except for a pair of orange socks that led to her nickname.[1][2] She had been strangled and was believed to have died hours before the discovery.[3][4][5][6]

Evidence and physical description

Mortuary photographs of the victim

The sexually assaulted, white female was found in a culvert on interstate 35, after being dragged to and thrown over a guardrail.[7][1][2] The cause of death was ruled as strangulation, as a large amount of bruising was visible on her neck. Other bruises were also visible due to the body being dropped from the overpass.[7] The legs were unshaven with a large amount of insect bites. She had very long toenails and the fingernails were painted and a hairline scar was observed beneath the chin, but she had never broken a bone during her life.[7][3][5][6][8] She reportedly suffered from salpingitis, due to previously contracting gonorrhea.[3][4] She had ten inch long brown hair with a reddish tint, hazel eyes and ranged from 15–30 years old; was approximately five feet eight inches to five feet ten inches and weighed 140 to 160 pounds.[3][1][6] Despite two missing teeth, she had a well maintained set of teeth, although her teeth showed little sign of dental care, such as fillings or crowns.[1][9] A silver ring was found on her hand, containing an abalone or mother of pearl stone; her ears were also pierced.[3][8] Also at the scene, a towel, likely used in place of a sanitary napkin, was found along with the body, as if the victim was attempting to control her menstruation without spending money.[7][3] 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.[2][9][7]

Henry Lee Lucas confession

See also: Henry Lee Lucas
Crime scene where the body was found.

In 1982, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder, although there was no physical evidence that he had been involved in the murder, sexual assault and the disposing of the body.[2][5][10] In an interview, he stated that he picked her up in Oklahoma, where they had sex.[11] After asking for sex again while he was driving, he claimed that Orange Socks said "not right now" and attempted to leave his car, which led him to kill her and rape her corpse after her death and then drove her body to Georgetown.[12][7][4][13] Lucas told authorities that the victim had said her name had been Joanie or Judy and even showed officers how he dragged her body over the guardrail when taken to the location where her body was found.[7][3][4][6] One report claims that at the time of Orange Socks' murder, Lucas was working in Florida, whereas the murder took place in Texas.[14] Interrogators also 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.[8][13] In order to have traveled to Oklahoma, to Texas and back to Florida, it was estimated that he would have had to drive at an average of seventy miles an hour, without stopping, which many find unlikely.[11][15] Lucas later recanted this statement after his conviction in 1984 and with involvement of the current 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 a capital punishment consequence.[14] Lucas had confessed to murdering many others that lead others to doubt he was truthful; his confessions totaled up to over six hundred murders.[1][2][6][9][16] Lucas himself recanted his confessions, stating that the only murder he had committed was that of his mother, Viola.[10] After learning that Lucas' sentence was reduced, the mother of Suzanne Bowers told reporters that she was opposed to the decision along with several others, as Lucas had confessed to murdering the twelve-year-old in 1984.[17][10]

Media appearances and further investigation

1990 sketch, created by Karen T. Taylor.[18]

The "Orange Socks" case had been featured twice on America's Most Wanted since the murder took place. Despite the high success rate of arrests the show has led to, the case remains unsolved.[6] An anonymous woman called claiming she had seen Orange Socks hitchhiking the day of her murder, but the lead has not generated any new information.[19]

In 2001, a missing woman's photograph surfaced that resembled Orange Socks. DNA testing, however, did not match. Another report suspects that the victim was another missing woman who had disappeared in the 1970s with her abusive boyfriend.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "'Orange Socks' DPS seeks help in identifying Lucas' victim". The Facts. 19 June 1998. p. 9. Retrieved August 5, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "One-eyed drifter to die for 'orange socks' killing". AP Online. 31 March 1998. Retrieved 15 May 2014.(subscription required)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Case File: 33UFTX". Doenetwork.org. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Joanie Doe: I’m known for my orange socks.". 23 January 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Orange Socks tombstone simply reads: Unidentified Woman 1979.". 17 June 1998. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Vertuno, Jim (31 October 2004). "Identity of 'Orange Socks' remains a mystery". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 "UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 1979". The Paris News. 17 June 1998. p. 15. Retrieved August 6, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lunsford, Lance (28 May 2006). "Drifter's confession to Williamson murder failed to hold up". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Austin, Nancy (1 November 2007). "Halloween: Anniversary of the Dead". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Verhovek, Sam Howe (8 January 1992). "Death-row Inmate May Not Deserve Penalty". Indiana Gazette. p. 4. Retrieved 11 October 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Husain, Michael. "Myth Of A Serial Killer: The Henry Lee Lucas Story." American Justice. Dir. Michael Husain. Prod. Bill Kurtis. A&E. 1997. Television.
  12. ↑ "AG Probing Lucas Confessions". The Paris News. 15 April 1985. p. 1. Retrieved 11 October 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ramsland, Katherine. "Henry Lee Lucas: Prolific Serial Killer or Prolific Liar?". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Lucas Says He Won't Beg for Life". The Paris News. 25 June 1998. p. 13. Retrieved August 6, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Schechter, Harold (30 December 2003). The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers. New York City, New York: Ballantine Books. p. 64. ISBN 0345465660.
  16. ↑ "TEXAS SPARES LIFE OF SERIAL KILLER LUCAS ONLY MURDER EVIDENCE IN `ORANGE SOCKS' CASE IS RECANTED CONFESSION.". Rocky Mountain News. 27 June 1998. Retrieved 15 May 2014.(subscription required)
  17. ↑ Gomez, Gina V. (25 June 1998). "Iles Mother Upset About Lucas Decision". Galveston Daily News. p. 13. Retrieved August 6, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "DPS seeks help in identifying 'Orange Socks'". The Paris News. 19 June 1998. p. 19. Retrieved August 6, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Orange Socks Jane Doe Murder - Texas - 1979". amwfans.com. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.

External links

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