Texas
A serial killer said he killed a woman in Texas. Four decades later her remains have been identified.
More than four decades since law enforcement found the remains of a young woman on the side of a Texas highway, her remains have been identified, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office announced at a news conference on Thursday.
The woman was found in Elgin, Texas, when law enforcement was driving by. She was wearing a white shirt with red neck trim and dark blue jeans, according to DNA Solves, which helps crowdfund identification investigations.
Her name was Kathy Ann Smith. She was just 22 years old, almost 23, at the time of her murder, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators at the time had no leads on who she was or who killed her.
In 1984, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas –who confessed to killing hundreds of people, although only three were confirmed– claimed responsibility for Smith’s death. But local officials still didn’t know the identity of the woman they had found.
Lucas recanted some of his confessions, but didn’t recant this particular case, the sheriff said at the news conference. “I know Henry Lee was capable of committing murder,” said Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook, but couldn’t definitely say he was responsible for this particular crime. However, Lucas was listed in the investigation files, and still remains the only suspect, the sheriff said.
The grave was exhumed in 2019 to collect DNA samples after Sergeant James Miller began examining the case, the sheriff’s office said. There was not enough information to produce a DNA profile at that time. In 2022, another exhumation was conducted, the sheriff’s office said, and enough DNA existed for a lab to identify the remains through forensic genealogy.
The lab built a profile and provided law enforcement with a name in April 2023. “The problem was she was adopted,” Cook said at the news conference. Law enforcement had to get court permission to get access to the adopted family’s information so they could notify both families of what happened to the victim, before they notified the public.
The sheriff’s office worked the case “to give closure to the family,” they said.
Last week would have been Smith’s 67th birthday, the sheriff’s office. Smith left behind a daughter, who asked not to be identified, the sheriff’s office said. “The daughter now knows what happened to her mother,” Cook said.
Texas
Texas Land Commissioner Buckingham redraws Texas-Oklahoma border to ensure safe water for 2 million Texans
The Texas Land Commissioner announced the Red River Boundary Commission has redrawn the Texas-Oklahoma boundary in order to ensure safe water for more than 2 million Texans.
The redraw will secure and make available approximately 30% of the drinking water supply for the surrounding area.
“As Texas Land Commissioner, it is my honor to work on behalf of all Texans and bring solutions to the table to benefit our great state. This redrawn boundary line will ensure that millions of north Texans’ water comes from a secure source in Texas,” said Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
“I am proud of the GLO’s surveying team for playing such a significant role in settling this boundary issue by using their mapping skills and expertise. Surveying has been a vital part of the GLO since the establishment of this agency in 1836.”
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A Texas flag is on the back of a police motorcycle outside the funeral for Dallas police Sergeant Michael Smith at Watermark Community Church, Thursday, July 14, 2016, in Dallas. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
In a press release regarding the move, it was explained that the shift was prompted due to a discovery in 2009 of a pump station that was required to stop operation to prohibit further introduction of Zebra mussels in Texas.
The mussels are believed to have negative impacts due to power plants spending millions removing them from clogged water intakes.
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Raw fresh seafood cocktail close up with mussels, clams, vongole, prawns and shrimp. (iStock)
It was during this pause in operation that a question arose regarding where the pump station was located. If the pump was in Oklahoma, operating it could violate federal law prohibiting the interstate transport of zebra mussels.
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“It was determined that the pump station that provides drinking water to certain parts of north Texas was inadvertently built straddling the state lines of Texas and Oklahoma,” it said.
“On October 30, 2024, the Red River Boundary Commission, composed of Texas and Oklahoma commissions, executed the Amended and Restated Texoma Area Boundary Agreement to correct the boundary issue and ensure the pump station is located wholly in Texas,” according to the statement.
The Texas Rangers spring training schedule is set with the club announcing game times on Thursday.
The entire schedule is below.
The Rangers play 33 spring training games in 2025, including 31 Cactus League games in Arizona and two exhibition against the Kansas City Royals on March 24-25 at Globe Life field.
The Rangers spring schedule starts against the Royals at Surprise Stadium, the complex the club’s share, on Feb. 21.
Individual game tickets go on sale online at texasrangers.com on Tuesday. In person ticket sales will be available at the Surprise Stadium box office beginning Jan. 25. For more information on 2025 season and individual game tickets call 623-222-2222 or visit surprisestadium.com. Ticket information for the two exhibition games at Globe Life field will be announced at a later date.
Texas begins its 23rd spring training at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz., and will play 17 of its 31 Cactus League games in Surprise.
DATE, OPPONENT, SITE, TIME
Feb. 21, Royals, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 22, Giants, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 23, Cubs, Mesa (Sloan Park), 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 24, White Sox, Glendale, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 25, Royals, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 26, Guardians, Goodyear, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 27, Mariners (ss), Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 28, Cubs, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 1, Brewers, Phoenix, 1:10 p.m.
March 2, Diamondbacks, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 3, Royals, Surprise Stadium,1:05 p.m.
March 4, Athletics, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 5, Reds, Goodyear, 1:05 p.m.
March 6, Padres, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
; Dodgers, Glendale, 1:05 p.m.
March 7, Rockies, Salt River Fields, 6:40 p.m.
March 8, Royals (ss), Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 9, Diamondbacks (ss), Salt River Fields, 1:10 p.m.
March 10, Open Date
March 11, Angels, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 12, Reds, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 13, Giants, Scottsdale, 1:05 p.m.
March 14, Rockies, Surprise Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
; Padres, Peoria, 6:40 p.m.
March 15, Athletics (ss), Mesa (Hohokam), 1:05 p.m.
; Giants, (Spring Breakout Game), Scottsdale, TBA.
March 16, White Sox, Surprise Stadium, 1:05 p.m.
March 17, Open Date
March 18, Guardians, Surprise Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
March 19, Mariners, Peoria, 1:10 p.m.
March 20, Rockies, Surprise Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
; Padres, Peoria, 6:40 p.m.
March 21, Angels (ss), Tempe, 12:10 p.m.
March 22, Royals, Surprise Stadium, 12:05 p.m.
March 23, Open Date
March 24, Royals, Globe Life Field, 7:05 p.m. CT
March 25, Royals, Globe Life Field, 1:35 p.m. CT
Rangers home games are in bold; ss-split squad games.
Note: Surprise, Ariz., is one hour behind Texas time (Central time) through March 8 (Mountain time) and two hours behind beginning March 9 (Pacific time).
You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.
Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and X.
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