GUILTY IL- Debra Susan Smith, 19, strangled, found in Lake Moses near Benton, 12 March 1978

[Confederate Sailor]

In the mid to late '70's, Debbie was in my Dad's Sunday School class he taught. She was about 5 or 6 years older than me. She was at our home for the Christmas party. That is the last memory I have about her. I remember because she loved playing the games and telling jokes. She loved to laugh.
We were informed by my uncle that she had been found at Lake Moses by Benton, IL nude with an electrical cord around her neck. She was laying half in and half out of the water. As of today, no one has been charged with the crime. There was one man that was a suspect and was questioned, but was released due to lack of evidence. He was known to frequent the bars along the tracks near the High School. Debbie didn't drink, as far as her friends and family ever knew.
Her mother and father both passed away without ever knowing the truth about who or why their little girl was murdered.

 

[joejs89]

Can you provide Debbie's last name? Which police agency investigated the murder? Thanks.

 

[Laughing]

@Confederate Sailor , can you tell us dates? Is this a recent event? Can you give us an estimate of her birth year?

Thanks, Laughing

(BTW love your screen name, the CSA operated the very first submarine, the Hunley. Human-powered engineering marvel, right there.)

 

[Confederate Sailor]

@Laughing; The agency was the Franklin County, IL Sheriff's Office. I'm not sure about the dates, but I know it was in the mid to late 70's. She would have been born around 1958-59. Her last name was Smith. She was born and raised in Hamilton County, IL. She has a living brother named Dennis, but he doesn't like to discuss this. The city where she was found near was Benton, IL.

 

[Laughing]

March, 1978:

Clipping from Southern Illinoisan - Newspapers.com

Consider clicking Report in your initial post and asking a Moderator to add date & location to the thread title.

 

[Confederate Sailor]

Thank you. I didn't know that site existed.

 

[Sillybilly]

Benton man get "natural life" sentence in Debbie's death

 

[Sillybilly]

Autopsy shows slaying victim was raped

 

[GraceG]

Her convicted murderer is still alive and in the Stateville Correctional Facility in Illinois. I'm glad justice was served. It won't bring her back but it's better than a cold case. David W. Summers | Stateville Correctional Center | Illinois Inmates & Offenders

 

[Confederate Sailor]

GraceG, thank you for finding that. Now I feel better. Neither my family or I ever knew that. I feel better now. Thank you very much for your assistance. Thank you to everyone that assisted in my search for the truth.