Betty Williams, Mack Herring: ‘A Crime To Remember’ Revisits 1961 Pond Murder Of Odessa, Texas, Teen On Investigation Discovery
Betty Williams, the Odessa, Texas, teenager whose dead body was found in a stock pond over 50 years ago, is the subject of the next documentary episode of A Crime To Remember. Investigation Discovery (ID) has been bringing you the most riveting cases that capture viewers’ attention. The shocking murder of Betty Williams, also known as Elizabeth Jean Williams, will be discussed by book experts, historians, family members, and others who remember this unforgettable case. Her killer, Mack Herring, was a schoolmate and former boyfriend who shot and killed Betty Williams because she asked him to do it. A Texas jury found him temporarily insane, according to 1962’s the Victoria Advocate.
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The case, which happened back in the early 1960s, has not received a lot of attention from producers of crime documentaries. That is sure to change after the next episode of A Crime To Remember, entitled “Bye, Bye, Betty,” airs on the Investigation Discovery channel. In truth, the people of Odessa, Texas, have never forgotten the case. In fact, it is part of the local legend there, since many claim the ghost of Betty Williams still haunts Odessa High School. The case is often referred to as ‘The Ghost of OHS,’ ”The Kiss and Kill Murder Case,’ and ‘The Curse of Betty.’
Experts on ID’s A Crime To Remember will retell how Elizabeth Jean Williams’ murder made newspaper headlines in March, 1961, after her her body was found in a stock pond on Waddell Ranch, just East of Kermit. Her parents had reported her missing after she missed breakfast and failed to show up for classes at school. An interview with a few of her classmates indicated that she had slipped out of her home in the middle of the night to spend time with a male friend. That male friend stated that he brought her back home, where she got into the car with another classmate named John Mack Herring, a popular 17-year-old football player at the high school.
When law enforcement officials spoke to Mack Herring, he admitted that he had killed her—but, at her request. While probing a little further, the boy also revealed to police that Betty Williams had wanted to take her own life but instructed him to do it for her instead. He further stated that after she arrived home, they rode out to the country, where they parked the car and discussed the killing. According to Herring, Betty Williams exited the vehicle with her pajamas and got down on her hands and knees and asked him to pull the trigger. Before, he killed her, Betty gave him a kiss. After she was dead, he wrapped her body up, weighed it down with a heavy object, then dumped it in the stock pond. Detectives say Mack Herring told the chilling account in vivid detail.
Betty Williams’ family didn’t believe a word of it. They say that she was sad at times, but that she would never take her own life. The case shocked the whole community, including school officials, who believed that both kids were nice. Betty Williams was described as a pretty, blue-eyed girl who had an infectious laugh. Her parents described her as sensitive and religious, according to vintage newspaper accounts. Sadly, it seemed that they had no real knowledge of her private life. Some students who went to school with her back in 1961 say that she was somewhat promiscuous. Another classmate described her as snobby. Most would agree that Betty was a girl who was ahead of her time — a free spirit, with a knack for writing.
At the hearing for Mack Herring, Betty’s letter, which was written in her own handwriting, clearly indicated that she wanted to die. Old newspapers, such as the Dallas Morning News, published the contents of the letter. In recent years, the Texas Monthly also published its contents.
“I want everyone to know that what I’m about to do in no way implicates anyone else. I say this to make sure that no blame falls on anyone other than myself. I have depressing problems that concern, for the most part, myself. I’m waging a war within myself, a war to find the true me and I fear that I am losing the battle. So rather than admit defeat I’m going to beat a quick retreat into the no man’s land of death. As I have only the will and not the fortitude necessary, a friend of mine, seeing how great is my torment, has graciously consented to look after the details. His name is Mack Herring and I pray that he will not have to suffer for what he is doing for my sake. I take upon myself all blame, for there it lies, on me alone!—-Betty Williams.”
Another compelling read on the case is the book by Shelton Williams, a family member of Betty Williams. His book, Washed In The Blood, is an amazing read, which captures the spirit of 1960s Odessa. Shelton Williams discusses the case in the video below with Odessa After Dark.
Many wonder what ever happened to Mack Herring after the infamous hearing. According to research performed by the Texas Monthly, he continued to live a quiet life in Odessa, but he lost the good looks that had made him so popular and well-liked from decades before. Believe us when we tell you that you won’t want to miss this next episode of A Crime To Remember. It will be on this Tuesday night at 10 p.m./9 p.m. central on Investigation Discovery. Last week, the Nellie May Madison, Eric Madison murder story was told on ID’s A Crime To Remember.
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