Phillip Steven White, a 65-year-old man from Los Angeles, was found dead on May 22, 2018, in his home located in the 3900 block of South Bronson Avenue in Leimert Park. White, along with his mother, Orsie Lee Carter, 79, and his stepfather, William Carter, 83, were discovered by a family member in the bathroom of White’s residence. All three victims had been beaten and shot, and they were pronounced dead at the scene.
White had lived in the same beige Spanish-style home for 40 years and was known in the community as a quiet and kindhearted individual who had once been a high school track star and a former probation officer.
The investigation into the deaths revealed that Nancy Jackson, a 55-year-old woman and a longtime friend of White’s, was implicated in the murders. Jackson had reentered White’s life about six weeks before the killings and had been allowed to move in temporarily. She had initially planned to move to Las Vegas but later refused to leave. Jackson had also been acting as a caretaker for White, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Police believe that the three victims were killed the night before their bodies were found, after Orsie and William Carter came to visit White.
Jackson was arrested on May 24, 2018, in Culver City, where she was found in her vehicle. She was charged with three counts of murder and was held without bail. The charges included a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which made her eligible for the death penalty or life in state prison without parole. During a press conference, LAPD Capt. Peter Whittingham described Jackson as "pure evil" and emphasized the callousness of her actions. The case against Jackson was supported by ballistic and other forensic evidence.
The victims' family sought justice for the brutal killings, expressing their grief and shock over the loss of their loved ones. Phillip White was remembered by friends and neighbors as a protective and generous individual who had galvanized his community to form a neighborhood watch group. His tragic death, along with that of his mother and stepfather, left a deep impact on those who knew them. Jackson's trial was set to proceed, with a decision on whether to seek capital punishment to be made at a later date.
