Elizabeth "Libby" Wolcott, a 17-year-old girl from Georgetown, Texas, tragically lost her life on August 5, 1967. She was the daughter of Gordon Bloomfield Wolcott and Elizabeth G. Williams Wolcott. Libby was murdered along with her parents in their home by her 15-year-old brother, James Gordon Wolcott, who later became known as James St. James.
The murders took place on the night of August 4, 1967.
James Wolcott, who had been using airplane glue and plastic bags for huffing, decided to commit the murders with a .22-caliber rifle. He first shot his father, Gordon Wolcott, in the living room, then went to his sister Libby's bedroom and shot her in the chest and face. Hearing the gunfire, their mother, Elizabeth, screamed from her bedroom, and James shot her three times, twice in the head and once in the chest.
After committing the murders, James hid the rifle in the attic crawlspace and fled the house. He flagged down a car with three college students, claiming that someone had shot his family. The students took him back to the house, where they found the bodies of his father, mother, and sister. The police and an ambulance were called, and James was arrested at the scene.
James Wolcott was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent six years in a mental institution. After his release, he changed his name to James St. James and eventually became a psychology professor at Millikin University in Illinois. The case shocked the small community of Georgetown and remains a disturbing chapter in its history.
Libby Wolcott's death was a tragic and senseless act that left a lasting impact on her family and the community. Her story is a reminder of the devastating effects of family violence and the complexities of mental health issues.
