Sheila La Rose Jacox, a 17-year-old African American female from Sacramento, California, was one of several victims in a series of murders that occurred between 1986 and 1987. Her body was discovered on April 22, 1987, and she was later buried at Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum in Sacramento. Sheila Jacox was among the youngest victims in a case that shocked the Sacramento community and drew national attention due to the disturbing pattern and brutality of the crimes.
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investigation into her death was part of a broader probe that ultimately led to the arrest of Morris Solomon Jr., an African American male who worked as a handyman in the Sacramento area. Solomon was later dubbed 'The Sacramento Slayer' due to the nature and number of his crimes. Authorities linked him to the deaths of multiple women, including Sheila Jacox, whose remains were found in or near properties where Solomon had lived or worked. Many of the victims, including the 17-year-old African American female, were discovered in shallow graves, often in backyards.
Solomon was arrested on April 22, 1987, the same day Sheila Jacox's body was found. During the investigation, police uncovered a pattern: the victims were predominantly African American females, many of whom were involved in sex work and had histories of drug use. The bodies showed signs of restraint, and several were partially clothed or nude, suggesting sexual assault. Sheila Jacox, though only 17, was believed to have been targeted in a similar manner.
Following his arrest, Solomon was charged with multiple counts of murder. A jury later convicted him of four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting other women who survived. The court sentenced him to death, and he remained on death row at San Quentin State Prison until his death in 2024.
The case of Sheila Jacox, a 17-year-old African American female, remains one of the most tragic elements of this series of crimes. Her youth and the brutality of her death underscored the vulnerability of marginalized individuals during that time and highlighted systemic issues in how such cases were investigated and prosecuted.
