Deborah Ann Jessie

Summary

True Crime All The Time: "Deborah Ann Jessie"

Episode 481 | Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson | Date: March 19, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson delve into the tragic case of Deborah Ann Jessie, a young mother from Pahokee, Florida, who disappeared in 2013 after seeking protection from her abusive ex-boyfriend, Jammy Washington. The discussion centers around the events leading up to Deborah’s disappearance, the murder of her close friend Crystal Anderson, and the subsequent investigation, trial, and conviction of Washington. The hosts also reflect on the limitations of restraining orders, the impact of domestic violence, and the importance of community support.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Case & Central Figures

• Deborah Ann Jessie: Born March 18, 1990; mother of four; worked at Family Dollar in Pahokee, Florida.
• Crystal Anderson: Deborah’s friend, neighbor, and godmother to her children; described as a pillar of the community.
• Jammy Washington: Deborah’s ex-boyfriend with a lengthy criminal record including violence and sexual offenses.

_“Deborah shared with friends, family, and the authorities that Washington held her against her will inside her home and was violent with her numerous times. She feared for her life...”—Mike Ferguson (10:19)

2. Nature of Crystal Anderson

• Extensive praise from community and family, characterized as selfless and the “community’s godmother, grandmother, and missionary.”
• Chose to return to the less affluent Pahokee to “deal with my people.”

_"She was pure in heart, compassionate, loved animals...a selfless person and she'd always keep you laughing."—Mike Ferguson (04:48)

3. Jammy Washington’s History of Violence

• Criminal record: drug possession, sexual battery, aggravated assault, illegal possession of firearms, and animal cruelty.
• Pattern of domestic abuse, controlling behavior, and threats against multiple women, including Deborah.

_“He’s got like, check, check, check, check, full range. Physically, psychologically, verbally, and sexually.”—Mike Gibson (10:15)

4. The Role & Limitations of Restraining Orders

• Ferguson and Gibson discuss the legal limitations and ineffectiveness of restraining orders against genuinely dangerous individuals.

_“A restraining order is only good if law enforcement can arrive in time to enforce it. If you take their gun, they'll get a knife. If you take their knife, they'll get a rock and smash your skull.”—Sheriff Rick Bradshaw (38:47)

5. Events Leading Up to Deborah’s Disappearance

• Deborah fled Pahokee to Riviera Beach and switched jobs to escape Washington.
• Filed for and was granted a temporary restraining order on June 20, 2013; hearing for a permanent order set for June 25.
• Explicitly named her home, workplace, and Crystal Anderson’s home as protected spaces.

Notable Quote

_“He has beaten me many times, threatened me. If I call the police, he will beat the hell out of me…”—Deborah’s restraining order petition (13:19)

6. Timeline & Key Incidents

• June 23, 2013: Deborah and her cousin arrive at Crystal’s home to go to church—never seen again.
• June 24, 2013: Crystal Anderson found shot to death in her home.
• Deborah’s SUV: Found abandoned 2 miles from her workplace; Deborah’s whereabouts unknown.

7. Investigation & Evidence

• Immediate suspicion on Jammy Washington due to recent abuse and restraining order.
• Family and community launch intense search efforts; authorities eventually link the two cases.
• Digital footprints (cell records, Google Maps searches) and jailhouse informant testimony implicated Washington.

Notable Quote

_“Sometimes these guys are just idiots, man…Do you think the police are not going to go through your whole digital footprint?”—Mike Gibson & Mike Ferguson (39:56-40:23)

8. Suspect’s Actions & Motives

• Washington sought out voodoo or black magic to “win Deborah back,” carrying her underwear and comb to rituals.
• Killed Crystal who “got in the way”; shot Deborah and concealed her body, possibly feeding remains to alligators.

Notable/Memorable Moment

_“According to the affidavit, Washington told a witness he dumped Deborah's body in a canal near the Belglade sugar cane fields so that alligators would consume the remainder.”—Mike Ferguson (37:10)

9. The Trial and Conviction

• Despite the lack of a body and murder weapon, circumstantial evidence mounted: digital footprints, witness testimony, informant confessions.
• Convicted on two counts of first degree murder and burglary while armed in 2019.
• Sentenced to life imprisonment; Deborah still presumed dead, her remains never found.

Memorable Courtroom Quote

_“After he shot Deborah, he held her body, cried and said, ‘Look what you made me do.’”—Jailhouse informant Vincent Whitehead (42:12)

10. The Aftermath & Reflections on Closure

• Deborah’s mother wrote heart-wrenching letters to the court about the loss and the trauma for Deborah’s youngest child.
• Both hosts emphasize the tragic consequences of violent obsession and the long shadow left on families.

The Reality of Justice

_“Hopefully, you know, that life sentence turns out to be life. Because I don't think, in my personal opinion, this is a guy who deserves to be free.”—Mike Ferguson (50:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the ripple effect:
  “If it was your child or one of your relatives, you'd want to do the same thing to find your loved one.”—Larry Young, Deborah’s father (21:17)

• On community:
  “I have to deal with my people. I love my people.”—Crystal’s reason for returning to Pahokee (05:45)

• On law enforcement’s challenge:
  “A restraining order is only good if law enforcement can arrive in time to enforce it.”—Sheriff Rick Bradshaw (38:47)

• On predatory obsessions:
  “If I can't have you, nobody can have you.”—Mike Gibson (31:01)

• Dark humor & rapport:
  “I took that ad down.”—Mike Gibson, joking about voodoo requests (44:25)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:27] — Case Introduction: Deborah Ann Jessie, Crystal Anderson, Jammy Washington
• [07:28] — Jammy Washington’s Criminal History
• [10:19] — Deborah’s Reports of Complete Abuse
• [13:18] — Filing for the Restraining Order: Deborah’s Own Words
• [15:53] — Deborah & Crystal Last Seen, Connection to Church Plans
• [18:29] — Crystal’s Body Discovered; Start of Search for Deborah
• [21:17] — Family Reflections: The Early Realization of Loss
• [25:44] — The January Domestic Violence Incident Detailed
• [30:13] — Authorities Explain Arrest Warrant Process
• [31:44] — Evidence of Washington’s Voodoo Beliefs
• [34:38] — Timeline of Murders; Evidence Discussion
• [37:10] — Jammy’s Confession About Using Alligators to Dispose Deborah
• [39:56] — Digital Footprints and Investigative Techniques
• [42:12] — Jailhouse Informant Testimony
• [47:59] — Courtroom Reactions and Family Impact
• [49:13] — Deborah’s Missing Status & Physical Description

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Episode Tone & Approach

The hosts maintain their signature blend of seriousness and conversational rapport, balancing thorough case details with practical, sometimes dark, humor. They emphasize respect for victims while questioning the systemic challenges in protecting individuals from violent partners. Frequent personal asides and relatable observations make the discussion approachable for regular listeners as well as those new to the case.

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In Summary

This episode is a potent examination of domestic abuse, the limitations of protective measures, and the enduring agony of unresolved loss. Ferguson and Gibson provide insight into legal hurdles, investigative procedure, and the human stories behind the headlines—ultimately honoring both Deborah Ann Jessie and Crystal Anderson by keeping their case in public consciousness.

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If you have information about the disappearance of Deborah Ann Jessie or the murder of Crystal Anderson, contact Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office at [phone].

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I'm doing pretty good. How about you?

[A]

I'm doing great. Yeah, I'm doing great. We just got done taping our Patreon minisode, we call it. We put one out every week. We put a full episode out every week. So for those of you looking for new content, Patreon's a great place. Go to patreon.com truecrime all the time. Also, don't forget to like the video and subscribe. It really helps us out.

[B]

It does.

[A]

All right, buddy, are you ready to get into this episode?

[B]

I am ready.

[A]

We're Talking about Deborah and Jesse. In June 2013, Deborah and Jesse filed for a restraining order against her abusive ex boyfriend, Jamie Washington. She told authorities that she feared for her and her children's safety. Days before hearing to make the restraining order permanent, Deborah disappeared and police found her close friend Crystal Anderson shot to death inside her home. So we got a lot going on. We do a lot to unpack, you know, this idea of a restraining order. A lot of people need one.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

I just think there are, there are some real limitations to restraining orders.

[B]

Yeah. I mean they're not a fix all,

[A]

but not bulletproof, obviously. And someone who is intent on doing you harm is not going to give two. You know, what's about a restraining order. But still you got to go through that process.

[B]

I mean, and it can help you if they abuse, you know, or break the restraining order.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And authorities show up and can verify that they did break that restraining order.

[A]

They can have legal ramifications, obviously. I also thought that, you know, her ex boyfriend's name was, was a little strange. Jammy.

[B]

Jammy.

[A]

Jammy. I've never heard of that.

[B]

Can you take somebody seriously with the name Jamie?

[A]

Depends on the person, I guess. Some people you have to take seriously.

[B]

Yeah. I'm just saying.

[A]

Deborah Ann Jassy was born on March 18, 1990. She lived in Pohokie, Florida and worked at a local family dollar store. Deborah had four children. Her neighbor Crystal Anderson often babysat her infant son. Deborah and Crystal were good friends, so much so that Crystal was the children's godmother. Crystal had two adult children of her own and she was known for her kindness. She would lend money to those in need, make food for people in the community and babysit kids in the, in the neighborhood.

[B]

Sounds like a pretty nice person.

[A]

Yeah, I, I think she was. By all accounts, Crystal's sister, Willie Everett, told the Palm Beach Post that she was the community's godmother, grandmother and missionary.

[B]

So she was everything.

[A]

Yeah, she was everything to this community. Adding, she was an all around person. She loved people. She gave what she didn't have. She was pure in heart, compassionate, loved animals. She was an animal lover. She was a giver of oneself. She was a selfless person and she'd always keep you laughing. She always had a kind word to say to everybody. She just loved you.

[B]

Oh man, I think everybody needs somebody like that in their life.

[A]

Yeah. And again, I don't know how you can give more praise. Right. Than her sister is giving her. I mean, but she does sound like in A Like, she was an amazing person. Crystal's family and friends live in Pompano beach, but Crystal chose to move back to Pahokee because, in her words, those are my people. I have to deal with my people. I love my people.

[B]

Okay. I mean, Pompano beach, not bad. I've been to Pompano beach many times, you know, which is.

[A]

You've been to Pahokee.

[B]

I have never been to Pohoki.

[A]

Me neither. Not even really sure where it is.

[B]

It's in Pohoki.

[A]

It's right by Pahoki.

[B]

Yeah, it's right there.

[A]

So you know what I'm getting from her? Obviously very people oriented person. She also had the instinct to want to take care of people, want to help people out, but I'm getting an overarching sense of community.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

That was a big deal to her. She had her community. She knew the people and she wanted to help them out. She wanted to help take care of them.

[B]

Sometimes I miss that, you know, that community feel.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I. Again, are there still parts that have it? Yeah, I'm sure there are. I feel like in most places, we get further and further away from it every year.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

You know, first of all, there's social media that drives some of it.

[B]

It does.

[A]

You don't need to get together and have a quilting bee. You can say whatever you want in a group chat or a Facebook chat or, you know, whatever it is. But, you know, it's maybe not quite the same. Deborah was in a relationship with a man named Jammy Washington. It's almost hard to say, to be honest with you. I'm not gonna lie.

[B]

You know, I'm thinking maybe like, his parents were like, let's call him Jimmy at the. They're like, no, there's a lot of jimmies. Let's switch the I out for an A. And he'll be known as Jammy.

[A]

Yeah, that's how it's spelled. I want to say, Jamie, but Washington has a criminal record dating back to 2003 that includes drug possession, sexual battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and killing, possessing, or harming an alligator.

[B]

Okay, well, you are in Florida, so I don't know why you would possess an alligator.

[A]

I think some people have them as pets. I. I don't advise it. I wouldn't.

[B]

Yeah, but maybe you might have to kill one if it, you know, tries to attack you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Or your dog.

[A]

But I don't think you would be charged for that in most instances. That would be more like Self defense. So in May 2008, Washington was arrested for sexual battery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The victim was his ex girlfriend. They'd been dating and living together since 2001. But after Washington was arrested in January 2008, she decided she wanted to end the relationship. However, they were still in contact and had consensual sex one night. Afterwards, they drove to a sugar cane field.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

The woman reported that Washington was upset she didn't want to be with him and threatened to kill her and himself. He threatened to choke her and throw her in a canal. So he served a year in prison on drug and weapons charges and was released in December 2011. But I think we're getting a real sense here of this guy, including his convictions and his record.

[B]

Got some anger issues as well.

[A]

He's got anger issues, but he's got at least two convictions for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. You know, I think it's one of the things that almost everybody knows, right, if you're a convicted felon, you can't legally own one, which means you shouldn't possess one at all.

[B]

No.

[A]

But, you know, people still do. But I think even more concerning than that is the, you know, sexual battery type stuff, aggravated assault. That is really going to maybe the heart of what we're going to talk about, you know, in this episode. Deborah's friends later reported that Washington abused her physically, psychologically, verbally, and sexually. And I said to me, that seems like all the different types of abuse right there.

[B]

He's got like, check, check, check, check, full range.

[A]

Deborah shared with friends, family, and the authorities that Washington held her against her will inside her home and was violent with her numerous times. She feared for her life and wanted to make sure he could not go near her any longer. So, you know, again, we said it up front, right? Restraining order, protective order, whatever you want to call it. I think we're. We're kind of setting the stage for why she would want one of those.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Or need. Want. Slash. Need.

[B]

I. I can see the writing on the wall.

[A]

Yeah. In the spring of 2013, Deborah moved away from Pahokee to an apartment in Riviera Beach. She also transferred to a different family dollar store. Deborah continued talking to her family every day even after she moved. And I think most people would, Right? Yeah, a lot of people move. Even if you move away from your family. Again, we're. We're talking about 2013 here. It's pretty easy to keep in contact with cell phone and Unlimited minutes and plans that maybe connect you to your family. They've had all kinds of stuff like that over the years.

[B]

By the way, the Family dollar store. I love that place. Just random thought. Sorry.

[A]

No, I mean, my family's big into all the different dollar stores. Yeah, I mean, we can't hardly go anywhere without them finding one of those places and somebody saying, hey, can we stop in there and just look around? And looking around one of those places, you're never gonna walk out with nothing.

[B]

Well, I know, exactly.

[A]

There's always something in there that's like. I don't know why they call it a dollar store, because nothing in there now is a dollar. Even the 99 cent stores, I don't think have anything for 99 cents. They have different tiers, but just a

[B]

hook to get you in there. But yeah, I mean, you know, I live in a small village, so it's the only place that you can go get anything besides driving to the next town. And so I run up there just for like one item. But you always leave with like 10, 12 items.

[A]

Well, you did make the decision that you wanted to live out in the sticks, and that's what you get.

[B]

It is what I get.

[A]

But you're not wrong, right? There's some of those stores, they're nice, they're stocked, you know, they make it.

[B]

Hey, works for me.

[A]

Cheap, Cheap or cheaper maybe. On June 20, 2013, Deborah filed for a restraining order against Washington. She was granted a temporary restraining order in a hearing for a permanent restraining order was set for June 25th. She filed for it on June 20th. Right. So I think this is important. Filed June 20th. They set the hearing for June 25th. So just keeping that in the timeline.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Deborah wrote in her petition, as reported by the Palm Beach Post, I want to separate from jamming due to the fact that I fear for my life and the well being of me and my children. He has beaten me many times, threatened me. If I call the police, and he will beat the hell out of me and have a reason to go to jail. So, you know, the way that I look at things, you know, okay, it's one thing to threaten someone. You shouldn't do it.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But that's one thing. But when you have a very serious history and in fact a documented history of being violent to someone, well, then what does that threat mean in relation to that person? True to me, you might as well consider it legitimate. It's not a fake threat.

[B]

No.

[A]

When the person already has a record of doing it. Deborah wrote that she wanted to make sure Washington could not go near her home, her workplace, and the home of her friend Crystal Anderson.

[B]

These are the places she's going to spend her time at. She doesn't want to have to sit there and be worried that he's going to show up.

[A]

Yeah. And we mentioned it, right. What good friends the the two were. Crystal was the godmother to her children. My thought about that is, well, I'm sure this guy knew that. He knew how important Crystal was to Deborah. And maybe in the back of her mind, she thought, well, that could possibly make her a target for his rage or his anger. On June 23, 2013, just two days before the hearing on the restraining order, Deborah drove back to Pahokee so she could attend church with Crystal. She was last seen at Crystal's home in the 700 block of Eisenhower Drive in Pahokee. I just enjoy saying Pahokee.

[B]

You like saying Pahokee?

[A]

I've actually never heard of it, but it's kind of fun to say. Deborah's cousin, Corey Young, also came to Crystal's home to attend church with them, but he left when no one came to the door. Debra's family became worried when she failed to answer their calls and texts. And we talk about this in a lot of cases, especially the unsolved ones, at what point do people start to get worried? And here's a situation that I think you see in a lot of cases, which is people have plans, like, concrete plans.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And, you know, if I say to you, hey, Gibbs, come over Sunday morning at 9, we're going to go to church at 10, and you agree to that, you drive over to my house and I don't answer the door, that's going to be weird. It would be weird because we've made these plans. Everybody knows about them. Yeah. So what's going on? Did I just leave you? Did I forget about you? But I think that's what you have here and why people start to worry the way that they do. Also, I think, you know, then it comes into the area of what type of character does this person have? Are they flighty? Do they miss things? Or are they very regimented and by the book? And if they say they're going to do something, they do it, because that plays a factor.

[B]

It does, too. Yeah. I mean, it's, you know, you got to know that person.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And what they would typically do and not do.

[A]

Yeah. Hey, folks, if you want a different type of bank, a smarter bank, one that's built for you, you got to check out Chime, they offer things that most banks don't offer. There's no overdraft fees, no minimum balance fees, no monthly fees, period. They. They also have products like MyPay, which gives you access to up to $500 of your paycheck anytime. And you can also get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. They also have the Chime card. This is a new way to build credit history with your own money and get rewarded every single day. There's no annual fees, no interest, and no strings attached. Man, I really could have benefited from Chime when I was younger. Chime is not just smarter banking. It's the most rewarding way to bank join the millions who are already banking fee free today. It just takes a few minutes to sign up. Head to chime.com/tcat that is chime.com tcatt Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services. A secured Chime Visa credit card and MyPay line of credit provided by the Bancor Bank NA or Stride Bank NA. MyPay eligibility requirements apply, and credit limit ranges $20 to $500. Optional services and products may have fees or charges. See chime.com feesinfo advertised annual percentage yield with Chime+ status only. Otherwise, 1.00% APY applies. No min balance required. Chime card on history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Results may vary. See chime.com for details and applicable terms. Crystal Anderson was found shot to death in her home on the evening of June 24th. And that's why I made mention, right? To really call out the two dates around the restraining order filed on the 20th, set to go to a hearing on the 25th.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, Crystal is found dead on the 24th. And you got to be wondering, right, what's going on with Deborah? A 2013 article by the Palm Beach Post reports that deputies conducting a welfare check found her, while a later article by the Post reports that Deborah's family members went to the Holman founder and that was when they started searching for Deborah. And how could you not? I mean, these people are best friends. I'm sure they were inseparable.

[B]

Sure. Yeah.

[A]

If something happened to one, I think you would just naturally start to worry about the other, I would think. And in the wake of this filing,

[B]

well, that's it, too, right? You have this filing, this restraining order out there, temporary. It has to be a pretty high level of concern.

[A]

Well, I think your, your, your spidey senses would be heightened. Right. During that period for sure, there was a reason somebody filed for a temporary restraining order.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't think it was any secret. I think she had shared with her family that. Right. He was abusive. So, you know, unfortunately, as we talked about, the restraining order is. It's a tool, but it's not a foolproof tool. But my other thought is it is something that could set someone off or over the edge, and maybe that's what we're talking about here. Deborah's SUV was found parked at the Palm Beach Golf center in the 7700 block of Military Trail in Riviera Beach, Florida, about two miles from her workplace. But she was nowhere to be found. Investigators immediately reached out to Jamie Washington as a suspect. And that would have to be the first person. Right. Number one, he's ex boyfriend. So that's going to put him in the crosshairs by him. By itself.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And on top of that, the restraining order.

[B]

Yeah. It's going to elevate it up.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, he's got to be number one person of interest. Deborah's father, Larry Young, later recalled how they searched canals, cane fields and buildings looking for her. Deborah's family distributed flyers and they spoke to the media. Larry Young told WPBF that he believed she was dead, but he still wanted to find her. He said, if it was your child or one of your relatives, you'd want to do the same thing to find your loved one.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Of course, you don't know if they're hurt or dead or whatever. We have a feeling that she's passed, but we miss her. And this is a very interesting statement to me because you and I talk a lot of true crime. We've done a gazillion episodes, it seems, and I'm always struck by, you know, how family members react, because it varies wildly. You know, some people in their heart feel as though their loved one is not coming back. Now they want to recover them. Yeah. This is pretty early on.

[B]

It is.

[A]

Others will hold out hope for 15, 20, 30, 40 years, all the while either believing or telling themselves that their loved one is still alive. Yeah.

[B]

But I think they realize how bad of a person Jamie was.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That they just. And they probably felt it on the inside, too. People have those, you know, intuition.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's sometimes it's hard to deny.

[A]

Yeah. And. And I'm sure they were privy to many more details than we've given here.

[B]

Oh, for sure.

[A]

Yeah. As far as his conduct and. And the numerous times that he had done something against Deborah.

[B]

But you still Want that person, oh,

[A]

to be home, no doubt about.

[B]

So you can do what you want to do with their body and not have it somewhere out there rotting away.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, you want to bring that person home, lay them to rest, have somewhere to, you know, pay your respects and all that. Crystal's sister, Willie Everett, said she wasn't familiar with Deborah, but babysitting children in the community was something Crystal normally did. On June 25, the sheriff's. Sheriff's spokeswoman said the two cases were not related, but documents obtained by the Palm Beach Post indicated they were. And again, you know, what the. The police, or in this case, the sheriff comes out and discloses to the media, you know, how much do you really put into that? Because, you know, most times they don't want to give out a lot, and they're known to deflect. Now, for me, I get it, if you don't have anything concrete to say they're related, that's one thing. But if you actually come out and say they're not related, well, how do you know that? And what are you basing that on?

[B]

Yeah, it's true.

[A]

That's the question I would have maybe if I was a reporter or, you know, something like that, because, okay, best friends, one is found dead and the other one is missing, and you're telling me they're not related in any way. That's. That's kind of strange.

[B]

Seems a little fishy.

[A]

Yeah, it does. Spokeswoman Terry Barbera wrote in the documents, Jesse was in the process of gaining a domestic violence injunction against a former boyfriend. Detectives are extremely concerned for her safety. And again, I mean, that, to me, is just common sense. On June 28, 2013, Jamie Washington was arrested on an outstanding warrant stemming from a misdemeanor domestic charge involving a previous incident with Deborah. The misdemeanor was upgraded to felony domestic battery at a court hearing. Now, he was accused of domestic battery back in January 2013. That didn't come out very well. 2013. But he wasn't arrested for months. And I. I just wonder how much of that had to do with Debra going missing.

[B]

I think it plays a part of it.

[A]

Yeah. Now, they were probably going to arrest him at some point, but did they? You know, can you envision a scenario where they're arresting him for a very valid reason? It's not like they're making it up, but they're doing it because they want to turn the heat up on this guy. Right. It's one thing if, you know, you voluntarily come in and Talk to the police. Right. Because, you know, you can leave at any time.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

It's different when you're arrested.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're not going anywhere, and you're put in jail. And then the police want to talk to you about this person's disappearance. Deborah reported to investigators that Washington followed her from a hospital in Belglade to a convenience store in Pahokee and attacked her. This is going back to this domestic violence violence charge. The two argued at the hospital, and Deborah decided to drive to Pahokee to get away from him. She pulled into a gas station on East Main street and got out of her car. She saw Washington pull in behind her and tried to get back in her vehicle and lock the doors. But as she tried to roll up the window, Washington jumped into the window. Oh. And pushed her with one hand against her face. This is a very violent encounter. Yeah. He grabbed the keys out of the ignition and forcefully pushed her into the back seat. He also took her cell phone.

[B]

Very controlling.

[A]

Yeah. And a very scary situation. I mean, you can try to put yourself in her shoes, and, you know, there's an argument. You make the decision, all right, I got to get away from this guy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you pull into a gas station, and what do you see? He's right behind you.

[B]

Yeah. He's not letting you go.

[A]

So you get. You're out, but you. You're trying to get back into your vehicle as quick as you can so that you can escape. But, man, he is. It sounds like he was there in a heartbeat and literally, you know, going through the window to get her.

[B]

Taking your keys, your phone, and throwing you in the back.

[A]

Yeah. Deborah was able to get her keys and phone back. Washington reportedly told her, I'll see you at the house.

[B]

I'd be like, no, you won't.

[A]

I'm going to the Motel 8 or. Or whatever. But, again, it's a scary situation. We said it right. She's got kids and all that. It makes all of that much more difficult, but scary to me. A deputy came to the parking lot and talked to Debra. Washington drove his car around the block several times, watching their conversation, just wanted

[B]

to see what was going on.

[A]

Debra told the deputy that Washington had beaten her up in the past and locked her in their home. She also said that he once told her in if the police tried to arrest me, I'll kill them. Oh, you know what? Police don't like threats on their life.

[B]

Yeah. But he's also trying to talk tough right there. You know, maybe he would try that.

[A]

Yeah. Again, I think you have to take that pretty seriously. Anytime someone threatens to kill someone else, I. I get it. It could be bravado. It could be designed to scare her. Yeah. But I'm sure if the police heard that, they. They would take it very, very seriously. Deborah didn't have any signs of injury, and she didn't want medical attention. Deputies followed Deborah home and found Washington inside. He called her phone and talked to a deputy, but refused to come out. The incident occurred on January 26, but the investigating deputy didn't sign the arrest affidavit until June 14th.

[B]

That's a healthy gap.

[A]

Yeah. And it does kind of go against my thought process. Right. That this was maybe a way for them to put the. Turn the heat up on him.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because June 14th is six days before she even files the restraining order.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

So you just wonder, why did it take almost six months to sign this arrest affidavit?

[B]

Seems pretty long. I mean, I don't know what was going on behind the scenes, but.

[A]

Yeah, I. I don't either. Maybe there was back and forth between the. The. The D. A and who knows, Right? No idea. An arrest was not immediately made because the crime was classified as a misdemeanor and was not witnessed by law enforcement. So that kind of sheds a little bit of light on it.

[B]

It does.

[A]

State Attorney's office spokesman Mike Edmondson said, per the Palm Beach Post. If it's a misdemeanor or not done in the presence of law enforcement, they can't do a physical arrest. They have to do exactly what was done here and request a Warrant Review. On December 19, 2013, Jamie Washington was indicted on two counts of first degree murder. Authorities believed he learned that Debra was going to leave him and he killed her. He told numerous people in the past he would do so if she tried to leave. Police believe Crystal Anderson was an unintended victim who just happened to be there.

[B]

I always hate that if. If I can't have you, nobody can have you. Thought process.

[A]

Yeah. And, you know, we've said it numerous times, but it's something we've learned over the. The years. Right. We've been doing this podcast for 10 years now. The most dangerous time in many of these scenarios is when the person makes the decision to leave and is in the motion. Right. Putting things into motion. Yeah. That can often be the most dangerous time. According to the probable cause affidavit released with the indictment, on the day Deborah visited Crystal to accompany her to church, Washington was looking for someone to use voodoo or Black magic to compel Deborah to take him back.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I know you're into some of that voodoo, black magic stuff, and it's why you take so many trips down to New Orleans.

[B]

Well, I, I, I do the great magic because I, you know, I want to keep it on the border of, you know, white.

[A]

And. Yeah, you kind of go middle of the road. Right.

[B]

So it's more, I was gonna say like VD magic, but I'm like, no,

[A]

that's, I don't think that's. Yeah, I don't think that.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

But apparently he carried Deborah's underwear and her comb with him.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because he thought it would make the magic more powerful.

[B]

Yeah. I got her used underwear here and her brush with some of her hair. Let's do a little spell. That way she stays with me, you know.

[A]

A thoughtfully built wardrobe comes down to pieces that mix well and last. That's where Quint shines. Premium fabrics considered design and everyday essentials that feel effortless to wear and dependable even as the seasons change. My wife absolutely adores their lightweight cashmere sweaters. I'm more of a flow knit, performance type of guy, but they have everything I need. Lightweight joggers, shorts, tops. But they also have coats. European jersey, linen. Quince works directly with top factories and cuts out the middlemen. You're not paying for brand markup or fancy retail stores, just quality clothing. And they only partner with factories that meet rigorous standards for craftsmanship and ethical production. Right now go to quint.com teacat for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's a full year to build your wardrobe and love it. And you will now available in Canada too. Don't keep settling for clothes that don't last. Go to quince.com tcatt for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comtcat so Debra went missing, they think about 2 to 3 hours after she went to visit Crystal. Based on cell phone records, witness statements, and DNA evidence, officials believed Washington broke into Crystal's house while the women were there and killed them. He left Crystal's body in the home, but dumped Deborah's body at an unknown site and drove her car to Riviera Beach. And as bad as it is, Right. This is a horrible situation. You know, that would make some sense, I think, from his perspective. Yeah, Deborah was the key. Crystal was not. But she was there.

[B]

Yeah. By default.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, she became an unintended victim. So he would leave her there. But he's going to take Deborah because Deborah is the key to this whole thing.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Washington told a witness that someone dropped him off at Crystal's house. He argued with Crystal and shot her twice while either in her living room or hallway. He then took Deborah's cell phone and shot her in the chest. Washington claimed he held Deborah in his arms as she died. So this is, again, like you, you said. Right. One of those scenarios where if I can't have you, nobody can. It's also kind of one of those, you know, I love you so much, I'd rather you be dead than be without you. I mean, none of these make sense.

[B]

They don't make any sense.

[A]

Now, how they make sense in some of these people's minds, you know, that. That's a. That's the question. Yeah. Because I think. And a lot of these, they do make sense to these people, and that's part of the scary thing about them.

[B]

Yeah. I think they feel like they're. What they're doing is correct.

[A]

Makes perfect sense.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right, Right. This was consistent with blood found on a white braided belt which Deborah was wearing on the morning of the murder. As captured by Family Dollar Store surveillance. Crystal's blood and gunshot residue were found on two pillowcases alongside her body. The pillows were believed to have been used to muffle the gunshots. Deborah's cousin, who arrived at Crystal's house around 11:30am to accompany the women to church, knocked on her door to announce his arrival. Messages were sent from Deborah's phone to try to get the witness to leap, but the messages were sent to a number the witness hadn't had for almost two months.

[B]

Okay, so since an old number. Yeah.

[A]

Which kind of, you know, sheds a spotlight onto the fact that this was jammy. Right, Right. Trying to get this person to go away. Maybe he had a number, but that number was old because he had kind of been out of the loop. Right. For a little while.

[B]

He didn't know that the numbers changed.

[A]

Yeah. According to the affidavit, Washington told a witness he dumped Deborah's body in a canal near the Belglade sugar cane fields so that alligators would consume the remainder.

[B]

Because I love you so much. Nobody else can have you, but I'm going to let the alligators have your body. That's how much I love you.

[A]

Yeah. I. Again, how do you make sense of it? You can't, because it's not rational. Now, does it make more sense that after he had done what he did, he knew he had to get rid of her body? And unfortunately, or I guess fortunately, if you're a killer, Florida having a lot of alligators, there are some pretty good places to get rid of a body.

[B]

Yeah. Unfortunately, there's options there.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, that you wouldn't have. Like here in Ohio, where we live now, you could dump a body in a body of water. You can, but there's no alligator that's going to eat the remains so that they. There's no way of ever finding it.

[B]

No, no. Those. If you want that, you have to take them out to the pig farm.

[A]

Yeah, we don't want to hear about your pig farm.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said at a news conference announcing the indictment that neither Debra nor Crystal could have done anything more to protect themselves. And a restraining order is only good if. If law enforcement can arrive in time to enforce it. He said, if you take their gun, they'll get a knife. If you take their knife, they'll get a rock and smash your skull. There are some people that need to go to jail and not be allowed out of jail.

[B]

He's exactly right.

[A]

Yeah. I wholeheartedly believe in that. You know, I get it. A lot of people don't like guns, and I understand why. But if someone is intent on doing harm to you as a person, there are a lot of other ways other than a gun that they could do it.

[B]

Sure there is.

[A]

So if they don't have a gun, they'll find something else if they're so intent on getting to you or hurting you. And I also do believe there are certain people that are so bad, they just need to be locked up. They should not be walking around.

[B]

No, you can't. You can't give them the opportunity to hurt somebody, because they will do it,

[A]

because they're going to do it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Washington's trial started in July 2019. The jury heard that Washington lied to detectives when he said he was in Pahokee all day on June 23. Cell data proved otherwise. He lied when he said he didn't know where Deborah had moved because the day before she disappeared and on the day she went missing, he put her new address into Google Maps.

[B]

Sometimes these guys are just idiots, man.

[A]

Well, we. We talk about, you know, this electronic trail. Yeah, right. This digital trail that people don't seem to think about. You know, do you think that the police are not going to suspect you? Number one, you have to know they are. And do you think they're not going to go back through your whole digital footprint and look for anything and everything they can find?

[B]

I think a lot of people don't realize is that digital footprint is out there even if you can't see it now. Oh, it's out there.

[A]

Somebody can retrieve it. Yes. He claimed he hadn't spoken to her in several days. But text and a 30 minute phone call in the early morning hours of June 23rd showed otherwise. The defense argued that the case was circumstantial. There was no eyewitness testimony from anyone who saw the shooting. There was no evidence Washington owned a.38 caliber gun like the one used in the shooting. And no murder weapon was ever found. There was no proof Washington was ever in Crystal's home. And if Debra was shot in the home, where was the blood evidence? Additionally, no one saw him move Deborah's body. So, I mean, I think from a defense standpoint, these are all good points to raise.

[B]

They are.

[A]

And let's face it, a lot of cases are extremely circumstantial. Right. Most of the evidence is circumstantial. The only people who could put him at the scene were a woman walking by who believed she saw Washington sitting in Debra's SUV and then walking to the back of Crystal's home. And also one of Washington's fellow inmates, Inmate Vincent Whitehead, testified that Washington confessed to the murders while they were in the Palm Beach County Jail. And he said he went into detail. According to Whitehead, it was like a movie, like I was reading a book, like I was right there seeing it. Washington claimed he shot Crystal twice because she was in the way of him getting to Deborah. After he shot Deborah, he held her body, cried and said, look what you made me do.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. I. Look what you made me do. I told you I'd have to do this. Look what you made me do.

[A]

Sickening.

[B]

It is.

[A]

It really is that someone could. Could actually think that way. The defense noted that Whitehead was given the nickname Superstar because of all his work as a police informant. Whitehead said he was not paid for the information he gave in the case. He was homeless and risking his safety by testifying. When asked what his motive was, if it wasn't money or a reduced sentence, Whitehead said that one of his family members was killed in front of others and no one came forward.

[B]

And.

[A]

And if he ever had the opportunity to provide information in a similar situation, he would. Now, you and I have talked a ton about jailhouse informants.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Some can be 100% accurate.

[B]

It can be.

[A]

Unfortunately, many of them are trying to get something.

[B]

Yeah, it's normally tit for tat.

[A]

You just wanted to say tit is that how this goes tit for tat. You could have said quid pro quo. You could have said a lot of things.

[B]

I could have. Could I have said that? Quid pro. See?

[A]

Oh, yeah. I don't know if you could say. Yeah, but no, you're right. The problem is anytime someone has a vested in interest, right, in saying something in a particular way or towards a certain side, you really have to take that with a grain of salt. If it cannot be conclusively proven, and most of the time it can't. You're talking about two guys sitting in a jail cell talking. And one supposedly says or this and confesses to a murder. You know, even if it was more ramen noodles or it was more rectime. I don't know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

People are always wanting something when they're incarcerated. Witness Manuel Ramirez testified that the day before Deborah disappeared, Washington called him asking if he knew anyone who could perform voodoo. You ever get that call?

[B]

Not in a long time.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, I. I took that ad down.

[A]

I'd say if somebody. If one of my friends calls me and says, hey man, do you know anybody that can perform voodoo? Be like, no, lose my number and never call me again.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He said Deborah broke up with him and he wanted her back. Washington took a comb and a pair of underwear to help perform a type of spell on the morning of June 23. But Ramirez testified the woman he thought could help them didn't practice voodoo.

[B]

You know, what if the roles were reverse? What women would never do?

[A]

Take a man's underwear.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

No.

[B]

I don't care how much they like. I want. But I want him back so much. They're not going to touch his underwear.

[A]

Nope. I'd have to agree with you there. Now, you know, my wife does have to wash my underwear. I mean, I do laundry too, but we wash each other's, I guess.

[B]

Does she have to worship? I don't know.

[A]

I don't think she touches it. I think she just takes the dumps it the basket and goes like that.

[B]

Maybe use tongs or.

[A]

Yeah, or she uses gloves or. Or something like that. But, you know, I. Again, this woman doesn't practice voodoo. I'm assuming she was probably a little shocked to see someone show up with a comb and a pair of women's underwear.

[B]

Yeah, probably like. And you want me to what again?

[A]

Yeah, this is a taxidermist. I don't know why you thought we. We did the voodoo. Ramirez was asked by the defense if Washington expressed his desire to kill someone that day. Ramirez said he did not. Deborah's cousin, Corey Johnson testified that he was supposed to meet Deborah at Crystal's home to go to church together. When he arrived, both of their cars were there, but no one answered when he knocked. He went around back, knocked again, but still no one answered. He didn't have a cell phone at the time, so he walked home, but he felt that something wasn't right again. It goes back to, you know, are these people reliable? And if so, then it would be weird. Yeah, that they're not answering when they said, hey, this is what time we're going to leave. Also, neither of the women were returning phone calls or text messages. Corey later returned to the home and noticed Debra's car was gone. No one answered the door when he knocked. Eventually, he went to the home of Debra's stepmother, Angela Burrows, but no one answered the door. He opened the unlocked back door but didn't go inside and instead went home. Angela Burrows testified that she walked into Crystal Anderson's home and saw a body on the floor, but wasn't sure who it was. She went to lift up the woman's face and recognized her as Crystal. That was when Corey Young heard her screaming, she's dead. She's dead. On July 18, 2019, Jamie Washington was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder and burglary while armed. He was sentenced to life in prison. In a letter to the court, Deborah's mother wrote that her youngest child was just a baby when she went missing. And it pained her to know he would never bond with his mother. And that is extremely sad. It is sad, number one, that she lost her life, but that her young son, you know, never got to, you know, really know his mother all that well.

[B]

It's tragic.

[A]

Over a decade later, Deborah and Jesse remains missing. She is presumed dead. At the time of her disappearance, Deborah was 5 foot 7, weighed approximately 150 pounds. She had black dark brown hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on her arm. She had pierced ears and also spelled her name Debra D E B R A. She was last seen wearing blue and white striped pants and silver and blue flip flop sandals. Anyone with information on Debra's disappearance and the murder of Crystal Anderson is urged to be contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office at 561-688-3000. So, you know, little bit of a different case for us it is, we have a conclusion, right? We have finality in the fact that we know who did this. A jury convicted him, but Deborah still has not been found. No, you know, we're, it's well Over a decade later when, you know, you say she is presumed dead. Pretty hard not to think that.

[B]

Especially with some of the things that he said.

[A]

Some of the things he said, the restraining order, her best friend is found dead. Right. The more likely scenario, and I'm sure the, the one that, that a jury would believe or did believe, is that he killed both women.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He was really only there, though, for Deborah and held her in his arms while she died and then took her somewhere and buried her. And probably now really has no reason to disclose that information.

[B]

Yeah. Or he did throw her in the canal.

[A]

Yes. And so there's really nothing that can be done. Yeah. Even if he were to come out and say, hey, yeah, this is what I really did, well, what are the chances?

[B]

It doesn't seem like the stand up type of guy that would want to put closure to something.

[A]

No, no. And I don't think he has any reason to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But hopefully, you know, that life sentence turns out to be life.

[B]

Yeah, that's true.

[A]

Because I don't think, in my personal opinion, this is a guy who deserves to be free. I really don't.

[B]

No, he killed her because if he couldn't have her, nobody was going to have her.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. But that's it for our episode on Deborah and Jesse.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We love y'. All.

[B]

We do.

[A]

And we'll. We'll see you next episode. See you. Bye.