HOUSTON — Retired Houston Police Department forensic sketch artist Lois Gibson is a living legend in her field. Now, she's on a new mission to make her mark on iconic Texas history.
"I wanted to get that skull and reconstruct it. I was dying of curiosity," Gibson said.
The partial skull with a bullet hole and a heavy blade hack found at the Alamo in 1979 has yet to be identified.
Lee White, President of the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association wanted to change that. This year, she came across Gibson's past uncanny successes sketching victims from skulls.
"They sent them from Montana, Pennsylvania, all over the country," Gibson said. "They'd get them ID'd in just a few days."
White realized Gibson was their best shot.
"What blew my mind was that she absolutely created a perfect face from a partial skull," White said. "Well, that's what we had from the Alamo. I knew right then I had to have her."
So, earlier this month, Gibson traveled to San Antonio to see the skull up close. And Gibson did what she does so well. She studied the intricacies of the skull. Each piece of bone provided a clue. In two hours, the Alamo defender had come to life on her canvas.
"The opportunity to look into the face of an Alamo participant was one of the most moving moments of my life," White said.
And for the sketch artist with nearly 40 years of accomplishments, she called it a career-high.
"I know I'm close," Gibson said. "If I can get this guy identified, this is like throwing the touchdown pass at the Super Bowl if you're an artist."
Next, White said they're working on securing DNA testing of the skull. That together with Gibson's sketch could provide enough clues for Alamo descendants to finally identify their relative.
"Whoever this skull is, we need to find peace for him," White said.
And hopefully, solve a Texas mystery 187 years in the making.
"I'm looking forward to this working out," Gibson said. "This one, this is the one I want."