Jacqueline "Jackie" Li Woodruff, 25, was born to Jack and Lillian Li in Oxford, Mississippi. Her parents immigrated to the US from mainland China when they were in their 30s. Jackie is their only child.

Former teachers remember Jackie's infectious laugh and how quickly she raised her hand in class, even if she didn't know the correct answer. In her senior yearbook, she was named "Most likely to move to Hollywood." She was a member of various local acting companies from the age of seven and a featured player in her high school drama club.

After graduation, she worked several jobs to support her nascent acting career. While waiting tables in a full-service restaurant that no longer exists, she met Henry Woodruff, who tended bar there on weekends. After dating for several months, they married when Jackie discovered she was pregnant. Daughter Kennedy was born seven months later, and son Bruce followed the next year.

Jackie looked after the children during the day while her husband worked. At night, Henry took care of the kids, and Jackie headed to her waitressing job so the family could make ends meet. Former employers describe Jackie as a valued team member who was always there for the other servers.

Two years ago, Jackie pawned a necklace at County Pawn for $25. The necklace later appeared on a list of stolen goods circulated by the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department, and the pawnshop owner called the department to report the transaction.

When the officers arrived to pick up Jackie for questioning, they asked a neighbor to stay with her two children until her husband got home. Numerous witnesses testified that they saw Jackie repeatedly strike the officer who was trying to separate her from her little girl.

According to Jackie, a customer left the necklace as a tip. He said it was intended to be a Valentine's Day present for the date who stood him up. Jackie said she hadn't told the other servers because she didn't want to start any rumors about the mystery customer being her boyfriend. She also didn't tell her husband what happened for the same reason.

Jackie was charged with possession of stolen property and assault on a police officer. The family hired Robert Pruitt to defend her. Despite Pruitt's efforts, Jackie was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to one year in prison. Jackie reportedly was a model prisoner, and her husband visited her weekly.

Soon after Jackie was released last year, the Law Offices of Pruitt & Rayburn resumed their efforts to collect their fee for her legal defense. Jackie had been unable to find a job because of her felony conviction, so she refused to pay. The law firm sent her a registered letter giving her 60 days to pay or the account would be sent to collections.

Jackie went to the office and demanded an audience with Robert Pruitt. Her request was denied, so Jackie called every day for two weeks until they told her they would notify the sheriff's department if she continued the harassing behavior. Jackie's response was abusive, but the telephone calls ceased.

Frustrated by her family's mounting debts, Jackie told friends that she'd smacked around the wrong person. Instead of hitting the officer who had only been doing his duty, she should have saved her energy for Pruitt, who didn't know the first thing about his job.

The other items stolen at the same time as the necklace have never been recovered, and no one has ever been charged for the burglary. Jackie has always maintained her innocence on the original possession charge.