AN ‘AMAZING MOTHER’
GEORGETOWN — A death from illicit fentanyl robbed the world of an “amazing” parent full of life, the victim’s mother said during a press conference at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
Anita Anders, fighting back tears, spoke lovingly of her daughter Jensen “Grace” Anders, 30, whose body was found March 15, 2025, at a residence on CR 433 in Thrall.
Sheriff Matt Lindemann called the news conference Wednesday, March 25, to highlight the March 19 arrest of Garrett Wise, 33, who has been charged with murder under a relatively new statute that makes fentanyl overdose deaths a first-degree felony, punishable upon conviction by five to 99 years behind bars.
Wise remained Wednesday in the Williamson County Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond, according to court records. At the time of his arrest last week, deputies located suspected fentanyl, according to law officers.
Jensen Anders was full of life, according to her mother, Anita Anders.
“We were very close and did things together,” Anders said. “She was an amazing daughter, and an amazing mother to her son. He was always on her hip.”
In addition to Anders, other members of Angel Moms and Dads and Texas Against Fentanyl – advocacy groups for family members who lost loved ones because of illicit fentanyl — also spoke.
“Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among young Americans,” said Jordan Neumann of Texas Against Fentanyl. “What’s makes this crisis even more devastating is many of these cases are not intentional.”
Neumann also said the press conference didn’t just talk about an arrest or an investigation, but a “reflection of a much larger crisis that is impacting families in every corner of the state.”
“We must continue to raise awareness, and we must continue to educate our communities, our parents and our children,” Neumann said. “We must continue to push for accountability for those who knowingly distribute substances that are killing people.”
Anders described her late daughter by her nickname “Grace,” a humorous allusion to her offspring’s athletic career.
“(Jensen) was involved in a lot of beauty pageants,” her mother said. “She also played softball and volleyball and ran track. We called her ‘Grace’ because she broke multiple bones while participating in those activities.”
Lindemann said the 12-month probe led investigators to a man suspected of being involved in the distribution of the fentanyl that caused Jensen Anders’ death.
“Our detectives spent 12 months on this investigation, and it serves as a fine example of how cooperation between law enforcement can result in arrests for these horrible crimes,” Lindemann said. “A lot of times the analysis, the forensic analysis of cell phones and computers that would link people together on certain crimes, takes longer. But we want to make sure the investigation is thorough before anyone is ever charged.”
The U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force contributed to the investigation and arrest, officials said.
Texas House Bill 6, which went into effect in September 2023, creates a murder charge for deaths related to illicit fentanyl.
A poster memorialzing Jensen Anders.
Photo by Jason Chlapek
