Siskiyou County, CA – Phillip Frase, a 77-year-old man, recently pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for the 2005 murder of Patricia Joseph, whose body was found in a river nearly two decades ago.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office announced that Frase entered the guilty plea on July 1, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29.
The Discovery of Patricia Joseph’s Body
Patricia Joseph’s body was discovered in the Klamath River on July 17, 2005, by rafters. Authorities revealed that she had been reported missing about three days before her body was found. A forensic autopsy later determined that blunt force trauma and asphyxia caused Joseph’s death, which was ruled a homicide.
The Cold Case Investigation
Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue and his team launched a cold case investigation in 2021 to revisit Joseph’s death. By reviewing physical evidence and utilizing modern investigative techniques, they identified Phillip Frase as the primary suspect.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office emphasized their commitment to solving cold cases and ensuring justice for victims. “Crimes of this magnitude should never go unpunished,” they said. “The sheriff’s investigative team will remain relentless in pursuing leads and advancing other unsolved murder cases in Siskiyou County.”
The Guilty Plea
Frase’s guilty plea brings some measure of justice to a case that had remained unsolved for nearly two decades. The case was a significant focus for the sheriff’s office, as they continue their efforts to solve older cases and bring closure to victims’ families.