Karen Pais, a 67-year-old woman from Tampa, FL, was tragically found dead on May 31, 2021. Her body was discovered buried in the backyard of her Carrollwood home, wrapped in garbage bags and bound with Bungee cords. The investigation revealed that she had been shot in the chest. Karen's death was a shock to the community, especially given the circumstances surrounding her murder.
Karen's sister, Debra Patton, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and abuse of a dead human
body. The sisters had lived together for many years, and friends of Karen had reported that she often expressed fear that her sister would one day kill her. This fear was tragically realized when Karen's body was found just days after she was reported missing by her friends. Debra was initially found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to Florida State Hospital in 2022. However, in January 2025, she was found competent to stand trial, and a hearing was scheduled to set her trial date.
The case has been marked by disturbing details and a lack of remorse from Debra. Friends of Karen described her as a loyal and caring person who had taken care of their parents until their deaths. In contrast, Debra had a history of troubling behavior, including a plot to murder her ex-husband. The community continues to grapple with the loss of Karen and the shocking nature of her death.
