Found shot behind College of the Siskiyous campus in Weed. His badly decomposed body was found about 50 yards from Ricky Whitmire on 9/15/83. He and Whitmire had reportedly been traveling together to seek jobs in southern Oregon.
On July 15, 2005, Patricia Joseph, a 56-year-old resident of Fort Jones, California, was reported missing. Her body was discovered three days later in the Klamath River near the Ash Creek Bridge along State Route 96, approximately 27 miles from her home. An autopsy revealed that Patricia had died from multiple blunt force traumas and asphyxia. The case remained unsolved for many years until, in February 2023, Philip William Frase was arrested for her murder after advancements in forensic evidence linked him to the crime.
The cold case team formed in 2021 played a significant role in re-examining the evidence using modern forensic techniques. Following a thorough review, they were able to connect Frase to Patricia’s killing. He was subsequently arraigned and charged with her murder, with bail set at $2 million. Authorities expressed their commitment to continue investigating similar cases and bringing justice to victims of unsolved crimes. Patricia’s family hopes this arrest brings some form of closure and healing after nearly two decades.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office urges anyone with additional information about this case to come forward to assist further in the investigation.
