Cold Case Files: "Evil in Huntington Beach" – A Comprehensive Summary

Host: Paula Barros
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Duration: Approximately 40 minutes
Content Warning: The episode contains disturbing accounts of physical and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.

1. Introduction to the Case

The episode begins by setting the stage in March 1968 in Huntington Beach, California. Marissa Pinson narrates the harrowing discovery of an unidentified female body, later referred to as Jane Doe, found in a plowed farm field by three young boys (00:00-02:06). Detective Earl Robitaille, a retired bureau commander from the Huntington Beach Police Department, provides context about the era, highlighting the societal backdrop of the 1960s hippie generation and the rapid growth of Huntington Beach (01:44-02:06).

Key Points:

• Date and Location: March 1968, Huntington Beach, California.
• Discovery: Three boys find a body in a plowed field, initially mistaken for a mannequin.
• Victim Details: Female, estimated age 20s to 30s, throat slit, signs of sexual assault (00:49-03:09).

2. Initial Investigation (1968)

Detective Earl Robitaille describes the brutal nature of the crime, emphasizing the severe throat wound and the absence of identification on the victim (02:50-03:48). The initial investigation faced significant challenges due to the lack of identifying information and the remote location of the crime scene, which limited eyewitness accounts (06:38-07:40).

Notable Quote:

"When you don't know who the victim is, it's exponentially more difficult because you have no starting place." — Earl Robitaille [06:30]

Key Points:

• Crime Scene: Wide, open agricultural area with limited visibility.
• Physical Evidence: Tire tracks indicating a vehicle used in the crime, a cigarette butt near the dump site (06:38-08:03).
• Identification Attempts: Flyers, drawings, and extensive outreach to local establishments yielded a potential lead of the victim being a regular patron at a bar, but this was later disproven (08:21-09:16).

3. The Victim's Background and Family Search

Parallel to the investigation, the narrative shifts to December 1967 in Augusta, Maine, focusing on Anita Patou and her family. Anita, a vibrant and outgoing 26-year-old, had recently moved to California seeking excitement and a new life (03:54-06:08). Her family faces growing concern as months pass without contact, intensifying their fear and uncertainty about her disappearance (10:56-18:16).

Key Points:

• Victim Identification: Anita Patou, last known to have sent a letter from Whittier, California.
• Family Efforts: Niece Lori Kurian and family members undertake their own investigation, encountering the challenges of locating someone without digital footprints in the 1960s (10:56-18:16).

Notable Quote:

"Anita was a very outgoing person, very outspoken, bubbly. She liked to laugh and tell jokes." — Lori Kurian [04:45]

4. Reopening the Case (2000-2019)

In winter 2000, nearly 32 years after Anita's disappearance, retired homicide detective Steven Mack revisits the cold case. Initial efforts, including DNA extraction from a cigarette butt and the victim's clothing, did not yield any matches in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) (19:15-20:32). Facing a lack of leads, Mack leverages media coverage to generate new interest, leading to a potential suspect living 148 miles north of Huntington Beach. However, attempts to obtain DNA from this suspect prove unsuccessful, further complicating the investigation (20:42-23:22).

Key Points:

• Initial Reopening Efforts: Limited success with available DNA evidence; media involvement generates a potential suspect lead.
• Suspect Investigation: A bartender in Bakersfield with a prior murder charge is investigated but ultimately cleared due to insufficient DNA evidence (21:03-22:55).

5. Advanced DNA Techniques and Breakthrough (2011-2020)

By 2011, advancements in DNA technology, particularly familial searching and genetic genealogy, offer new avenues for investigation. Despite challenges with limited DNA quality from the victim's femur, the team perseveres (23:22-24:51). In March 2019, nearly 51 years after the murder, investigators exhume Jane Doe's remains to extract DNA from her femur, albeit with limited success. The breakthrough comes in 2020 when reprocessing a decades-old blouse provides a usable DNA sample, enabling the creation of a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) profile (34:33-35:02).

Key Points:

• Technological Advances: Use of SNP technology and genetic genealogy to identify familial links.
• DNA Extraction: Success in extracting high-quality DNA from the blouse after initial failures with skeletal remains (24:00-35:02).

Notable Quote:

"Genetic genealogy is the use of DNA testing to assist in identifying blood relatives." — Jody Hines Klan [23:34]

6. Identifying the Killer and the Victim (2020)

The familial DNA search leads to the identification of Johnny Crisco as the prime suspect. Detective Steven Mack details the meticulous process of eliminating other brothers through DNA testing and historical records (25:54-29:45). Despite Johnny Crisco's death in 2007 from a tumor, his DNA matches the crime scene evidence, conclusively linking him to Anita Patou's murder (30:25-30:59).

Simultaneously, DNA matches from Anita's blouse reveal her true identity, leading to contact with her sister, Anne. Confirmation from the family provides the long-awaited closure, as Antoine's remains are formally identified as Anita Patou, and Johnny Crisco is recognized as her murderer (34:54-37:57).

Key Points:

• Suspect Identification: Johnny Crisco, with a history of violent offenses, is identified through DNA matching.
• Victim Identification: Anita Patou is confirmed as Jane Doe through familial DNA links and family confirmation.
• Closure: Despite Crisco's death preventing legal justice, the family gains closure with the identification and memorial service for Anita (35:18-38:39).

Notable Quotes:

"We finally have the name of the person that killed this unnamed victim." — Steven Mack [30:25]
"It was very overwhelming when we got the news and we were trying to get as much information as we could as to what happened to her." — Lori Kurian [36:03]

7. Aftermath and Reflection

The episode concludes with the family's emotional journey towards closure. Despite Johnny Crisco never facing legal consequences, his identification brings a sense of karmic justice, as he died shortly after committing the murder. Anita Patou's family holds a memorial service, honoring her memory and finally laying her to rest with the truth about her fate (37:29-38:39).

Key Points:

• Family's Emotional Closure: Memorial service and acceptance of Anita's untimely death.
• Justice Beyond Law: The notion of justice through the identification of the perpetrator, despite his demise (37:35-37:57).

Notable Quote:

"He slit the throat of a woman and then later died with a tumor in his throat. We felt it was a little bit of karmic justice if you can have that in this case." — Jody Hines Klan [37:35]

Conclusion

"Evil in Huntington Beach" exemplifies the relentless pursuit of justice in cold cases, showcasing how advancements in forensic technology and tenacious investigative work can ultimately bring closure to families decades later. The episode underscores the emotional toll on families of missing persons and the importance of never giving up on seeking the truth.

Notable Quotes Summary

• Earl Robitaille:
  "When you don't know who the victim is, it's exponentially more difficult because you have no starting place." [06:30]

• Lori Kurian:
  "Anita was a very outgoing person, very outspoken, bubbly. She liked to laugh and tell jokes." [04:45]

• Jody Hines Klan:
  "Genetic genealogy is the use of DNA testing to assist in identifying blood relatives." [23:34]
  "He slit the throat of a woman and then later died with a tumor in his throat. We felt it was a little bit of karmic justice if you can have that in this case." [37:35]

• Steven Mack:
  "We finally have the name of the person that killed this unnamed victim." [30:25]

• Lori Kurian:
  "It was very overwhelming when we got the news and we were trying to get as much information as we could as to what happened to her." [36:03]

This detailed summary encapsulates the key elements of the "Evil in Huntington Beach" episode from Cold Case Files, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the case, the investigative process, and the emotional journey towards resolution.