Crime House 24/7

Episode: Florida Woman Convicted For Burying Sister in Backyard
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of major breaking true-crime stories. The primary focus is the conviction of Deborah Patton for the murder of her sister Karen Pace in Florida—a chilling case involving family tension, financial disputes, and a shocking backyard burial. The episode then briefly covers high-profile developments from Arizona (the murder of Mercedes Vega linked to a multi-state conspiracy), Wisconsin (the storage unit child neglect trial), and a large NCAA basketball game-fixing indictment in Philadelphia. Vanessa Richardson presents the day's biggest stories with clarity and a sense of urgency, typical of daytime true-crime news coverage.

Key Story 1: Florida Backyard Homicide Trial

Summary

• Conviction Delivered: On January 14, 2026, 72-year-old Deborah Patton was convicted of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse for killing her sister, Karen Pace, in 2021.
• The Crime: Evidence and testimony showed Patton shot her sister during an argument in their shared Carrollwood, FL home. Rather than report the crime, she disposed of the body by wrapping it in garbage bags, binding it with bungee cords and duct tape, and burying it two feet deep in their backyard.
• Backdrop: Family tension and financial strains surrounded the sisters. Witnesses described a deteriorating relationship, with friends recalling that Pace feared for her safety and warned that Patton should be held responsible if anything happened to her.
• Investigation: Concerned friends discovered Pace’s belongings and a fresh dirt pile in the backyard after she stopped replying to messages and her car remained at home. Police responded after friends found a way into the house. Patton was found nearby, unfazed.
• Evidence: Surveillance footage, financial records, shifting statements by Patton, and a handwritten letter referencing violent thoughts added significant weight to the prosecution’s case.
• Trial & Verdict: The trial concluded in under two days, with a swift guilty verdict. Patton’s sentencing date is pending.

Timeline of Events

• May 2021: Offense dates back to when Pace was killed.
• May 31, 2021: Friends initiate welfare check after loss of contact.
• May 31, 2021: Police initially leave after no entry, but friends later re-enter and find evidence.
• Same Day: Police uncover the body; Patton is arrested.
• 2022-2025: Trial delays due to mental health evaluations and treatment.
• January 2026: Patton found competent to stand trial.
• January 14, 2026: Verdict delivered.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "When the police couldn't get inside the home, they left. But a separate group of Pace’s friends got in through an unlocked side door and noticed something highly unusual. A large dirt pile was in the backyard. They also found Pace's purse, driver's license, wallet, and debit card. Immediately, the police were called again, and they descended on the home." — Vanessa Richardson [03:14]
• "One friend said Pace warned her that if she were ever harmed or disappeared, Patton should be considered responsible. That chilling statement was later cited by prosecutors as evidence." — Vanessa Richardson [04:32]
• "Jurors also saw photographs of the backyard excavation and heard recordings of Patton's interviews with detectives. Prosecutors argued that her statements shifted as evidence mounted." — Vanessa Richardson [08:03]

Key Story 2: Arizona Exotic Dancer Murder Case

Summary

• Case: Mercedes Vega, an exotic dancer, was murdered in an alleged plot involving three men (Jared Gray, Kujo Young, and Senser Hayes) spanning multiple states and years.
• Background: Vega was previously the victim of an armed robbery in 2020 and set to testify against her alleged assailant (Young) before her disappearance and murder in 2023.
• Investigation: The case went cold until May 2024, when a fingerprint match from a separate arrest in Tennessee identified a suspect.
• Current Status: Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for two men. The third defendant appeared in court as this episode recorded.

Notable Moments

• "Vega’s killing went unsolved until May 2024, when a man named Senser Hayes was arrested in Tennessee... They were a match for the fingerprints in Vega's car." — Vanessa Richardson [09:13]
• “The arrests indicate small steps towards getting justice for Mercedes.” — Vanessa Richardson [10:03]

Key Story 3: Wisconsin Storage Unit Child Neglect Trial

Summary

• Case: Charles Dupriest was convicted of multiple counts of child neglect after locking six children (including a newborn) in a storage unit overnight.
• Conditions: Police found the children inside a filthy, unventilated storage space after responding to a facility employee’s report.
• Parental Situation: Both parents claimed homelessness. Surveillance showed repeated overnight placement of children in the unit, locked from outside.
• Trial Outcome: Swift guilty verdict; sentencing is pending for both parents.

Notable Quotes

• “Testimony established the space had no electricity, no ventilation, no running water and no bathroom access. Officers said the floor was cluttered with trash and soiled items and that the unit smelled strongly of urine and feces.” — Vanessa Richardson [12:28]
• "The case was not about poverty but about safety." — Vanessa Richardson [13:59]

Key Story 4: Philadelphia NCAA Basketball Game-Fixing Indictment

Summary

• Case: 26 individuals charged in a federal point-shaving and game-fixing conspiracy involving NCAA Division 1 men's basketball and Chinese Basketball Association games.
• Scheme: Players were paid tens of thousands to manipulate their in-game performance; former NBA player Antonio Blakeney is among those charged.
• Duration: Scheme spanned from September 2022 to February 2025.
• Categories of Charges: Wire fraud, conspiracy, sports bribery.

Notable Moment

• "Prosecutors emphasized that the alleged conduct undermined the integrity of professional sports and exploited international gambling markets." — Vanessa Richardson [16:00]

Bonus: Feature on Famous Mountain and Wilderness Disappearances

(From partner show, “Murder True Crime Stories”)

Cases Covered

• Dyatlov Pass (1959)—Soviet hikers’ deaths:
  • “The tent was still standing, partially buried in snow, but it had been cut open from the inside... The hikers had fled the tent at night in sub zero temperatures, many without boots or adequate clothing... Some hikers died from hypothermia alone. Others suffered massive internal trauma, including crushed ribs and skull fractures without corresponding external wounds.” — Vanessa Richardson [21:28]
• Death Valley German family disappearance (1996)
• Joshua Tree: Bill Iwasco disappearance (2010)

Key Takeaway

• "Environment, mountains, deserts and high wilderness destroy context. They erase footprints, rearrange objects, alter bodies and collapse timelines." — Vanessa Richardson [26:45]

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [00:49] – Episode begins; Florida Backyard Murder headline
• [01:58] – Detailed breakdown of the Patton/Pace case
• [09:20] – Mercedes Vega killing developments (Arizona)
• [11:59] – Wisconsin storage unit child neglect trial outcome
• [15:30] – Philadelphia NCAA game-fixing indictment coverage
• [20:49] – Spotlight on wilderness disappearances (Dyatlov Pass et al.)

Memorable Quotes

• "One friend said Pace warned her that if she were ever harmed or disappeared, Patton should be considered responsible. That chilling statement was later cited by prosecutors as evidence." — Vanessa Richardson [04:32]
• "Jurors also saw photographs of the backyard excavation and heard recordings of Patton's interviews with detectives. Prosecutors argued that her statements shifted as evidence mounted." — Vanessa Richardson [08:03]
• "The wilderness doesn’t keep secrets because it’s mysterious. It keeps secrets because it doesn’t care.” — Vanessa Richardson [27:50]

Episode Tone & Style

Vanessa Richardson maintains a calm, focused, yet urgent tone throughout, typical for news-style true crime podcasts. The narrative is clear, empathetic, and sometimes chilling, especially when referencing witness warnings and the physical evidence in the cases discussed.

Overall:
A briskly paced but thorough true-crime news roundup covering shocking family murder, interstate conspiracy, child neglect, and wide-ranging sports corruption—anchored by expert narration and fact-based storytelling you can trust.