Source Siskiyou County Sheriff’s FB Page
On February 6, 2023, Philip William Frase, age 75, was arrested in Yreka, California, by investigators with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office for the 2005 killing of Patricia Joseph.
On July 15, 2005, Patricia Joseph, age 56 at the time, was reported missing from her residence in Fort Jones, California. Patricia was found three days later in the Klamath River near the Ash Creek Bridge along State Route 96, approximately 27 miles north of Fort Jones. She was partially clothed and had been in the water for several days. The forensic autopsy revealed Patricia died from multiple blunt force traumas and asphyxia.
In early 2021, Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue created a cold case and forensic evidence team to assist Major Crimes Detectives in their investigations. The focus of this team was to prioritize the numerous cold cases and review physical evidence using modern advancements. Since 2005, science and technology has advanced significantly to bring new capabilities to forensic evidence analysis. The cold case team completed a comprehensive review of the investigation and re-submitted evidence to the Department of Justice for fresh analysis, which produced compelling results connecting Frase to the killing of Patricia.
On February 8, 2023, Frase was formally arraigned in the Siskiyou County Superior Court and charged with the unlawful killing of Patricia Joseph. Frase remains in-custody at the Siskiyou County Jail with a 2-million-dollar bail. The cold case team will continue to focus on cases of a similar nature. According to Sheriff LaRue, “This arrest is the result of the determination of our investigators and reflects our faithful commitment to pursuing justice for victims of violent crimes and their families. Our cold case team will continue to focus on these cases with dedication. I would like to commend everyone for their devotion to this investigation and thank the District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Our hearts are with Patricia’s family, and we hope this arrest begins the path toward closure and healing.”
If you have any information pertaining to this investigation, please contact the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 841-2900, press option 9, and request to speak with a detective.
