“I Killed Patti Joseph”: Repeat Killer’s Confession Ends 20-Year Fight for Justice

Daughter and key witness speak out after decades of frustration with investigation of man with prior murder conviction

YREKA, Calif. — After two decades of anguish and unanswered questions, the family of Patricia Joseph finally heard the words they had been waiting for: “I killed Patti Joseph.”

Those stark words came from 77-year-old Philip Gregory Frase during what began as a routine pre-trial conference Tuesday afternoon in Courtroom 4 of Siskiyou County Superior Court. Case 23CF01107, People vs. Frase, Philip William Gregory, was scheduled for 1:30 PM as a pre-trial conference but became the moment that brought closure to a cold case that had haunted SisQ since 2005.

“We Looked Identical in the Mirror”

Standing on the courthouse steps after the emotional hearing, Allison Joseph — Patricia’s daughter — reflected on the bittersweet nature of the day’s events.

“Long time coming,” Allison said, her voice heavy with emotion. “The one thing is that it does not bring back this face. I asked this face.” When asked if she resembled her murdered mother, Allison replied simply: “Yes, we looked identical in the mirror.”

Despite the pain of loss that will never fade, Allison expressed deep gratitude for those who refused to let her mother’s case go cold. “Really appreciate those that did not give up. The cold case girls, Nathan Mendez, and investigator Young. Being a 100% supporter of the cold case program.”

“I Was Right for 20 F-ing Years”

Tamara Howell, whose testimony proved instrumental in the case, spoke with the raw emotion of someone who had fought for truth for two decades.

“Philip belonged behind bars in 1977,” Howell declared, referencing Frase’s prior conviction for assault with a firearm in Hawaii. “My pointing out the broken arm was instrumental in identification. We finally know I was right for 20 f-ing years.”

Howell’s comments reflect the frustration many felt with the original investigation, which she and others had criticized as inadequate from the beginning.

Courtroom Drama: From Denial to Confession

The hearing itself was filled with dramatic moments. Initially, when asked to state what happened, Frase claimed he was drunk and had “no idea what happened.” The District Attorney’s office immediately pulled their plea offer in response to this denial.

Judge Lawrence called for a recess, stating “wait, wait, let’s take a moment,” and Frase consulted privately with his attorney. When court resumed, everything changed.

Frase looked directly at the judge and made his stark confession: “I killed Patti Joseph.”

Pleading guilty to manslaughter isn’t the justice we hoped for—but it’s more than we’ve had for the last 20 years. Hearing him say the words, “I killed Patty Joseph,” was all the closure we ever needed.
It’s now on record, and it’s something he can never take back.
True justice won’t come from the sentence he serves. It will come when his name is forgotten, his body is gone, and he leaves behind no legacy. But my Grandma—Patty Joseph—will live on.
My family will carry her story. My children will grow up knowing the love she gave me, the warmth she brought to every room, and the way she made food a language of care. That’s the justice she deserves.
While he sits in a prison cell, fading into nothing, we will celebrate her—loudly, lovingly, and endlessly. Because she is the one worth remembering.

PJ BOCK (Grandson to Patrica Joseph, source- SCSO FB PR comments)

A Case That Nearly Went Unsolved

Patricia Joseph, 56, was reported missing from her Fort Jones residence on July 15, 2005. Three days later, rafters discovered her body in the Klamath River near Ash Creek Bridge. The forensic autopsy revealed she died from multiple blunt force traumas and asphyxia.

The case remained unsolved until 2021, when Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue created a dedicated cold case team. Using modern forensic advances, investigators resubmitted evidence to the Department of Justice, producing “compelling results” that connected Frase to the killing.

Prior Criminal History Revealed

During Tuesday’s hearing, it was revealed that Frase had a prior strike conviction for assault with a firearm in Hawaii from 1977 — nearly 30 years before Patricia’s murder. Under California’s Three Strikes law, this prior conviction carried enhanced penalties.

Unanswered Questions: Are There More Victims?

The revelation that Frase was a repeat killer has raised disturbing questions in the community about whether there could be additional victims. The Schmidt case in Mendocino County revealed a particularly cold-blooded individual – after killing Schmidt with a pipe during an argument over marijuana, Frase dragged the body by the neck with an ATV, tied it to a tree, and covered it with brush. He then told investigators he hoped animals would eat the body.

Most disturbing was Frase’s attempt to cover up the crime. According to court records, he wore rubber gloves while driving Schmidt’s motor home off the property and told Schmidt’s friends that the victim had “moved away.” It was only when a concerned employee, Cody Sanderson, became suspicious and contacted authorities that the body was discovered.

The similarities in method between the Schmidt and Joseph killings, combined with the significant time gaps between his known crimes (1977 Hawaii assault, 2005 Patricia’s murder, 2010 Schmidt’s murder), have left many wondering what happened during the intervening years when Frase was free in the community.

Comments from Patricia’s family suggest ongoing concerns about Frase’s time between his release from the Schmidt case and his 2023 arrest. One family member noted that at one point, “the sheriffs office have lost track of him and are looking for him,” suggesting there was a period when authorities were concerned about his whereabouts.

Justice Delayed, Not Denied

Frase pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and admitted to the prior strike enhancement. The judge found his plea was “freely and voluntarily given with a full understanding of the nature and consequences of the offense.”

With no bail granted, Frase will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing on July 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. The previously scheduled jury trial has been vacated.

For Patricia Joseph’s family and friends, the confession marks the end of a painful chapter that began 20 years ago. However, the revelation that her killer was a repeat offender who had already served time for a strikingly similar murder has raised difficult questions about how justice was handled in his previous case.

While nothing can bring Patricia back, her loved ones can finally rest knowing that this time — unlike with the Schmidt case — Frase will face significant consequences for his actions. The case stands as a stark reminder of the importance of cold case units and the determination of investigators who refuse to let victims be forgotten, while also highlighting the critical need for appropriate sentencing in violent crimes to prevent repeat offenses.

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