When Patricia “Patti” Barrett got on a bus from Dallas to Salt Lake City in 1978, her family had no way of knowing they’d never see her again. For over 30 years they were left wondering what happened to Patti, until 2012, when, with the help of Patti’s daughter and DNA testing, Salt Lake County detectives were able to connect her to the remains of a 1978 Jane Doe. Nearly 12 years have passed since that identification, and investigators are still trying to figure out what happened to Patti, and who’s responsible for her death.
Courtesy of Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake
Episode Info
If you know anything about the murder of Patricia “Patti” Barrett in Salt Lake City, Utah in September of 1978, or if you know anyone who may have been in the Salt Lake City Jail who could have crossed paths with Patti during that period of time, we urge you to call Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Ben Pender directly at 385-468-9816 or email him at bpender@saltlakecounty.gov.
Patti Barrett on her engagement day. Courtesy: Patti’s daughter, Sibby Barrett
A photo of Patti. Courtesy: Patti’s daughter, Sibby Barrett
Patti on her wedding day. Courtesy: Patti’s daughter, Sibby Barrett
Original crime scene photos. Courtesy of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Original crime scene photos. Courtesy of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Original crime scene photos. Courtesy of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Photos of the area where Patti’s body was found. Taken by audiochuck staff.
Episode Source Material
Original reporting by Madison Cavalchire
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT): Women’s Body Found via newspapers.com.
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT): Post-Mortem Shows Little via newspapers.com.
- Utah Department of Public Safety (Utah): Patricia Ann Barrett Criminal Identification (BCI).
- Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake (Salt Lake City, UT): Patricia Barrett Cold Case.
- NamUs Up #8322
- Sibby Barrett Letter to ME
- Patricia Barrett Loitering Arrest Police Report
- Sibby Barrett Investigation timeline