Lake County Sheriff’s officers said on Wednesday that the body found in Poinciana on Tuesday during the search for 81-year-old Janet L. Patrick has been positively identified as her. Patrick, a Leesburg resident, was last seen leaving a Publix supermarket on October 18th in the company of a male sex offender on probation.
A brief statement released by the Sheriff’s Office said “the body has been positively identified by dental records as being that of Janet Louise Patrick”. The statement said that the “manner and cause of death will be pending further testing by the Medical Examiner’s Office.”
The suspect in Janet Patrick’s disappearance, Donald Otis Williams is in custody in the Lake County Detention Center on a warrant for a violation of his sexual offender probation after he absconded to Polk County, where he was located and taken into custody for the warrant on Saturday, October 23, 2010. At the time Williams was taken into custody, he was in possession of Mrs. Patrick’s vehicle and her credit cards were found in his wallet.
On Monday, October 25, 2010, Williams stated publicly in interviews with various news media organizations that he was with Mrs. Patrick when the two were carjacked by an unknown black male in the Shoppes of Lake Village parking lot in Leesburg on the date she was last seen (October 18, 2010). He further indicated that the unknown suspect drove them to the Poinciana area in Polk County, where Williams was able to flee after observing Mrs. Patrick in the trunk appearing to be deceased. He stated this observation and his escape took place in an undeveloped, wooded area somewhere in the eastern portion of Polk County and further stated that this could possibly be where Mrs. Patrick is located. No evidence to support the carjacking claim has been found.
Williams was caught on surveillance camera at a Publix supermarket with Ms. Patrick on Monday, October 18th which is the last time Ms. Patrick was seen. Surveillance showed Williams leaving the supermarket with Ms. Patrick and driving away in her 2000 White Chevy Impala. Williams had been identified as a person of interest in Ms. Williams disappearance.
Deputies located Ms. Patrick’s vehicle in Polk County at a vacant business next to a Raceway gas station which is located just south of I-4 on US Hwy 27.
Since making public statements, detectives have attempted to interview Williams upon his being taken into custody, but he did not cooperate and appear to be credible or forthcoming.
Williams has not yet been charged in the death of Janet Patrick, as the investigation is ongoing.
