On Saturday, September 28, 1974, around 6:30 p.m., seven-year-old Patricia Lee Kuzara left her baby sitter’s home carrying her little red and black blanket and started walking home. It was 2½ miles to her home on Putney Road but Patricia never arrived. Patricia’s mother, Nancy Kuzara, became concerned when Patricia did not arrive at the house and immediately called the Sheriff’s Department to report her daughter missing. The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team were immediately activated and personnel scoured the area for Patricia.

On the morning of Sunday, September 29, 1974, three young boys discovered the body of Patricia Kuzara, as they were on their way to church. The child’s body was found in a field adjacent to the First Baptist Church on Midland Road, which was about five blocks from her house. Patricia’s death was attributed to blunt force trauma and the apparent motive for the crime was of sexual nature. Although an extensive investigation was conducted, no viable suspects were identified during the original investigation and the case remains unsolved.

Cold Case detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder of Patricia Kuzara, but detectives’ still need the public's help to identify the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact us in one of the following ways:

• Sheriff’s Homicide Detail - 858-285-6330 (during business hours)
• Sheriff’s Communications Center - 858-565-5200 (outside business hours)
• Crime Stoppers - 888-580-8477
• E-mail Homicide Detail
• Online Tip Form (Crime Stoppers)