GUILTY FL - Linda Patterson Slaten, 31, murdered, Lakeland, 4 Sept 1981 *Arrest*

[Legally Bland]

Article from 5 September 1981

Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search

 

[Legally Bland]

4 September 2001


Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search

 

[Legally Bland]

LAKELAND, FL (December 18, 2019) - Detectives from the Lakeland Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit have made an arrest in a 38-year-old cold case involving the murder of Linda Patterson Slaten. Joseph Clinton Mills, age 58, was recently arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail, charged with First Degree Murder, Sexual Battery, and Burglary with Assault and Battery.

[...]

A press conference will be held to discuss the case on:

Date: Thursday, December 19, 2019

ARREST MADE IN 38-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE | City of Lakeland

 

[Legally Bland]

New DNA technology leads Lakeland Police Department to arrest in 1981 murder of 31-year-old Linda Patterson Slaten. In custody is Joseph Clinton Mills, who was a youth football coach for one of Slaten’s sons.

[...]

New DNA technology offered by Parabon Nanolabs matched Mills’ DNA through a genetic genealogy report in June, according to a police report.

Lakeland police make arrest in cold case murder

 

[Legally Bland]

Affidavit attached.

JM's explanation for his DNA being at the crime scene isn't very convincing, entering and exiting through the bedroom window for consensual sex (strangulation was also consensual and he didn't know she was deceased when he left).

 

[Legally Bland]

MILLS, JOSEPH CLINTON
Booking Number: 2019-052697
Race/Sex: W/M
DOB: 1/12/1961
Height: 511
Weight: 200
Booking Date: 12/12/2019
Release Date:
Location: SJMED
Inmate Status: In Custody
Bond Eligible: NotEligible
Ready for Bond: Ready for Bond

Charge #1
Statute:
837.02. G/JURY INDICT PREJURY IN OFF PROCEED

Charge #2
Statute:
837.02. G/JURY INDICT PREJURY IN OFF PROCEED

Charge #3
Statute:
782.04 FIRST DEGREE MURDER A/O 12/16/19

Charge #4
Statute:
794.011(3)... SEXUAL BATTERY A/O 12/16/19

Charge #5
Statute:
810.02(2)(A) BURGLARY W/ ASSAULT/BATTERY A/O

Inmate Profile | Polk County Sheriff's Office

 

[Niner]

@Legally Bland - well I started to follow this case, but unfortunately it is in Polk County and for some reason - just recently - I can't access this court site anymore. Can I rely on you to tell me his next court date? TIA!

I'm interested in these cold cases where they finally have them solved! Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about this case:

One of her sons, Timothy Slaten, told detectives that Mills, who was his youth football coach, dropped him off after practice. Mills, who was 18 at the time, was questioned, but claimed he had never been in the apartment or had sexual relations with the mom.

The case was reopened in January 2017 with the help of the public genealogy databases, which match suspects’ DNA with relatives who voluntarily upload their samples, authorities said.

“Due to the advances of technology in DNA testing and the sheer passing of time, Detective Melissa Hancock pursued various investigative avenues in the case and resubmitted evidence in the case for additional testing and comparison,” Lakeland Assistant Police Chief Mike Link said Thursday at a press conference.

https://nypost.com/2019/12/19/josep...sted-for-linda-patterson-slatens-1981-murder/

 

[jaejae]

Another report about this case:

Linda Slaten Murder - Son: 'I trusted this man'

Another recent report:

Son's former football coach arrested for mom's 1981 murder

 

[jaejae]

And here is a report about the recent legal developments in this case:

Grand jury indicts Lakeland man in 1981 cold case murder

 

[Legally Bland]

@Legally Bland - well I started to follow this case, but unfortunately it is in Polk County and for some reason - just recently - I can't access this court site anymore. Can I rely on you to tell me his next court date? TIA!

I'm interested in these cold cases where they finally have them solved! Thanks for starting this thread.

BBM.

Yeah that's fine, I may need a reminder. I'll try at least, but I'm also in the EU (maybe not for much longer) so it's weird I can view the site and you can't.

 

[jaejae]

Here is a video report about this case:

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[Legally Bland]

Press conference from yesterday:

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[Niner]

And here is a report about the recent legal developments in this case:

Grand jury indicts Lakeland man in 1981 cold case murder

Can someone tell me the "date" of indictment - I don't want to register at this site to read the article. And also - is there a "hearing date" for his case? TIA!

BBM.

Yeah that's fine, I may need a reminder. I'll try at least, but I'm also in the EU (maybe not for much longer) so it's weird I can view the site and you can't.

It was only a week or so ago that I couldn't access this anymore - I really don't know why - I appreciate your help Legally Bland! I'll tag you when I need more info!

 

[Niner]

Also....

https://nypost.com/2019/12/19/josep...sted-for-linda-patterson-slatens-1981-murder/

One of her sons, Timothy Slaten, told detectives that Mills, who was his youth football coach, dropped him off after practice. Mills, who was 18 at the time,

But - that can't be true. He should be 21 at that time. His birthday is 1/12/61 per Legally Bland's post #6. The crime happened on 9/4/1982 - making him 21, not 18... or at least that's what my calculations come up with!

 

[jaejae]

Here is another report about this case:

A single mother was killed in 1981. Her son’s youth football coach has now been arrested

 

[jaejae]

Here are a couple more reports about this case:

A single mother was killed in 1981. Her son’s youth football coach is now a suspect

Another one:

Mom Was Found Sexually Assaulted, Killed in 1981 — and DNA Allegedly Links Son's Ex-Football Coach

 

[PayrollNerd]

Well, well, well. I did my DNA with 23andMe in May and with Ancestry in June. I was trying to figure out who I was and find a brother that was adopted out. So, I uploaded my data to GEDmatch, ftDNA and MyHeritage.

Good news: I found out who my Dad was (deceased). His family has been great. I found my brother too. Great guy.

Bad news: This piece of S*%$*# perp descends from my maternal grandfather’s side. He is a year older than me. Holy Sick Relative Batman!!!

Moral of the story: Upload your DNA and get these creeps off the street please!!!

 

[jaejae]

Here a report from CNN about the arrest in this case:

DNA leads to arrest of former football coach in 1981 case - CNN Video

 

[Legally Bland]

Well, well, well. I did my DNA with 23andMe in May and with Ancestry in June. I was trying to figure out who I was and find a brother that was adopted out. So, I uploaded my data to GEDmatch, ftDNA and MyHeritage.

Good news: I found out who my Dad was (deceased). His family has been great. I found my brother too. Great guy.

Bad news: This piece of S*%$*# perp descends from my maternal grandfather’s side. He is a year older than me. Holy Sick Relative Batman!!!

Moral of the story: Upload your DNA and get these creeps off the street please!!!

Was it your profile that led them to Mills? I'm not expecting a reply, so don't feel you have to answer. I appreciate this is kind of personal. You may not even know.

So glad genetic genealogy has introduced some nice new family into your life and you're also advocating for how it can solve crimes.