Patricia Plummer Mondrik

A woman is found stabbed and beat to death after she doesn't show up for work
In the late summer of 1981, concern grew for Patricia Plummer Mondrik when she failed to arrive for her job in San Antonio, Texas. Her employer, unable to reach her, became alarmed. The worry escalated on Monday, August 31st, and by the next day, the awful truth was discovered. On Tuesday, September 1, 1981, Patricia, a female resident of the city, was found deceased inside her apartment in a complex on the 9800 block of Powhattan Drive on the city's Northwest Side. The scene that awaited authorities was one of extreme violence.

Investigators determined that Patricia had been dead for several days before she was found. The attack she endured was brutal; an autopsy would later confirm she died from what police described as "massive head and facial wounds along with stab wounds." The evidence left at the scene suggested a deeply personal and violent struggle. From the initial stages of the investigation, detectives with the San Antonio Police Department believed that Patricia likely knew her assailant, and that the crime was not a random act of violence committed by a stranger.

The focus of the homicide investigation quickly turned to a person of interest who had abruptly disappeared from Patricia’s life. Authorities learned that a boyfriend she had been seeing vanished immediately before her body was discovered. Investigators believe this man may have fled the country, possibly escaping to Mexico in the days following the murder. Decades later, he has never been located or formally cleared, and detectives still wish to speak with him to learn whatever he might know about the final days of Patricia’s life and the circumstances surrounding her violent death.

The city where Patricia Mondrik was killed was a growing metropolis in the early 1980s, having surpassed a population of 785,000 in the 1980 census. San Antonio was a city of vibrant culture, known for its deep history and burgeoning music scene. However, like many urban areas across Texas at the time, it was also contending with a rising crime rate. Statewide data from that period showed an increase in homicides in urban centers. Patricia’s murder became one of the many unsolved cases that would challenge law enforcement for years to come.

The San Antonio Police Department is a large municipal agency responsible for a sprawling jurisdiction. Over the years, as leads in Patricia's case grew cold, her file was transferred to the department's Cold Case Squad. This small, dedicated unit is tasked with re-examining hundreds of unsolved homicides, some dating back decades. Using advancements in forensic technology and re-interviewing any surviving witnesses, these detectives work to bring a sense of resolution to families who have waited years, and sometimes a lifetime, for answers. The detectives are tasked with meticulously reviewing old case files, looking for any overlooked detail that might break a case open.

Decades have passed since Patricia Mondrik’s life was tragically cut short, but her case remains an open and active investigation. The passage of time has not diminished the desire of law enforcement to find the person responsible for this brutal act. As of January 2017, the San Antonio Police Department’s Cold Case Squad continues to seek new information that could finally lead to a breakthrough. They believe that even after so many years, someone, somewhere, may hold the key piece of information that can bring clarity and justice.

The investigation into the homicide of Patricia Plummer Mondrik is ongoing. Detectives are asking for the public's help in finding any evidence or information that will lead to solving this case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Antonio Police Department’s Cold Case Squad at 210-207-7635. Even a seemingly small or insignificant detail could prove to be the crucial lead that investigators need to finally close this case and provide answers about what happened to Patricia.