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Can a talented composite artist help catch a killer?
CASE DETAILS In the fall of 1993, the entire country was touched when 12-year-old Polly Klaas was abducted from her Northern California home and savagely murdered. Thousands of copies of a composite sketch of the suspect were distributed by police. In the end, its stunning accuracy helped confirm the identity of the prime suspect, Richard Allen Davis. Davis is now in jail, charged with the kidnap and murder of Polly Klaas. Law enforcement’s secret weapon in the Klaas case was composite artist Jeanne Boylan. Without her sketch of Richard Davis, he might still be on the loose. These days, the FBI and numerous local jurisdictions compete for Jeanne’s time. They know that her drawings can help solve the most difficult cases.  Jeanne Boylan In the mid-1970s, Jeanne worked at a Sheriff’s Department in Multnomah County, Oregon. The job gave her a close-up look at how suspect sketches were made. In many cases, Jeanne did not like what she saw:
Jeanne was convinced she could do better, and in 1980, she got her chance. A supervisor gave Jeanne one of his most difficult cases—an unsolved rape. According to Jeanne, it was a case that had languished for months with virtually no leads:
Jeanne was right. As a direct result of her composite, a suspect was arrested and later convicted. More cases followed and Jeanne’s reputation grew. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the FBI turned to Jeanne in the troubling case of 16-year-old Jonathan Francia. On January 12, 1994, Jonathan was in his car when he was abducted by two strangers. Five days later, his body was found in the trunk of his burned-out car. One of the killers, known only as “Jason,” has yet to be found.  Jonathan’s body was found in a burnt out car Investigators asked Jeanne to meet with a key witness, Scott Johnston. Scott had innocently spent several hours with the killers at his home in Winslow, Arizona. Jeanne instinctively began to assess Scott’s potential as an eyewitness:
As Scott told his story, Jeanne began to sketch the killer named Jason. Scott had met Jason on January 13, 1994. That day, a friend of Scott’s named Trena Richardson was staying at the trailer, along with her three children. They were awaiting the arrival of Trena’s husband, Paul, who had gone to Alabama. According to Scott, Paul pulled in around 6:00 AM, accompanied by a stranger:
 Jeanne’s sketches have solved many crimes Scott also noticed something strange about Jason’s hands:
Scott told Jeanne that he and Trena went out to run errands around 9:00 AM. When they returned, Paul and Jason were washing the car:
At the time, Scott had no idea that the body of Jonathan Francia was in the trunk An hour later, Trena and Paul said they were leaving to escort Jason to the main highway. It was the last time Scott would see Jason:
 Jeanne listens closely to eyewitnesses Four days later, an eyewitness tip led police to a remote corner of the desert, 30 miles from Scott’s trailer. There they found the burned-out car and Jonathan Francia’s charred remains. Paul Richardson was arrested two weeks later. He admitted that he and Jason had abducted and murdered Jonathan. Two days after his confession, Richardson committed suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell. It was now up to Jeanne to help find Jason. Based on Scott Johnston’s descriptions, Jeanne drew three composite sketches. According to Scott, the sketches were quite accurate:
Jeanne’s sketches of the man called “Jason” have provided some hope for Jonathan Francia’s family. Authorities believe he has relatives in either Pinetop or Payson, Arizona, and also Dallas, Texas. Jason is described as 5’10”, with a medium build. He smokes, chews tobacco, and wears western-style clothes, including a horsehair belt. He should be regarded as extremely dangerous. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season six with Robert Stack and in season three with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Jeremy
I believe Jason lives in Kentucky. I ran across an individual in a Bar in worked in College, and hadn’t seen this episode prior until 2005. My Security Manager told me when he was outside listening to a few guys smoking one of them laughed about killing a man in Dallas. The group laughed him off and he said to ask about a kid in a trunk in New Mexico. He stole a car and killed a teenager in Alberqurge and cleaned him up at a some dead friend’s trailer. He used his friend who’s girlfriend he was seeing. I didn’t think anything of it then but he told my Security he had done things in Onsboro KY and Georgia. Real Unsettling Man. Drove a 1996 to 1998 Brown Rusted exterior Chevy 4 door with a hitch. I’d be happy to Help.
Unsolved Mysteries
Thank you for your comment, Jeremy. We urge you to reach out to the FBI or send us a tip.
Jom
That sounds like a credible account but how do you know they weren’t just saying that to get attention and a laugh. People say stupid stuff just to get noticed. Did the guy look like the sketch but 10 years older ? You should definitely call it in and have them check the guy out .
Ginger White
Is there anyway I can get ahold of Gil merino.the investigator on the Jonathan Francis case.
Sheliah R Hipps
If you have a tip there is a place where it says submit a tip.
Ribert
Who are you? Do you have information on the case?
Rose
I might. It might be as easy as checking finger prints. What number do I need to contact? I called and went to answering machine twice.
Crystal
Does anyone know why Jonathan Francia was abducted? Was it for him (sex)? For his car? What was the reason?
Jon
They robbed him for gas money because the car they were in ran out of gas in Albuquerque. That’s just my opinion that they abducted him to keep him quiet so he couldn’t identify them .
Jon
They ran out of gas in Albuquerque and robbed and killed Jonathan for his car and to get to winslow where Paul’s wife lived and to kill him to keep him quiet from identifying them .
Rose
How can I get more information about this case? Was this victim shot in the head? Was “Jason”‘s eye color brown? Did he have dirty blonde hair? Was “Jason” in early 20s? Is this case drug(meth or crack) related? Was Paul a drug addict? There are some human remains found in Arizona, 1995. Were they all killed in the same manner?
Valentina Salazar
Is your uncle married? Is he still alive?
Rose
He is in other prison for murder. Check finger prints against Washington state inmates.
Jon
Where were the remains found in AZ? According to Trina Richardson , Paul murdered Jason and dumped his body near east clear creek . That was on the way from Winslow to pinetop-payson where they said the killer Jason was supposedly heading . Maybe it’s him if you can verify where in az those remains were discovered.
Her name is Trena not Trina
The wife’s name is misspelled. It is Trena not Trina. See here
http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/1994/04/29/125075-jury-indicts-suspect-s-widow-in-teen-s-death/
and
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=894&dat=19940708&id=2kcOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uX0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6787,896329&hl=en
unsolved
Thank you!
Jefff
I don’t understand why Paul didn’t tell police exatly who Jason i….
ernest
What was AM’s tip has the case been updated with a capture
unsolved
We have not heard back yet from AM.
unsolved
AM – please email us with more information about your tip – unsolved@unsolved.com