Shivangi Sinha
The year 2008 proved to be a challenging one for law enforcement in North Carolina. By midyear, police were investigating three homicide cases involving women, one of which was that of 23-year-old Army Specialist Megan Touma, whose body was found in a Fayetteville motel. Initially, the crime seemed linked to the Zodiac Killer, but further evidence pointed to Edgar Patino, a fellow Army member and the father of Touma’s unborn child. ABC’s ‘20/20: You Took My Daughter’ and Dateline’s ‘The Trouble in Bardstown’ reference this case while highlighting the various investigations taking place in the area at the time.
Edgar Patino Tried to Mislead the Investigation by Sending an Anonymous Letter
Edgar Patino joined the US Army in 2005 and was deployed to Iraq from November 2005 to October 2006. He served with the 18th Engineer Brigade, stationed in Bamberg, Germany, from at least November 2005 until December 2007, before transferring to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he worked as a combat engineer. He later pursued studies in psychological warfare and became deeply involved in that field. On June 12, 2008, Army Specialist Megan Touma arrived at Fort Bragg after serving three years in Germany. She was staying at a motel in Fayetteville, and the last recorded use of her room key was on June 13.
On June 21, a motel employee noticed a foul odor coming from Touma’s room. Upon checking, they discovered her remains in the bathtub. She was seven months pregnant at the time, and the body showed signs of strangulation. On the motel mirror, a circle with a cross drawn in lipstick was found. It was a symbol matching one associated with the Zodiac Killer, leading police to initially suspect she might have been a victim of a serial killer. A few days later, a media outlet received an anonymous letter claiming responsibility for Touma’s death. The letter, typed and featuring the same symbol, was handed over to law enforcement.
However, police were also exploring other potential leads in the case. They confirmed that Patino was the father of Touma’s unborn child. Since he was married to another woman at the time, investigators suspected there was more to the story. They discovered that Patino had purchased a typewriter shortly before the anonymous letter was sent to the media. Authorities theorized that the relationship between Patino and Touma had soured, possibly because she was unaware of his marriage, leading to an argument that ultimately resulted in her murder in the motel room. In July 2008, Patino was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Related
Edgar Patino is Free From the North Carolina Prison Today
Edgar Patino was held without bond as prosecutors pursued the death penalty. In November 2010, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 16 to 20.5 years in prison, with credit for time already served. His projected release date was November 2024, and prison records indicate that his parole has been terminated. His last known location was the Catawba Correctional Center in Maiden, North Carolina, indicating that he has been released and is no longer under supervision. He is currently 49 years old and appears to be maintaining a low profile since his release.
