Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Cold Blooded’ of ABC’s ’20/20′ delves deep into the mysterious murder of Eric Garcia, a renowned surgeon who was found dead under suspicious circumstances in March 2017 in a remote Alaskan town. His secret lover, Jordan Joplin, turned out to be responsible for the killing. As the investigation progressed, the detectives gathered a mountain of evidence against him. Ultimately, he was brought to justice for the crimes.
Jordan Joplin Requested a Welfare Check on Dr. Eric Garcia After Killing Him
Jordan Joplin was an exotic dancer who had also worked in several adult films. It was around 2011 when he reportedly crossed paths with Dr. Eric Garcia, a prominent Ketchikan, Alaska, surgeon. As their bond as friends grew stronger, they felt a romantic connection between them, leading to the start of a secret relationship. Around the same time, he also had a couple of run-ins with the law, related to an attempted theft of GPS units and stalking his ex-girlfriend. Several years later, on March 15, 2017, Jordan visited Eric at his Ketchikan residence and returned to Washington State on March 17.
The next day, when Eric failed to show up at Jordan’s house in Washington, Jordan informed the police about the same and claimed that he had last seen him on March 16. About 10 days later, on March 27, he revisited Eric’s Ketchikan house and requested that police conduct a welfare check. He produced the house’s keys, which he claimed were given to him by Eric, and let the authorities inside the residence, where Eric was found dead. Since there were no signs of forced entry, the detectives considered all possibilities. However, the autopsy revealed that the cause of his death was the fatal combination of morphine, methadone, diazepam, and lorazepam. It turned out that Jordan was responsible for administering the fatal dose.
Jordan Joplin Transferred Tons of Eric’s Belongings to His Washington House
Jordan, who told the police that he was a massage therapist, had also stolen several valuables from Eric’s house, including jewelry, watches, electronics, a collection of coins, and liquor. The investigation revealed that Jordan had gotten three shipping containers delivered to Eric’s residence on March 17. When the detectives saw the security footage, they saw the killer loading those containers with the deceased’s belongings to be delivered to his house in Maple Valley, Washington. They managed to get hold of the shipment before Jordan, only to find that they were filled with more than 4,000 pounds of the doctor’s belongings that were missing from his house. Thus, they executed a search of his Washington home, where they also found Eric’s phone and wallet.
Upon talking to Jordan’s friends, the investigators learned that the surgeon had been financially supporting him. As the detectives delved deeper, they discovered that Jordan had transferred more than $30,000 from Eric’s bank accounts into his account between March 16 and March 30. They also recovered an incriminating video from the killer’s phone, showing the doctor in an unconscious state. Thus, armed with all the evidence against him, the police arrested Jordan Joplin on March 31, 2017, in Seattle and charged him with theft. In the following weeks, they also collected enough evidence against him related to the surgeon’s death. As a result, he was also indicted for the murder of Dr. Eric Garcia in July 2017.
Jordan Joplin is Currently Incarcerated at an Alaska Prison Facility
Jordan Joplin pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, including first-degree and second-degree murder. After nearly six years, his trial for the murder of Eric Garcia commenced in Anchorage, Alaska. The prosecution presented a series of evidence against the defendant to the jury, including the video from his own phone. On the other hand, the defense argued that all the pieces of evidence were circumstantial. Jordan also took the stand to defend himself. He claimed that Eric had planned to relocate to Washington, which is why he transferred the belongings to his place.
However, despite his claims of innocence, on June 1, 2023, the jury convicted him of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree theft in connection with the March 2017 killing of 58-year-old Eric Garcia. The following year, on April 9, 2024, Jordan’s sentencing took place. Eric’s brother, Saul Garcia, took the stand and addressed the convict. He stated, “Joplin, you’ve made your decision,” Garcia said. “You have chosen your fate. I’m here today to seek justice for Eric and collect on all of your failed gambles. To ensure your unconscious wish of becoming imprisoned for life becomes a reality. I’m here for that.”
Requesting a lower sentence for Jordan, his half-brother, Blake Joplin, took the stand and tried to convince the judge by painting a different picture. He claimed, “Jordan is loving. He’s just a generally really happy individual, very positive.” Jordan also testified for himself through his attorney, who read, “Mr. Joplin has asked me to note that he acknowledges Dr. Garcia’s death and the effect it had on the family and Dr. Garcia’s friends and the community of Ketchikan and that he maintains his innocence of the crime.” Ultimately, Jordan was sentenced to 99 years in prison for his crimes. As of today, 40-year-old Jordan is serving his sentence at Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla, Alaska, with his scheduled release date set for March 2083.
Read More: Dr. Eric Garcia Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
