TAMPA, FL – A long-standing sibling relationship ended in tragedy when a Tampa woman was found guilty of murdering her sister and concealing the crime in their backyard, authorities said.

Debra Patton, 72, was convicted this week on a charge of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of her younger sister, Karen Pais, 66, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave behind the home the two shared for years, according to prosecutors.

The case unfolded in late May 2021, when friends of Pais grew worried after losing contact with her for several days. Concerned for her safety, they notified law enforcement, which prompted a welfare check at the sisters’ home on Cypress Park Street. Investigators arrived to find Patton at the residence, but she claimed to have no knowledge of Pais’ whereabouts.

Inside the house, deputies observed that Pais’ personal belongings—including her vehicle, purse, identification, and credit cards—had been left behind, raising further suspicions. A break in the case came when a neighbor, who worked in law enforcement, shared security video footage. The recording captured Pais entering the home for the last time on May 24, 2021. The video also revealed Patton hauling multiple large trash bags to the curb several days later.

Authorities noticed a section of freshly disturbed earth in the backyard as they canvassed the property. Following the procurement of a search warrant, deputies excavated the area, unearthing a trash bag shaped like a human body buried roughly two feet underground. Inside, they found a body wearing a necklace that spelled out “Karen,” later positively identified as Pais by the medical examiner. An autopsy revealed that she died of a gunshot wound to her chest.

During police questioning, Patton acknowledged arguments with her sister but denied any involvement in her death. She did not elaborate further, despite officers reading her Miranda rights and urging her to provide more details.

Testimony from Pais’ friends at trial painted a picture of a rocky relationship that had deteriorated over recent years. Witnesses described Patton as increasingly withdrawn and uncommunicative, often avoiding neighbors and no longer participating in social activities she once enjoyed with her sister.

Prior to her disappearance, Pais reportedly confided in others that if anything were to happen to her, her sister would be the likely cause. These concerns gained renewed significance after Pais vanished, and her friends repeatedly pressed Patton for answers, particularly after noticing the fresh dirt in the yard. According to witnesses, Patton offered no explanation.

The legal proceedings were extended for several years, complicated by court delays and periods in which Patton was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. After years of uncertainty, the case reached its conclusion with Patton’s conviction.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 16, when Patton will learn her fate for the crime that shook a close-knit neighborhood and ended a family bond in violence.