Crime Immemorial

At the time of her death, Patricia was twenty-four years old and had established herself as a responsible and ambitious young professional. She worked as a manager at the 9 West shoe store in Woodland Hills Mall, a popular shopping destination in Tulsa. Friends and family remembered her as sweet, hardworking, and full of life, with no known enemies that could explain the violence that befell her.

Patricia lived alone in apartment 1416 at the Windsail Apartments, located near 71st Street and Mingo Road in South Tulsa. She had taken steps to ensure her safety by subscribing to a residential alarm system provided by Network Multi-Family Security Corporation, which she signed up for as part of her lease agreement. This detail would later become central to a legal battle surrounding her death.

On the morning of April 11th, 1988, Patricia appeared to be following her usual routine. She had gotten dressed for work, suggesting she was preparing to leave for her shift at the mall when she was attacked. Authorities believe the assailant accosted her inside the apartment, leading to a violent struggle, primarily in the bedroom. There were no signs of forced entry, raising questions about whether the killer was known to her or had gained access through other means.

At ten thirty-three a.m., Patricia’s alarm system was triggered, sending a signal to the security company’s monitoring center. Operators attempted to call the apartment but received no answer. They then notified the apartment complex manager, who reportedly instructed them to disregard the alarm by ten thirty-eight a.m. No immediate response was dispatched to check on the resident, a decision that would later fuel controversy.

When Patricia failed to arrive at work that morning, her concerned coworkers contacted her mother, Jimmie. Sensing something was wrong, Jimmie asked neighbors to check on her daughter. Around eleven a.m., they entered the unit and discovered Patricia’s body.

Tulsa police were quickly called to the scene. Sgt. Steve Steele noted that the bedroom showed signs of a significant struggle, indicating Patricia had fought back against her attacker. Initial investigations focused on her personal life, relationships, and any potential threats, but no immediate suspects emerged.

The medical examiner determined that Patricia died from blunt force trauma to the head, with additional superficial stab wounds contributing to her injuries. The attack was described as brutal and targeted, with Detective Eddie Majors of the Tulsa Police Department later suggesting that someone may have been watching her and had a specific motive.

Over the years, the Tulsa Police Department, in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), has pursued various angles in the case. Detective Majors, who has been involved for much of the investigation, stated that despite efforts, no viable suspect has ever been developed. Police have looked at individuals of interest but lacked sufficient evidence to make arrests.

In 2018, around the 30th anniversary of the murder, authorities announced they had located a new potential piece of evidence, offering hope for a breakthrough. However, no further public details were released, and the case remains unsolved.

In the aftermath, Patricia’s estate, administered by her mother Jimmie, filed a lawsuit against Network Multi-Family Security Corporation, alleging negligence in their response to the alarm. The suit claimed that the company’s failure to act promptly contributed to her death, as a timely intervention might have saved her life. Court documents revealed that Patricia had signed the security agreement but did not initial the back page containing limitation clauses.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that the contract’s limitation of liability clause was enforceable, capping the company’s potential damages at $250 for ordinary negligence. The court also found no defects in the alarm system itself and determined that Network was not liable for the criminal actions of the killer.

Jimmie Elsken became a tireless advocate for her daughter’s case, vowing to seek answers until her last days. Tragically, Jimmie passed away in 2018 without learning the identity of her daughter’s murderer.

As of 2025, the murder of Patricia Elsken is classified as a cold case by both the Tulsa Police Department and the OSBI. Advances in forensic technology could potentially reopen leads, but no public breakthroughs have been announced.