Yesenia Patino

Case details

Yesenia Patino was a transgender woman who was convicted in Mexico in connection with the February 1991 bludgeoning and stabbing death of her lover Dan Willoughby's wife, Trish Willoughby, during his family vacation to Mexico. She was serving a 35-year prison term there.

People

• Yesenia Patino — transgender woman; lover of Dan Willoughby; convicted in Mexico for Trish Willoughby’s murder; later testified in proceedings involving Dan Willoughby
• Dan Willoughby — Dan Willoughby was Trish Willoughby’s husband and was sentenced to death (later granted a new trial)
• Patricia “Trish” Willoughby — victim; Dan Willoughby’s wife; was killed in Mexico
• Trish Willoughby’s children — were waiting in the car at the time Patino testified in the 1992 trial; later involved in family events described
• Thera Huish — Trish Willoughby’s mother; beneficiary of Trish’s life insurance; involved in related litigation described
• Sterling Huish — Trish Willoughby’s father; described in relation to family and litigation
• Greg Miles — lawyer representing the Huishes; responded to Willoughby’s claims
• J. D. Howe / Joseph Howe — sentencing judge described in different portions of the text
• David Ochoa — Willoughby’s lawyer described in connection with the first conviction and its later overturning
• David Rozema — chief deputy county attorney for Coconino County who spoke about sentencing in 2002
• Steve Mitchell — assistant attorney general described in connection with the 1992 death sentence sentencing commentary
• Prosecutor David Rozema — described as speaking about the life terms in 2002
• Judge Alfred Rogers — described as ruling Willoughby could not continue pleading the Fifth Amendment in a lawsuit he had brought
• Mark Siegel — Phoenix attorney who wrote a book called Rocky Point about the case
• Harold Lowry — Tucson doctor staying in a nearby condo who advised Willoughby that Trish needed immediate help
• Antonio Silva — manager at Motel Senorial described in relation to movement after the killing
• Rubin “Hurricane” Carter — met Willoughby in Maricopa County Jail and was described as possibly attending a retrial
• Michael Black, Stephen Kunkle, Alan Simpson — new lawyers representing Willoughby
• Larry Hendricks — Daily Sun reporter mentioned as contributing to a story
• Laura Laughlin — writer mentioned in connection with a later portrayal of Patino
• Deborah Laake — writer mentioned in connection with a 1991 article about the case
• Jamie Tepp — former secretary mentioned in narrative detail
• Nick Huish — Trish’s brother mentioned in narrative detail
• Bob Huish — Trish’s brother mentioned in narrative detail
• Jody Critchfield — family friend mentioned in narrative detail
• Trina Janusch — Dan Willoughby’s co-worker mentioned in narrative detail
• Matol Botanical owner Sam Kalenuik — connected to ceremonial details described at the funeral
• Sam Kalenuik — owner of Matol Botanical named in funeral detail

Timeline

• February 23, 1991 — Trish Willoughby was killed by bludgeoning and stabbing in Mexico
• February 1991 — Patino was caught up in the murder investigation and testimony described
• 1982 — Patino’s sex change occurred (as stated in the narrative)
• 1990 — Patino’s role in the timing of events is described through insurance and employment details; Trish’s life insurance policy was taken out in December 1990 (as stated)
• December 1990 — a life insurance policy of $750,000 was taken out for Thera Huish and Trish’s household arrangements were described
• May 24, 1991 — the Arizona Attorney General’s Office moved to have Trish Willoughby’s body exhumed and an autopsy performed
• October 26, 1992 — Dan Willoughby was sentenced to death
• October 30, 1991 — a narrative article on the case was published
• October 19, 2000 — a narrative portrayal of Patino and proceedings was published
• January 15, 2002 — a story described Dan Willoughby’s sentencing to two consecutive life terms after conviction overturned
• June (year referenced in narrative) — a June ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge J.D. Howe about Patino’s previous testimony being inadmissible was mentioned
• November 27 (year referenced in narrative) — a new trial date was set for Dan Willoughby
• Sep. 22, 1995 — Yesenia Patino’s letter to Judge J. D. Howe
• Sep. 25, 1995 — Yesenia Patino’s letter to Chief Investigator
• Feb. 24, 1997 — Deposition of Yesenia Patino
• May 23, 2000 — Interview of Yesenia Patino
• Nov. 1, 2001 — Yesenia Patino cross examination

The offence

Patino was connected to the murder of Trish Willoughby in Mexico in February 1991. In the narrative descriptions, Patino testified that:

• Willoughby lured Trish to a rented home in the seaside town of Puerto Penasco, Mexico, and crushed her skull with a homemade mace.
• Patino entered the home after Willoughby left with his children waiting in the car and stabbed Trish.
• Patino testified in relation to making the crime look like a robbery by stealing items and scattering papers. Patino later recanted and said she killed Trish herself.

In the narrative description of her deposition and interrogation, Patino described:

• Trish was lying on a bed and glanced up just before Patino smashed her skull with a mace described as “a metal ball on a chain.”
• Patino demonstrated repeated blows and rapid alternating thrusts using two knives, “one in each hand,” and said stabbing occurred “in ‘her face, her heart, her chest, her arms, her stomach.’”
• Patino said she tried to strangle Trish with a nylon cord to finish the job.
• Patino described blood spattered on the wall and her sleeves, and tossing the murder weapon out the window as she drove away from a rented beach house.

Investigation

The narrative described that the Arizona Attorney General’s Office sought exhumation and autopsy after Trish was found in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, with the skull crushed into multiple bones and brain damaged from the blows, and that an autopsy had not been ordered by Mexican authorities at the time of the initial discovery.

It also described that Patino was arrested in Chandler on charges unrelated to the murder within ten days of Trish’s death, and that Trish’s wedding ring was in Patino’s possession and identified by at least one immediate member of Trish’s family. Patino was later released.

Arrest

Patino was arrested in Chandler on charges unrelated to the murder in March of the period referenced in the narrative, and Trish Willoughby’s wedding ring was in her possession. She was later released.

Trial

Patino’s testimony in Willoughby’s case

Patino was a key prosecution witness in the case against Dan Willoughby.

In the 1992 trial, Patino testified that:

• She and Dan plotted to kill Trish together.
• Dan bludgeoned Trish while his children were waiting in the car.
• Patino stabbed Trish and stole jewelry to make it appear to be a robbery. The judge in that case said her testimony “carried the day to conviction.”

In the later proceedings described, Patino contradicted herself and recanted:

• In November of the period referenced, Patino testified that she killed Trish in 1991.
• Patino then contradicted herself by switching back to a former claim that Dan Willoughby was the killer.

Prosecutors transferred Patino from Mexico to try Willoughby again, and granted her immunity in the United States so she would testify.

Quotations in trial-related narrative

“I didn’t give her a chance,” she explains.

“I hope so, because I'm getting hungry,” she says.

“I’m doing this because I want to be at peace and let . . . let the public know what really happened,” she testifies in the video.

“I didn’t want to share him anymore. I wanted him to be mine,” she says.

“Without Yesenia, they don't have a chance in hell,” he says.

“I don't see how they can convict him without Yesenia,” he says.

“I am not involved in this murder in any way, shape or form,” he says.

“This does not even involve the death of my wife anymore. This is all greed,” he says.

“I want to get this vengeful, evil mother-in-law who is taking money away from my children,” he says.

“Keep writing to me.”

Additionally, Patino’s earlier testimony quoted in the narrative about how she claimed the stabbing occurred included: “in ‘her face, her heart, her chest, her arms, her stomach.’”

Sentencing

Dan Willoughby (context of Patino’s role)

Patino was connected as a prosecution witness to Dan Willoughby’s sentencing outcomes described in the text.

In October 26, 1992, Dan Willoughby was sentenced to death by Judge Joseph Howe for the Feb. 23, 1991 slaying of his wife, Patricia “Trish” Willoughby. The narrative included Willoughby’s tearful declaration of innocence before sentence.

The narrative also described that prosecutors didn’t seek the death penalty in the second trial.

In January 15, 2002, a story described that Dan Willoughby was sentenced to two consecutive life terms after a conviction overturned. The life terms referred to natural life, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, but consecutive terms meant the soonest he could be paroled would be in 50 years.

Appeals

The narrative stated that:

• Willoughby was granted a new trial after a judge ruled that his original lawyer had been ineffective.
• Prosecutors asked the Arizona Court of Appeals to overturn a June ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge J.D. Howe that Patino’s previous testimony was inadmissible.
• Prosecutors also asked Judge Frank Galati, who inherited the case, to rule that if Patino testifies and says Willoughby had nothing to do with the murder, prosecutors may reveal her prior inconsistent testimony.

Outcome

Patino was convicted in Mexico in Trish Willoughby’s murder and was serving a 35-year prison term there.

Aftermath

The narrative described continuing proceedings involving Dan Willoughby, including transfer of Patino and her immunity for testimony in the United States so she would testify again.

It also described family and related civil litigation context:

• Dan Willoughby filed a lawsuit concerning life insurance proceeds and buy-sell agreement claims involving Thera Huish.
• Thera and Sterling Huish offered a $6,000 reward for news of the whereabouts of Yesenia Patino.
• Searches described turning up boxes of prescription drugs and syringes, and Willoughby was known to be taking steroids; the narrative discussed attempts to question Willoughby about drugs in deposition.
• Superior Court Judge Alfred Rogers told Willoughby he could not continue pleading the Fifth Amendment in a lawsuit he had brought and ordered him to either testify or drop the suit.
• Willoughby appealed, but the appellate court refused to hear his case on October 22 in the narrative timeline.
• The narrative also described Thera and Sterling suing for custody of the Willoughby children and described later events including a May Mother’s Day reunion at Rustler’s Rooste at the South Mountain Pointe involving the accused and the doctor Harold Lowry.

Other details

Insurance and robbery-related motive described in narrative

• Prosecutors said Willoughby sought monetary gain from the killing, taking out more than $1 million in life insurance.
• In the narrative about the first conviction, Patino testified that she stole $13 from a purse and scattered papers to make the crime look like a robbery.

Puerto Penasco / Rocky Point references

The narrative referenced the murder being connected to Puerto Penasco, Mexico, which was also referred to as “Rocky Point” in the narrative.

Autopsy and funeral details

The narrative described:

• Trish’s funeral held during rainy weather and references to family statements about Trish.
• A Mexican police investigation and later exhumation and autopsy efforts by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Matol Botanical funeral pin detail

At Trish Willoughby’s funeral, Matol Botanical owner Sam Kalenuik pinned to Trish’s flowing white temple clothes the insignia of a Matol executive field supervisor, described as the first person to ever receive the honor.

Depositions, letters, and interview material attributed to Patino

The record metadata listed:

• Yesenia Patino’s letter to Judge J. D. Howe, Sep. 22, 1995
• Yesenia Patino’s letter to Chief Investigator, Sep. 25, 1995
• Deposition of Yesenia Patino, Feb. 24, 1997
• Interview of Yesenia Patino, May 23, 2000
• Yesenia Patino cross examination, Nov. 1, 2001