The story of two sisters from Florida, once sharing a home for ten years, took a tragic turn when one ended the life of the other, subsequently burying her in a shallow grave in their backyard.

Debra Patton, aged 72, faced conviction for second-degree murder following the death of her sister, 66-year-old Karen Pais, in Tampa. This was confirmed by the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

The investigation kicked off on May 29, 2021, when Karen Pais’s friends, concerned over not hearing from her for several days, reached out to the authorities. According to an arrest affidavit, deputies arrived at the sisters’ residence on Cypress Park Street, where Debra Patton claimed ignorance about Karen’s whereabouts. Despite her claims, Karen’s belongings, including her car, purse, credit cards, and ID, remained untouched in the home.

Crucially, surveillance footage from a nearby neighbor, who happened to be a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, captured Karen Pais entering the home on May 24, 2021, marking her last known appearance. The video also caught Patton disposing of several large trash bags in the garbage.

Noticing a suspicious patch of freshly turned soil in the backyard, law enforcement officers secured a warrant to investigate further. Their search revealed a two-foot-deep hole containing a trash bag shaped like a body. Inside, they discovered a body bearing a gunshot wound to the chest and wearing a necklace with the name “Karen.” The medical examiner later confirmed the body to be that of Karen Pais.

Pais’ friends said she had told them that if she ever went missing or ended up dead, it was her sister who was responsible. They described at trial about the sisters’ deteriorating relationship.

“Debra was not interested in joining us anymore,” her friend told jurors, according to a courtroom report from local Fox affiliate WTVT. “She would walk by to take the dog out and not speak to us. Just got rather cold, distant.”

As Pais remained missing, her friends continued to press Patton for information, especially after deputies discovered the fresh dirt.

“She asks her, ‘Is Karen in that hole? Is Karen in that hole?’” a prosecutor reportedly told jurors.

Patton ignored them.

Per WTVT, the case took several years to come to a resolution because of court delays and the defendant having been deemed incompetent to stand trial for a period of time.

Patton is set to be sentenced on Feb. 16.