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The Patrick Hamilton murder case continues to captivate people’s attention years after the events.
In this case, Hamilton’s name has been making the rounds online as people learn about the gruesome crime he committed over two decades ago.
Let’s look into the life of the murderer, and the circumstances that led to the brutal murder of Denise Vasseur, a woman with whom he had an obsessive affair.
Who Was Patrick Hamilton?
In the early 2000s, Patrick John Hamilton held the position of a zookeeper at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, California.
It was during this time that he crossed paths with Denise Vasseur.
In his early 40s, Hamilton encountered Denise, a woman in her early 30s who was already married.
Despite the complexities of their respective situations, a romantic connection developed between them.
Heir affair unfolded clandestinely, hidden from the prying eyes of those around them.
Their relationship continued for several months, marked by hidden rendezvous and the intensity of their feelings
However, the dynamics of their involvement took a fateful turn on September 22, 2000.
On this pivotal day, Denise Vasseur decided to end their romantic entanglement.
Regrettably, this attempt to sever ties marked the commencement of a series of events that would ultimately culminate in Denise’s horrifying murder.
The complexities of their relationship and the consequences of its unravelling cast a shadow over the lives of both Patrick Hamilton and Denise Vasseur.
Denise Vasseur’s mysterious disappearance
According to reports, Denise showed up at Hamilton’s apartment to end things, but he refused to let her leave.
The two got into a physical fight, during which Hamilton claims he accidentally strangled her.
Rather than owning up to his crime, he buried Denise’s body in the Anza-Borrego desert and disappeared.
Denise’s husband, United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Charles Vasseur, reported her missing after she failed to return home.
When investigators started looking into her disappearance, Hamilton quickly became their primary suspect after it was revealed that he had also disappeared on the same day.
After his co-workers alerted the authorities that Hamilton had not reported to work since Denise went missing, he was arrested in Northern California, just south of Gilroy.
He was indicted for first-degree murder and held in a local jail pending trial.
Hamilton’s guilty conscience leads to a plea deal.
In the initial stages, despite asserting his innocence, Hamilton eventually opted for a plea agreement.
This arrangement necessitated his cooperation with the authorities in pinpointing the whereabouts of Denise’s body.
The search for her endured for a span exceeding a month, yielding no results.
Afterward, Hamilton changed his plea to guilty for the second-degree murder charge.
Consequently, he received a sentence spanning from 15 years to life, resulting in his imprisonment.
Additionally, he assumed the responsibility of engaging in recurrent parole hearings designed to evaluate his prospects for eventual release.
Where is Patrick Hamilton today?
Situated in San Luis Obispo within San Luis Obispo County, California.
Notwithstanding the passage of more than two decades within prison walls, he remains devoid of parole eligibility.
In ancient times, Hamilton endeavoured to challenge his conviction through an appeal.
Regrettably, his attempts culminated in disappointment, leaving his legal standing unchanged.
Furthermore, each instance he faced the parole board seeking release resulted in rejection.
Most recently, he was denied parole in 2017, and his next hearing is scheduled for around June 2024.
Hamilton’s case is a cautionary tale of what can happen when love becomes an obsession and costs someone their life.
The case of the Patrick Hamilton murder shows just how murky the circumstances surrounding a crime can be and how it can take years to earn justice for the victim and their family.
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