coming up it was a relief in one way but really emotional otherwise because she's my sister

for vault studios i'm will johnson you're listening to the daily crime

on june third nineteen ninety three the body of a woman was found on the side of a road just on the outskirts of Gilroy, California.

There was nothing left except bones.

The cause for death was listed as undetermined.

Now, decades later, investigators have identified the victim and her killer.

It's just a really hard pill to swallow to know that she was lame there and also that she was unidentified for so long.

It's exciting and sad at the same time, you know, and a relief to finally have an answer.

This case is really unique because it's not often that you have a conviction for murder

without knowing who the victim is.

And I'm joined by Catherine Cook, a reporter at KGW in Portland, Oregon.

Catherine, thanks for being here with us.

We appreciate it.

Thanks for having you, Will.

Catherine, let's just talk through this case a little bit and what we knew about not a whole lot of information back in 1993 when a body was found on the side of the road, right?

Yeah, things have changed a lot, especially with technology.

When this woman who we now know was Patricia Scipal was discovered.

It was out in Gilroy, on the outskirts of Gilroy off Highway 152.

And that area is also known as Pacheco Pass.

And she was wearing a blue dress at the time.

And that's how they gave her the nickname of Blue Pacheco.

Because at that point, they had no idea who this woman, this victim, was.

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