Pamela Pitts body was found burned beyond recognition in a pile of trash in 1988.
Tips flooded in blaming a Satanic cult, a drug dealer, an ex-lover, an overdose at an Arizona party spot.
It would take more than 30 years, some prison calls and an eyebrow-raising plea deal before a convicted murderer would confess.
But in a shocking twist, a court recently agreed the 19-year-oldâs killer wouldn t spend any more time behind bars.
Pamela Pitts body was found burned beyond recognition in a pile of garbage in 1988.(Associated Press)
Over the years, investigators couldn t pin down the evidence they needed to arrest anyone in the slaying that stoked fear about a killer on the loose around Prescott, a tourist town about 160 kilometres north of Phoenix.
Long suspected of murder, woman confesses but avoids prison
By Felicia Fonseca and Brent Corrado
Published
Shelly Norgard and Pamela Pitts (file)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Pamela Pitts’ body was found burned beyond recognition in a pile of trash in 1988. Tips flooded in blaming a Satanic cult, a drug dealer, an ex-lover, an overdose at an Arizona party spot.
It would take more than 30 years, some prison calls and an eyebrow-raising plea deal before a convicted murderer would confess. But in a shocking twist, a court recently agreed the 19-year-old’s killer wouldn’t spend any more time behind bars.
Over the years, investigators couldn’t pin down the evidence they needed to arrest anyone in the slaying that stoked fear about a killer on the loose around
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Pamela Pitts body was found burned beyond recognition in a pile of trash in 1988. Tips flooded in blaming a Satanic cult, a drug dealer, an ex-lover, an overdose at an Arizona party spot.
It would take more than 30 years, some prison calls and an eyebrow-raising plea deal before a convicted murderer would confess. But in a shocking twist, a court recently agreed the 19-year-old s killer wouldn t spend any more time behind bars.
Over the years, investigators couldn t pin down the evidence they needed to arrest anyone in the slaying that stoked fear about a killer on the loose around Prescott.
Long suspected of murder, she confessed but avoided prison
by Felicia Fonseca, The Associated Press
Posted May 9, 2021 11:21 am EDT
Last Updated May 9, 2021 at 11:28 am EDT
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. There was no shortage of tips about who killed Pamela Pitts, a rowdy but compassionate 19-year-old whose body was found burned beyond recognition in a pile of trash in 1988.
A Satanic cult. A drug dealer. A cowboy. An ex-lover. A guy nicknamed “Halftrack.” Or maybe it was an overdose at a spot in central Arizona where people went to party.
It would take more than 30 years, some prison calls and an eyebrow-raising plea deal before a convicted murderer would confess and the mystery would partly be solved. But in a shocking twist, a court recently agreed Pitts’ killer wouldn’t spend any more time behind bars.
Woman confesses to 1988 murder of her roommate but will serve NO jail time because she s already serving 20 years for killing her ex-boyfriend
Shelly Harmon, 50, agreed to plead guilty in March to the second-degree murder of 19-year-old Pamela Pitts in September 1988
Harmon was convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend in 1993 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison
As part of the plea deal, she would be sentenced to 20 years in prison
But, an Arizona court agreed to give Harmon credit for the time she served in her ex-boyfriend s killing and waiting trial for Pitts murder
She had previously maintained her innocence in Pitts homicide