Harlem Globtrotters Co-Founder Murder Case Update

On Saturday, May 27, 2000, at approximately 8:40 p.m., the bodies of Albert and Edna Patton were found by a neighbor inside their apartment at 2827 South La Brea Avenue, in Los Angeles. Detectives Peter Razankas and Rick Gordon, assigned to Southwest Area, Operations Support Division Homicide conducted the crime scene investigation with the assistance of Scientific Investigation Division (SID) Lab personnel. They determined that the Pattons were stabbed and bludgeoned to death. Due to the manner in which the bodies were discovered and the absence of any forced entry into the residence it appeared that the person or persons responsible for their deaths might have known the Pattons or were invited into their residence.

On May 30, 2000, Detectives Michael Whelan and James Gollaz from Robbery-Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section, assumed the investigative responsibility for the Patton homicides. Detectives followed several leads provided by Southwest homicide detectives and from members of the Patton family, including a clue provided by a citizen informant which led detectives to the Summit Motel, located at 5005 South La Brea Ave, in Los Angeles. After long hours of extensive interviews detectives developed information that identified Stevie Jackson as a possible suspect.

On Friday June 2, 2000, Officers from Wilshire Community police station and Special Enforcement Unit located Jackson’s vehicle and subsequently learned the location of Jackson, who was at the Relax Inn Motel, 1296 South La Brea Ave, in Los Angeles. The officers secured the area and maintained a perimeter pending detectives’ arrival. Detectives and uniformed personal proceeded to Jackson’s room where he and another adult male, were taken into custody without incident.

Detectives secured Jackson’s motel room and obtained a search warrant to search for physical evidence. Upon obtaining the warrant, detectives recovered evidence that connected Jackson to the Patton murders.

On Tuesday, June 6, 2000, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed two counts of murder with special circumstances along with one count of robbery against Jackson.

For further information in regards to this incident, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.