Citizen Staff Writer
By IRENE HSIAO
ihsiao@tucsoncitizen.com
Patricia “Patsy” Rubalcaba, whose charred body was found the morning of Oct. 3 near South Santa Clara Avenue and West Los Reales Road, suffered blunt-force trauma to the chest, as well as smoke and soot inhalation, according to an autopsy report.
Rubalcaba, 27, reportedly was abducted about eight hours before her body was found. Residents of an apartment complex on Olive Street near Old Nogales Highway said she knocked on doors, trying to get help, before being dragged off by two men who fled in a maroon or red SUV.
Some witnesses heard what they thought was her arm breaking in the struggle.
Her abductors were described as young, with shaved heads.
Neighbors near the vacant lot where she was found reported hearing screams the night before she was found, but they said disturbances on the Southwest Side parcel were common.
City officials later said they would work with the neighborhood to clean up the lot and put up barriers to vehicles. The city owns much of the land.