Paul Kovacich Jr Sentenced 27-to-life for killing wife who disappeared 27 years ago

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Update: Wife killer sentenced to 27-to-life in Placer County

April 24, 2009

A former Placer County sheriff sergeant was sentenced today to 27-year-to-life in prison for the murder of his wife, who disappeared nearly 27 years ago from their Auburn home. The sentence includes the possibility of parole.

Jurors convicted Paul Kovacich Jr., 59, in January of first-degree murder, finding him guilty of killing Janet Kovacich with a firearm.

Before he was sentenced, Kovacich said, "I don't know what or who to believe. All I know is that I love my wife and would never harm her."

"I look at my daughter and I see my wife. I look at my son and see her tenderness."

Judge Mark S. Curry called the killing "calculated and selfish." The judge said that this was time for justice to be served because the defendant had the "good fortune" to have lived free for nearly 27 years.

Kovacich was sentenced under the law in force in 1982. His wife disappeared in September of that year and a judge ruled years later that she died the day of her disappearance.

Paul Kovacich has always maintained he did not know what happened to his wife. The couple had argued about getting a divorce the morning she disappeared, he said.

Janet Kovacich had made a 11:10 a.m. appointment at a school where she wanted to transfer her children, but she never showed up at the school, or call to cancel the appointment.

Paul Kovacich said he was home that morning and had offered her a ride, but she had refused. She had breasts augmentation surgery the week before and was in too much pain to drive herself. He said when he left the house, she was getting ready to go out.

Prosecutors said Paul Kovacich, at that time a supervisor assigned to the Placer County jail, was the last person to see her alive.

In addition, his calm demeanor following her disappearance was curious behavior and it raised some suspicions, they said. He waited until three days later, on Sept. 11, 1982, to file a formal missing persons report.

The defense argued that a witness saw a disheveled Paul Kovacich soon after his wife disappeared. When asked about his appearance, Paul Kovacich said he had stayed up all night looking for his wife. Search teams combed the wooded areas near the Kovacichs' home on Forest Court and canvassed her usual haunt, but to no avail.

In October 1995, two hikers walking on the dry lake bottom of Rollins Lake near Colfax noticed a weathered, partial human skull partially buried in the silt. A hole in its right side was later determined to be the wound of a bullet.

In early 2007, sophisticated DNA extraction methods produced results showing that the skull had "a near statistical certainty" that it belonged to Janet Kovacich.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/021799.html

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26 years later, ex-Placer lawman to be sentenced in wife's death

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2009/04/23/20/901-5M24JANET.highlight.prod_affiliate.4.JPG
Janet Kovacich, shown with children Kristi and John, disappeared in September 1982. Earlier, she had written: "I want to go on living" for them.

Published: Friday, Apr. 24, 2009 - 12:00 am

Janet Kovacich had been missing for more than two decades before the trial for her murder began. But through a journal she wrote in 1981, she provided the words that prosecutors say helped convict her husband, a former Placer County sheriff's sergeant, of first-degree murder.

Paul Kovacich Jr., 59, is to be sentenced today. He faces 27 years to life imprisonment. Public defender John Spurling said his client maintains his wife's disappearance was always a mystery to him and plans to appeal the verdict.

Janet Kovacich's journal contained the loving words of a mother about her children, which convinced jurors that she could never have abandoned her daughter, Kristi, and her son, John – then 7 and 5 – by killing herself or leaving, prosecutors said.

"I want to go on living for Kristi and John," the Auburn homemaker wrote a year and a half before she vanished on Sept. 8, 1982, just a week before her 28th birthday. "I guess I feel like if I wasn't around no one else could take care of them like me. Or could love them as I love them."

Her journal, written during a weekend Catholic seminar for couples to improve their marriages, also described her love for her husband, her feelings of being controlled by him and her desire and struggles to salvage their marriage.

It mentioned the tensions between her husband and parents, Leo and Jean Gregoire. Prosecutors said the feud strained a rocky marriage.

"I just can't bear to see the three people I love so much in my life hating, and hurting one another," she wrote.

In his journal, also written during the weekend seminar, Paul Kovacich described his mother-in-law as evil, sick, ruthless and bent on destroying their marriage.

"Your mother makes me sick," Paul Kovacich wrote. Both parents opposed their relationship.

In a case built largely on circumstantial evidence, Suzanne Gazzaniga, Placer County senior deputy district attorney, said the journals helped to "paint the big picture" for jurors.

Jurors were also presented with other evidence, such as testimonies from witnesses about the derogatory and abusive way Paul Kovacich treated his wife, and his nonchalant demeanor when she disappeared, Gazzaniga said.

However, the journals never revealed any incidents of physical abuse – a point that Spurling said was corroborated by Kristi Kovacich, who testified for the defense that she never saw her father hit her mother.

"He could not hurt a mouse!" Kristi Kovacich said in a recent letter to the judge. "He has always been the most kind, loving and caring father and human being."

She said she is disturbed by rumors in the community that her father told her and her brother that their mother did not love them and left.

"My dad always spoke kindly of my mom and he never said anything bad about her," Kristi Kovacich wrote.

In his journal, Paul Kovacich said he liked his wife's generosity, compassion and cooking, but detested her nagging. He also wrote about his feelings for her.

"Seriously, my love for you is like a cherry in a whiskey sour, or a lump of sugar in a cup of coffee," Paul Kovacich wrote.

Kristi Kovacich said in court that the family kept the same post office box address and telephone number, even when they moved, so their mother could contact them. Defense attorney John Spurling said his client always hoped Janet Kovacich was still alive.

The four-month trial involved more than 75 witnesses and more than 750 marked exhibits.

Witnesses for the prosecution said weeks before Janet's Kovacich's disappearance, she had been inquiring about divorce attorneys and taking steps to gain independence. She had enrolled in classes at Sierra College. A week before she disappeared, she underwent breast augmentation surgery to improve her looks.

On the day of her disappearance, she made an 11:10 a.m. appointment at Forest Lake Christian School, where she planned to transfer her children. Paul Kovacich said they had argued about getting a divorce that morning.

Janet Kovacich never made it to the appointment, nor did she call to cancel it, prosecutors said. However, the defense argued that it is not clear that she didn't call and cancel.

On Sept. 20, 1995, a judge ruled that she died the day of her disappearance.

A month later, two hikers walking on the dry lake bottom of Rollins Lake near Colfax spotted a partially buried, weathered human skull.

In early 2007, sophisticated DNA technology determined there was "a near statistical certainty" that the skull belonged to Janet Kovacich.

"As with any missing body cold case, the strongest hope for solving the mystery of Janet's disappearance was that her remains would turn up somewhere in the world, and then be confirmed through DNA analysis," prosecutors wrote in court documents.

Public Defender Michael Sganga said prosecutors weaved together a coherent story that made it easy for jurors to digest. But reality, he said, doesn't always provide an explanation.

"I never figured out what happened to Janet, even after reviewing tens of thousands of pages of documents, including all the inadmissible evidence," Sganga said. "Paul always said that he didn't know what happened."

Leo and Jean Gregoire went to their grave – Leo in 2001 and Jean in 2004 – still searching for their daughter, said their son, Gary Gregoire.

"One of the last things my mother used to say to me was, 'Remember Janet, always remember Janet,' " he said.

http://www.sacbee.com/crime/story/1806059.html

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4/29/09

What would Auburn Police like to say to Paul Kovacich?
Chief Valerie Harris answers questions related to 26-year investigation

A 26-year investigation into the disappearance of a missing mother of two came to end last week. A Placer County judge sentenced former Placer Sheriff Sgt. Paul Kovacich Jr. to 27 years to life in prison for murdering his wife, Janet Kovacich, on Sept. 8, 1982. An appeal is reportedly pending, and Paul Kovacich’s now adult children are defending their father, saying he is innocent.

Law enforcement, however, is reflecting on a case that plagued the community for years and say justice has finally been served.

Below Auburn Police Chief Valerie Harris answers questions about what the verdict and sentence mean to the department and what they would say to Paul Kovacich.


1. What does the conclusion of this case mean to the Auburn Police Department?

The years of hard work by so many has helped to bring some justice to the Gregoire family and to all that were affected by Janet’s death. It meant being able to tell Gary Gregoire and other family members that we hoped our efforts could bring some peace to them as it has been very apparent the pain of their loss has devastated them. It provided all of the members from the law enforcement community the opportunity to pause and reply “YOU ARE WELCOME” when the Gregoire family expressed their appreciation for efforts to bring the case to the jury. Finally, it means the department can now focus on other unsolved cases with the same commitment level to identify the individual(s) responsible for the unjust death of those individuals and family members waiting for justice.


1. What were the challenges in this case?

The years passing since Janet was murdered and the difficulties associated with bringing a case forward to a jury when the body of the victim has not been recovered. “Patience” was a challenge as law enforcement personnel have waited anxiously for DNA identification processes/technology advancements to take place and help in some way with the case. This of course did play a significant role in the case as it allowed experts to positively identify the skull as that of Janet Kovacich.


2. What was the hardest challenge?

The painstaking work of re-interviewing witnesses and following all leads that came forth. Another difficulty arose from Mr. Kovacich’s refusal to speak with investigators since initial interviews in 1982.


3. What did Auburn Police think happened to Janet Kovacich’sbody?

I will refrain from speculation on that and ask that Mr. Kovacich come forth and tell us exactly where he has put her. He is the one with the accurate facts as to her location and the only one that can bring to light all of the details of the events that took place that day.


4. What was your reaction, and the reaction of the police department as a whole, to the verdict?

A sense that all of the “teamwork” and efforts by the law enforcement community in this region and beyond brought justice to Janet. So many of us worked the case and never had the pleasure of meeting Janet Kovacich, yet we felt the time investigating the case allowed us to get a glimpse of what a wonderful person she was. Many felt we were able to give a bit of Janet’s memory back to her family.


5. How does this case stack up against others in your career as far as satisfaction?

I don’t know that I can compare satisfaction in that Janet was killed and there is no possible way to bring her back. Catching a bank robber brings satisfaction in so far as we stop them from committing the crime again and endangering the public. In this case, Janet was killed so young and her children and family were deprived of their time with her. Any sense of satisfaction is numbed by the reality Janet cannot be brought back.


6. How much time and money has been spent on this case?

This cannot be determined in so far as so many officers and allied agencies helped with this case since 1982. Again, whatever the amount it is worth it with respect to bringing justice to Janet and her family.


7. What extraordinary lengths did the department go to in solving this case?

The efforts to enlist so many resources from outside the department to help with the case. These include: Placer County District Attorney’s Office, Placer County Sheriff’s Department, FBI (Sacramento & Quantico, Va.), Department of Justice, Office of Emergency Services, Sacramento County Sheriff, Placer County Special Investigations Division, Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy and many more.


8. Who individually went the extra mile to see this case solved? Any examples?

All of the staff at APD went the extra mile on this case. It involved time of investigators doing interview after interview and the time to document the findings. Auburn Police staff included Investigator Jerry Johnson, Lieutenant Scott Burns, Sergeant Chris Reams, Sergeant Victor Pecoraro, and FBI Agent Chris Hopkins to name a few of the individuals that contributed greatly. This of course came to the just conclusion through the outstanding prosecution efforts from Deputy DAs Suzanne Gazzaniga and Dave Tellman.


9. Are you proud of the way your department handled this case?

Absolutely! APD never gave up on following leads and doing everything possible to investigate the case to conclusion.

Why or why not?

We did not allow obstacles or perceived resource limitations stop us from finding the truth. We overcame obstacles by getting additional education in areas that would aid us with the investigation. For example, we learned about ground penetrating radar to aid us in searching possible gravesites. Training for the operation of wire taps as an investigative tool never solely conducted by this agency before. We examined resources available through Department of Justice, FBI and others that could be put into use when and if needed. The efforts by investigators to write, obtain, and successfully serve search warrants that provided invaluable evidence in trial are something to be very proud of. We were able to serve warrants simultaneously and increase the probability of finding evidence we were seeking that again proved beneficial in the end.


10. Did you learn anything?

The willingness of our staff to remain focused even in difficult investigations and overcome obstacles was a vital lesson. The success of this case is the result of the diligence of APD investigators along with the support of others in our law enforcement partnerships, all contributing to the final verdict handed down by the jury.


11. Anything you would like to say to Paul Kovacich Jr.?

I would ask that he consider the request from Janet’s brother, Gary Gregoire, last week in court. Mr. Gregoire asked Mr. Kovacich to reveal where he put Janet. This will allow family to put Janet in her final resting place and hopefully bring some additional closure and relief from the pain they have suffered for so long. It is just that Mr. Kovacich give Janet back to all of those people that loved her so much.


http://auburnjournal.com/detail/112967.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=&page=

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5/3/09
John and Kristi Kovacich defend their father
Brother and sister criticize investigators, prosecutors

“I remember the day my mom disappeared because that day I colored my mom a picture. I put it in a cardboard jewelry box for her and left it on the kitchen counter. I did that quite a bit for her. I remember the days following her disappearance by the way I watched that box. Every day when I got home from school, I would look to see if the box was on the counter – if the box was opened, then I knew that my mom had been home! Well, the box stayed on the counter, unopened, for weeks until I finally put it in my room.” - Kristi Kovacich, April 24, 2009, at her father’s sentencing


Kristi Kovacich and her brother, John, remember their mother. They love their mother. They want to find out the truth about what happened to their mother – who disappeared 26 years ago.

But they say the answer is not in the story investigators and prosecutors presented before a jury in October.

In January, that jury convicted Kristi and John’s father, Paul Kovacich Jr., of murdering their mother, Janet Kovacich, on Sept. 8, 1982.

During Paul Kovacich’s sentencing, both John and Kristi Kovacich, who were 5 and 7 years old when their mother disappeared, vehemently defended their father.

The now 32-and 33-year-old son and daughter say the District Attorney’s Office has lied and investigators had “tunnel vision.”

And for those who think Kristi and John should read the evidence for themselves, Kristi Kovacich says she has examined more than 700 pages of court transcripts and counting.

“I find it truly amazing how speculation and rumor can so easily become ‘fact’ in the minds of people who barely even knew us,” Kristi Kovacich wrote in response to a series of questions asked by the Journal. “Claiming that my brother and I were brainwashed is not only far-fetched, it is simply more speculation without one ounce of proof. My brother and I are well-educated, fully-grown adults who are more than capable of reviewing the evidence and making decisions for ourselves.”

Kristi Kovacich said after reading the entire transcripts from the 2006 Grand Jury hearing, after which her father was indicted of her mother’s murder, she was able to confirm her father’s innocence .......
more at the link....
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