Patrick Lee Mullins, a 52-year-old happily married father of two, went missing on January 27, 2013 while on a boat trip. No one could know what would happen next.
Because as shown on the Netflix show Unsolved Mysteries: Body in the Bay, he was found dead nine days later and nothing about the case was ever solved. But there’s continued evidence that one of his family friends, Damon Crestwood, may have been very involved. Let’s find out more about him, shall we?
Patrick Mullins was killed. Did Damon Crestwood do it?
People say Damon Crestwood met Gray Mullins, Patrick’s brother, in the late 1980s or early 1990s. They became such close friends that they treated each other like family. Although he wasn’t close to most of them, the first Mullin knew them all well, especially since they often spent Memorial Day and other important holidays together. While it was always a long party, the chef’s reaction to Patrick’s death was almost “disproportionately” exaggerated, according to one documentary series.
On the original show, family friend Dr. Mark Sylvester: “Damon was a sweetheart…” “He was just a nice, trustworthy and admirable person. But after Pat left, he quickly changed in very noticeable ways.” Gray, who used to be close to Patrick, said he would “burst into tears and then sob uncontrollably.” Patrick’s wife Jill said he told her he was going to the Manatee River and cried and sobbed for hours.
But the strangest thing is that while Damon knew Patrick, they were by no means longtime, caring, close friends who one would expect to have such a strong reaction from. As if that wasn’t enough, another family friend, Stephen Covey, said: “Damon was kind of out of whack. Always asking, ‘Would you still be my friend if something bad happened?’ Can I count on you to show up?’ Neither of us were really sure why.”
But according to the production, there were signs. Not only did Damon start using crystal meth shortly after the incident, but he also had mental breakdowns every January thereafter, right around the anniversary of Patrick’s death. Then there’s the weird way Damon publicly tied a rope around his waist on Memorial Day 2013. The rope was exactly the same as the nautical rope Patrick was found dead in.
The fact that Damon’s boat had the same type of chipped red paint as Patrick’s boat didn’t help his overall situation, at least in the eyes of his family. So he was confronted but he said nothing. He also didn’t speak to the police when they questioned him until he decided to stop working with them altogether, the show reveals. It’s important to note that he lived near where Patrick’s body was found, but the extent of his involvement is still unknown because he didn’t say anything.
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How did Damon Crestwood die?
Damon Crestwood reportedly died on April 5, 2017, about four years after Patrick. It looked like he died of a meth overdose. The 48-year-old man was a father, a once-famous chef who owned his own restaurant, and had lived in Florida all his life. Mark said in Unsolved Mysteries that it was another scary thing because we hoped Damon would tell us he knew something. Jill added, “I think Damon knew what happened because of his weird behavior and obsession with Pat’s death.” But now that he’s dead, we may never know.
Patrick Lee Mullins, a happy father of two, who was found at the age of 52, disappeared on January 27, 2013 while on a boat trip. No one could have foreseen the controversy that ensued. Because as told in the Netflix show “Unsolved Mysteries: Body in the Bay”, he was not only found dead nine days later, but everything about the case is still a secret to this day.
But there are a number of strong, unwavering signs that one of his family members or friends, Damon Crestwood, may have played a big role.
Was Damon Crestwood the one who killed him?
Gray Mullins, Patrick’s brother, reportedly met Damon Crestwood in the 1980s or early 1990s. Their friendship grew so close that it became a family affair. Although he wasn’t close to most of the Mullins, they knew him and his family very well, often spending Memorial Day and other important holidays with him.
Though it was usually a lengthy event, the documentary series said the chef’s reaction to Patrick’s death was still “proportionately large.”
A close family friend, Dr. Mark Sylvester said in the original series, “Damon was a sweetheart…” He was just a nice, honest, and popular guy.
Patrick’s wife Jill said he first told her he would “go out and look across the Manatee River and cry and whine for hours” although his close friend Gray said he would “burst into tears and then cry uncontrollably.” However, after Pat left, he changed immediately.
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Death notice for Damon Crestwood
Although Damon knew Patrick, they weren’t the kind of loyal, longtime friends you’d expect to have such a strong reaction from. That’s the strangest and most inevitable part of it. Stephen Covey, another family friend who came to the scene, said, “Damon was just a little out of line,” as if that wasn’t enough. Always asking, “Would you still be here my friend if that happened?” Could I count on you being there? We all really knew why.
But the production says there were warning signs. Not only did Damon appear to have started using crystal meth shortly after the tragedy, but he reportedly had mental breakdowns every January, right around the anniversary of Patrick’s death. On Memorial Day in 2013, Damon publicly tied a string around his neck in a manner eerily similar to how Patrick’s body was found and tied with rope.
What happened to Damon Crestwood?
On April 5, 2017, less than four years after Patrick’s death, Damon Crestwood reportedly died of what appeared to be a methamphetamine addiction. The 48-year-old continued to live in Florida. He had been a father and a well-known chef who ran his own restaurant. Mark said on Mysteries.com, “We were hoping that if Damon knew everything, Damon would tell us.” Jill agreed, saying, “Given Damon’s odd behavior and his fixation on Pat’s death, I’m sure that he knew what happened.” Unfortunately, we may never know that he is dead.
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