The Murder Of A Beloved Hairdresser In Broad Daylight

Owning her own business was something that 38 year old Patrice Endres had always dreamed of; more specifically, owning her own hair salon — so when the opportunity came for her and her husband to purchase a building in Dawson County, Georgia, she seized it.

After remodelling it down to every detail, she chose the name for her new haven — Tamber’s Trim ‘n Tan Salon. The salon proved a success and over time, Patrice built up a loyal clientele.

April 15th 2004 was an ordinary day in the life of Patrice. That morning, she had gone about her usual routine, waking her 15 year old son Delves (known as Pistol to his loved ones) before running on her treadmill.

When she dropped her son off at school, she told him that she loved him and would see him later - but what he could never have known, was that this would be the final time he would ever speak to his mother again.

By midday, two of Patrice's regular clients arrived for their scheduled appointments only to find the salon open but empty. Patrice's purse and keys sat on the counter and her lunch was still warm, but she was nowhere to be found.

The customers also noted that Patrice's car was parked sideways out front and not in her usual parking space beside the salon.

It would only be when the women noticed that the cash register was wide open and empty that they realised something was deeply wrong and contacted police.

As a missing persons investigation ensued, officers spoke to those closest to Patrice to try and work out where she could be. One of the first people they spoke with was her husband, Rob.

The pair had first met 8 years prior and Rob was 20 years Patrice's senior. They had fallen in love when Patrice was renting a chair at another salon and he stopped by to get a haircut. They married in 1997 and he also took on the role of a stepfather to her young son.

Rob appeared upset and claimed to police that he loved his wife with all of his heart - something Patrice's son and family members disagree with.

Speaking with Pistol, he claimed that his stepfather was jealous and possessive of his mother and that his mother harboured plans to divorce him.

Despite the obvious indications however, there was no evidence that foul play had taken place.

Patrice's customers remained adamant that her car held the clues. She always backed into her spot at the side of the salon.

Police soon began to speculate whether somebody had lured her outside and convinced Patrice to move her vehicle possibly under the guise of jumpstarting their car, using her willingness to assist to abduct her.

Meanwhile, a large-scale search was conducted throughout the vicinity, but there was no trace of the missing woman. To those who knew her, there was no doubt that she had been taken against her will as she would never have left her son behind.

In the weeks that followed, the search for Patrice continued with her loved ones praying for her safe return. Based off of Patrice's phone calls and the clients she had seen the morning of her vanishing, officers were able to identify a 13 minute time frame of when her abduction had occurred.

Sadly, Patrice's case grew cold and for over 2 years, her loved ones would be left in the dark.

Then on 6th December 2005, skeletal remains would be discovered behind a church in Dawson Forest - 11 miles from Patrice's salon. After tests, a positive match would confirm that these were indeed the remains of Patrice Endres.

Police now began to consider that Patrice had fallen victim to serial killer Gary Hilton, as this was the same area in which he had disposed of the body of a young woman.

He was also in the area at the time of Patrice's disappearance and had once made a remark that his "favourite place to go is a hair salon".

He had now become the prime suspect in the murder but after a thorough examination, police ruled him out.

Police again turned their focus to Patrice's husband Rob. Despite having an airtight alibi, they were aware that he knew his wife's schedule and the times that she would be alone in her salon.

When considering a motive, Patrice's son had painted a picture of an unhappy marriage that was ripping at the seams - perhaps Rob had taken the life of his wife to prevent her from leaving him. But still, they had no evidence that incriminated Rob.

The case would be thrown into turmoil when serial killer Jeremy Jones who had confessed to the murder of 6 women, claimed to have also taken the life of Patrice Endres.

In his confession, he described that he had passed by the salon when he noticed Patrice. He decided to approach her under the pretence that his car had broken down and needed a jumpstart. When Patrice had come outside to assist, he pulled a knife and forced her into his vehicle.

Despite giving details that had not been released to the public, Jeremy later recanted his confession. He was eliminated as a suspect; although many still believe his guilt.

Speaking of his wife's disappearance, Rob stated that somebody who had become familiar with Patrice's routine took the opportunity to catch her alone and that it was likely someone who she knew.

Bizarrely, he also vocalised that the culprit may have held her captive for some time prior to her murder, using her as a "toy" before dumping her remains with the use of a wheelbarrow - very specific details with no reasoning behind them.

When Patrice's remains arrived to the funeral home, Rob requested for his wife to be "reassembled" so that he could see her whole again. Once this was done, Rob shocked the funeral directors by picking up Patrice's skull and carrying it around before kissing it.

It has now been 22 years since the murder of Patrice Endres and her case remains unsolved. Police do not believe that robbery was the motive and that the money being taken from the cash register was staged to make it look it look as such.

The remnants of Patrice were cremated and her husband Rob received her ashes, after which he kept them in his bed describing them as his "teddy bear". He refused to allow Patrice's son any of his mother's ashes and declined to give him any of Patrice's belongings or photographs.

In 2023, Rob Endres passed away and Patrice's ashes were rightfully returned to her loved ones. As of 2026, the case remains open but unsolved.