Three months later, it doesn’t appear investigators are any closer to finding out who murdered Paula Sladewski.  Police still need your tips to help solve this case.  Instead of this tragedy pulling her family together – they are reportedly tearing apart.  There are many reports that suggest Paula’s mother and sister are feuding and fighting over her personal belongings, but not in the way you may think.

Reading the reports made me think about all the unsolved cases (crime and missing) and the families left behind.  In all the cases I’ve covered, I have watched family members come together, or get ripped apart. The pain runs so deep, they are never able to repair the damage, mainly because of the hurt and loss they feel for their loved one who was murdered, or is missing. 

In Paula’s case, her family is fighting over her personal property – Barbie dolls specifically.  Reports say Patsy Watkins wants to sell her daughter’s Barbie dolls to raise money for the reward and the case, while Kelly Farris, her sister, wants to cherish some of the last few items that meant the most to her sister.  Kelly put up $14,000 of her own money to go to the efforts, and I know she was on the ground for many weeks in Miami looking for answers and clues, but she wants to hang onto these last few items in her sister’s memory.

I personally see both sides, and the only reason I mention this is because it is a glimpse into what a family goes through when their loved one is taken from this earth.  Not only do loved ones struggle with the death, but they struggle with how to deal with one another after a tragedy.  This is why the National Center for Victims of Crime has great resources to help guide families.  I have met with and worked with many members of this council; they do a fantastic job, and are a great resource.  

BACKGROUND ON THE CASE: Investigators in North Miami Florida released a sketch of a man they believe may be responsible for the murder of Paula Sladewski.  Police say she was thrown in a dumpster, set on fire, and found on January 3, 2010.  Cops say Paula’s body was “burned beyond recognition” and firefighters were called to put out the flames.  Police are trying to figure out if this murder was committed out of anger… passion… or simply to destroy evidence.

Lt. Neal Cuevas with the North Miami Police department told me Paula’s boyfriend, Kevin Klym, reported her missing at 10:40 p.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2010.  Klym said he hadn’t seen his girlfriend since earlier that morning when he was kicked out of Club Space, a Miami nightclub open 24 hours a day.  Lt. Cuevas says Klym told them Paula was too drunk, and he wanted to leave, an argument erupted – and he was kicked out.  Investigators confirmed to me that they know for sure Klym left the club in a taxi and went back to the LaFlora Hotel on Collins Avenue, where he and Paula were staying.  There is not video of Paula ever returning to the hotel.  One of the workers at the hotel told me they have no surveillance video running at the hotel.

Around 9 p.m. on January 3^rd, a person called in a dumpster fire in North Miami.  Firefighters responded, extinguished the blaze, and that’s when they found the body.  Lt. Cuevas says around 10:40 p.m. they received a call from Kevin Klym stating his girlfriend was missing.  At that point, Klym not only called them, but he was reaching out to local hospitals, her parents and the local Medical Examiner’s office.  From that point, the Medical Examiner and investigators started to realize the body may be Paula’s. The ME’s office reached out to Michigan, where Paula is from, to obtain dental records.  The ME’s office did confirm the body found was that of Paula Sladewski.  The dumpster is located about 10 miles away from Club Space in a small residential district, off the beaten path.  Police say they are looking into possible vehicles leaving Club Space the morning Paula went missing, but they don’t have any details on cars to give to the public yet.

Although Kevin Klym was initially called a person of interest, police say they’ve allowed him to return to California.  So far his alibi checks out, but they are waiting to rule out a couple of minor details before releasing the ‘person of interest’ status. Klym and Paula do have a history of domestic violence in Michigan and California.  Investigators told me Klym was arrested for breaking Paula’s nose in Michigan, and was actually bonded out by her a short time later.  The pair went to Miami on New Year’s Eve for the Lady GaGa concert, and decided to spend the weekend club hopping. 

Early on in this investigation, I spoke to Klym’s lawyer at the time,  Marc Beginin, and he says his client and Paula had a volatile relationship, but it would never have escalated into something like this.  Since Paula disappeared, Klym hired a private investigator, dug up pictures of his girlfriend, and hit the streets to pass out fliers.  He says his client met with investigators four separate times and is still in cooperation with them to help find Paula’s killer.  Beginin says the bouncer told the private investigator that Paula left the club holding hands with a very tall African American male, and they were last seen crossing the street together around 7:20 a.m.  “I think it is clear Kevin had no involvement in this murder,” Beginin says.  A man named David Coleman has spoken out to say he received text messages that led him to believe that Klym may try to kill Paula. David Coleman is, in fact, a past boyfriend of Paula’s, and is currently listed as a registered sex offender in Michigan.  I’ve learned that Paula’s cell phone was left at the hotel, and that phone, along with other personal belongings, are in the possession of investigators at this time.  Paula modeled once for Playboy, and divided her time between Michigan and California. Police want to talk to anyone who was at the club that night and who may have seen Paula or her boyfriend. Specifically, anyone who saw Paula leave around 7 a.m., possibly with a tall African American male.

Please contact the North Miami Police department with any information: (305) 891-8111