Witness Statement: Joe Painter

Witness Statement: Capt. Joseph M. Painter

Orange County Sheriff

WITNESS REPORT

Filed 11/08/99, 1015 hours

Witness name: Painter, Joseph Michael

Witness Address: Dana Point Harbor

I called you because I found out through a friend of mine that
you were looking for me regarding the murder of Sabrina
Dietrich. Yeah, he told me that my name was up on this
website about the murder and I figured I better get in touch
with you. Now I want to know first off if I need to come in,
'cause I don't have a car right now. Someone ran into my van
in the hotel parking lot here and, well, he, he, he. I figured I'd
just call.

I first met Sabrina about three months ago down here at the
dock. She was down here with another ladyfriend of hers and
they were talking and sitting on the dock box and just looking
at my boat. I was just adding some touch up to the mainsail
up here and I noticed them just sitting there, so when I
finished up, I just cleaned up a bit and went out to say
howdy. They were just asking me all sorts of questions about
my boat and I was just answering their questions. It was
about dinner time and I offered them a beer. They looked old
enough to drink, he, he, he. Sabrina there, she asked if she
could help mate on some of my sunset tours and yes, I told
her, yeah, come on down sometime, but call first in case I've
got a full house. And I gave them both my card.

Well, I guess it was almost a week before Sabrina called me,
but sure, I had a cruise the next night and told her to come
on down. She said she had mated on several other cruises,
and I was willing to give her a shot. She showed up early the
next night and damn if she weren't good. We gave that girl of
mine - I mean the boat - a good roar and the folks on the
cruise seemed to like her. Sabrina. They liked Sabrina. She
was real personable.

So Sabrina worked with me on and off. I mean, she had this
regular job that she didn't want to give up, and she had this
boyfriend she had told me about. She didn't want to loose the
regular job 'cause she was saving up to leave this place. She
didn't seem to be real happy with her boyfriend. I know she
didn't bring him around at all. I don't know if she even ever told
him that she was working with me.

So I started thinking that if she wanted to leave Monarch and I
had this boat, and we was getting along good, that maybe
she might want to go to New Zealand with me for the races
this next February. Yeah, in 2000. I was going to get up this
past month and go. Get outta here myself. And Sabrina was
a sweet girl. Her and I, well. hmm. We got along just great.

But mind me, now. I know I'm a bit older, and when she didn't
show up a coupla months ago for a sail, I had guessed she
just lost interest. Young girl and all. And I just didn't count on
her coming back. But damn. I sorta lost interest in going
anywhere. I don't know. I just sort of hoped she'd come back
'round eventually.

The girl who was with her the first time? Well, I don't
remember directly, but I do remember she had this red hair.
Flaming red, long hair. Not that pretty up close, but a real
spark. Kinda scary in a way, next to Sabrina. Sabrina, well.
She was special.

Look, if there's anything else I can answer, just let me know,
hear? I'm just hanging out here. Just really sad to hear about
Sabrina. Sad thing, that. Oh, where was I on June 4th and 5th
this year? I had a group chartered on the boat the evening of
the 4th and we got back in about oh, 10pm. They all didn't get
off the boat totally till about midnight. I slept in the next
morning. If you need witnesses, I got 'em for the night before
they found her. I guess I could get one of the dock crew to let
you know what time I got up for my shower. Dunno. You can
check me out, though. I'm clean.