Dateline: Death of a Golden Girl - Who was Paula Sladewski, and what happened to her? Disturbing details of the 2010 murder, revealed 

One of the shocking murder cases featured on Dateline and remains unsolved is that of Paula Sladewski. The 26-year-old woman from Garden City, Michigan, was always passionate about becoming a model.

Back in 2003, she got some attention after appearing in a Playboy video during the brand’s 50th Anniversary search for a new Playmate. Although she didn’t officially become one of the Playmates, this appearance gave her a bit of recognition.

Aside from modeling, Paula worked as an exotic dancer. Something she didn't flinch at. She appeared to relish being in the spotlight and was openly seeking fame and vindication.

Her personal life was filled with difficulties and even physical abuse. Her home conditions were also poor, leading to traumatic experiences. However, the worst time came in late 2009, when Paula and her boyfriend Kevin Klym planned a fun getaway to Miami to celebrate New Year’s and attend a Lady Gaga concert.

As explained in the Dateline episode "Death of a Golden Girl", the couple was partying at Club Space in 2010. At some point during the party, Paula and Kevin had an argument, which further escalated, and the man was asked to leave the club.

Paula, on the other hand, stayed behind. She asked Kevin for her credit card, which he gave her before leaving the venue on his own. After that, Paula was eventually escorted out of the club around 7:20 a.m., and this was the last confirmed time she was seen alive.

The tragic tale of Paula Sladewski featured on Dateline

After Puala left the club that day, she was seen walking alone on surveillance footage. Two bouncers followed behind her, but then witnesses said she was seen walking hand-in-hand with an unidentified man. Yes, someone who could've been identified and could have played a big role in the case.

After some hours, Paula was nowhere to be found. Even the camera footage couldn't reveal where she went and if she was taken away by someone, possibly Kevin, as the two had an argument before.

Later that evening, at around 9 p.m. on January 3, 2010, firefighters were called to put out a dumpster fire in a remote industrial area of North Miami — about 12 miles from the club. Inside the dumpster, they made a horrifying discovery: the burned body of a woman.

Her mother, Pat Watkin,s said:

"I was bawling, I was shaking … I'm on tranquilizers, that's where I'm at. Somebody killed my little girl."

Dental records confirmed it was Paula. The autopsy revealed that she had been strangled before her body was burned. As explained in the Dateline episode, investigators believe the killer murdered her somewhere else and then brought her to that quiet location to set the fire, possibly to destroy evidence.

The area was secluded, suggesting the person responsible knew the spot well. At first, Paula’s boyfriend, Kevin Klym, was investigated due to their troubled past and his history of domestic violence. But his name was eventually cleared since there was no evidence to prove he was the killer.

Also Read: Dateline: Who was Jasmine “Jazzy” Pace, and what happened to her? Details explored ahead of the latest true crime episode

Then, who killed Paula Sladewski? Was the killer ever identified?

The real mystery surrounds the man seen leaving with Paula. Based on witness accounts, he was not part of the club’s staff and didn’t work at Club Space. Police released a sketch of the man described as heavyset, either Black or Hispanic, with facial hair in hopes that someone would recognize him.

Unfortunately, even after efforts from police and private investigators, including a $30,000 reward for information, this man was never found. As seen in the Dateline episode, his identity remains unknown to this day, which is one of the most chilling parts of this case.

In 2020, one of the lead detectives, Police Cmdr. Michael Gaudio opened up about the unsolved mystery and said:

"It's frustrating. It's the one case that stands out in my career. It's the one I didn't solve. To be unable to give the family closure does bother me. I still think about it to this day."

In the Dateline episode, Paula Sladewski is described as a caring woman who had big dreams. Her life was cut short at the age of 26, which is nothing less than a living nightmare for her family.

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Also Read: Dateline: The Knock At The Door - 5 harrowing details about Tara Ord-Sidarovich's murder, explored

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