On April 26, 2007, in Whittier, California, Linda Dorene Duffy shot her husband, Patrick Albert Duffy, twice in the head with a .38 caliber double-action revolver. She called 911 claiming it was an accidental shooting during gun practice after misinterpreting her husband's joke in an Elmer Fudd cartoon voice that the weapon had 'no more bullets.' Investigators noted significant flaws in her claim of 'fan firing' a double-action revolver and observed that Patrick's posture on the couch indicated he was asleep. Despite initial delays in the investigation due to her erratic presentation, police re-interviewed Linda in 2009, during which she altered her account. After moving to Mississippi and remarrying, Linda was arrested on May 22, 2012. Following a mistrial in 2014, she was convicted of second-degree murder on January 23, 2015, and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Country: United States
State/Province: California, United States
City/Region: Whittier
Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide
Relationship Status: Married
Relationship Duration: Approximately 18 years (marriage)
Incident Date: April 26, 2007
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How the relationship or connection began.
Approximately 18 years (marriage)
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
2007-04-26
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
Dr. Grande · Original language: English
Woman Shoots 'Elmer Fudd' Impersonating Husband Twice by 'Accident' | Patrick Duffey Case Analysis
Domestic Violence
Linda Duffy claimed she accidentally shot her husband, Patrick Duffy, twice in the head while practicing a cowboy-style hammer-fanning technique with a .38 caliber double-action revolver. The physical mechanics of a double-action revolver require individual trigger pulls for each shot, rendering her explanation physically implausible. Despite initial police skepticism and delay due to her eccentric presentation, forensic evidence and changing statements ultimately demonstrated deliberate spousal homicide.
Patrick Duffy was fatally shot twice in the head on April 26, 2007, in Whittier, California. Linda Duffy called 911 claiming an accidental shooting during gun practice. Detectives initially stalled the case due to Linda's erratic behavior and lack of obvious motive. In January 2009, police re-interviewed Linda after analyzing double-action revolver mechanics. Linda subsequently relocated to Mississippi and remarried. She was arrested on May 22, 2012, in Mississippi and extradited to California. Her first trial in January 2014 resulted in a hung jury/mistrial. In a second trial on January 23, 2015, she was convicted of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. On April 24, 2015, she was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Investigators initially struggled with whether the shooting was a tragic accident caused by an eccentric, gun-unfamiliar spouse or a calculated murder. Linda's changing accounts—first saying Patrick was on the couch, then claiming he leaned his head in front of the barrel, and later claiming extensive practice in fan-firing—created initial confusion, leading detectives to put the case on the back burner for several years.
On April 26, 2007, after returning from a medical appointment, Patrick Duffy was resting on the living room couch. Linda Duffy retrieved a loaded .38 caliber double-action revolver and fired two shots directly into Patrick's head. She then placed a 911 call claiming she accidentally shot him while trying to 'fan the hammer' cowboy-style, misinterpreting his Elmer Fudd voice joke as confirmation the weapon was unloaded. Physical evidence showed Patrick was resting with his left hand in his pocket, and ballistics proved two separate trigger pulls were required, disproving accidental double firing.
Access to loaded firearms inside the residence, combined with fabrications following the incident, posed severe risk. The suspect attempted to frame the fatal shooting as an accidental discharge triggered by a cartoon impersonation ('Elmer Fudd'), attempting to leverage police perceptions of her eccentric behavior to avoid immediate prosecution.
Forensic ballistics and physical positioning at the scene provided objective facts that contradicted changing verbal statements. Relying on subjective impressions of a suspect's 'quirky' personality can stall homicide investigations, allowing suspects opportunity to relocate and remarry before charges are filed.
Linda's initial explanation contained immediate ballistics inconsistencies regarding double-action revolver mechanics and fan firing, as well as changing details between the 911 call and police interview.
The autopsy revealed two distinct gunshot wounds to the head. Additionally, Patrick's body posture on the couch with a hand in his pocket indicated he was asleep or resting rather than conducting a firearm lesson.
Ballistic mechanics of the double-action .38 caliber revolver requiring separate trigger pulls, autopsy evidence showing two head wounds, and Linda's contradictory statements across multiple interviews.
First responders noted finding Linda behind the couch applying a towel to Patrick's head. An acquaintance described Linda as a pathological liar. Family members and her second husband maintained her innocence.
A 2009 follow-up interview with firearm demonstration videos prompted Linda to dramatically change her story from having never fired a gun to claiming years of fan-firing practice, before she cut off contact and moved to Mississippi.
The precise motive remains officially unproven, though potential factors discussed include Patrick's health conditions following his medical appointment or financial considerations regarding insurance.