Carl Stephen Knight: The Lake Don Pedro Search
Dated records preserve a family’s search and its unanswered questions.
Abstract
The sheriff’s individual case entry records April 6, 2008. Local reporting adds a family’s perspective and a chronology of subsequent events.1
Case Record
The entry’s location field names Lake Don Pedro. A location label alone does not establish a witnessed encounter at the lake.1
An April 9, 2008 myMotherLode report describes an extensive sheriff’s search around Lake Don Pedro and an appeal for public information. Its account is a dated report of the search, not a later recovery announcement.2
The report encouraged information to the sheriff and said callers could remain anonymous. That historical appeal shows public participation was sought; it does not establish whether any particular tip was received or verified.2
Family Perspective
Debra Knight’s August 15 interview keeps Carl’s family in view. She spoke as a mother and as the grandmother of his young daughter, explaining why the family’s continuing search mattered.4
Sourced Accounts and Questions
Here’s where you come in. Can you identify what supports the sheriff’s location field, rather than treating that label as a documented sighting?1
Can you compare the family’s dated account with a later public agency update? Keep what each source actually confirms, and what is unanswered, in a Research File in Almost Solved.4
Show later developments and reported outcomes
Later Reported Record
The April 9 report said the district attorney had filed murder charges against Paul Curtis and Robert Earl Slawinsky. That charging report is distinct from a court finding.2
An August 11 story described a July 1 voluntary-manslaughter plea and anticipated sentencing. A scheduled hearing is distinct from an order actually entered.3
The story also says out-of-county agencies took part and Debra hired a private search firm. Those are descriptions in a news report; the underlying search logs were not inspected here.3
The August 15 interview reported 11-year sentences. Debra wanted a headstone and burial for her son. She believed his remains were probably elsewhere; that was her assessment, not an established location.4
The sheriff’s reviewed summary reports prosecution and says Carl has not been located. The underlying statements and court orders were not inspected here.1
Scope and Method
Underlying statements and court orders uninspected.
Prepared with AI assistance. Sources and references checked against the cited public materials. This paper is an original synthesis of the identified public sources; it does not reproduce article bodies, transcripts, or an investigative file.
Footnote References
- Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Carl Stephen Knight; reviewed November 2026.
- myMotherLode, April 9, 2008 case report; updated January 2009.
- Bill Johnson, myMotherLode, August 11, 2008; updated January 2009.
- BJ Hansen, myMotherLode, August 15, 2008 interview; updated January 2009.