Patchin departed from a Tallahssee, Florida bar with a female friend during the early morning hours of May 24, 1994. He drove his friend to her residence, then continued on to Jefferson County, Florida by himself. Patchin was last seen at approximately 2:00 a.m. in Tallahassee, Florida. His silver 1972 Volkswagen Beetle was discovered abandoned in the parking lot of Jr. Food Store at US 27 South and Chaires Cross Road in Tallahassee later in the day. There was no sign of forced entry inside the vehicle and no trace of Patchin was located at the scene.

Authorities learned that Patchin may have been murdered by drug dealers who frequented the Moore/Washington quarters around Jr. Food Store in 1994. One possible suspect died while imprisoned and investigators were not able to determine if any dealers were connected to Patchin's case. Extensive searches for evidence possibly in the area were unsuccessful.

Patchin was a resident of Lloyd, Florida in 1994. He frequented the Tallahassee area at the time of his disappearance. Patchin was employed as a part-time disc jockey for college radio station V89 89.7 FM at the time of his disappearance.