Big-Hearted Sleuth Tracks Down A Soldier’s Last Girlfriend

By Steve Bigham

When Newtown resident Eric G. Blantin was killed during the Vietnam War 30 years ago, he left behind a mother and father, two sisters, and the young woman he loved – Patrice Albright, his high school sweetheart.

Soon after his death in a helicopter crash in November of 1969, the US Army returned Eric’s belongings to his parents. They included letters and a class ring from 18-year-old Patrice. She was living in Florida at the time (after her parents moved out of Newtown) and had been corresponding with “the soldier boy” during his days on the Vietnam battlefield. The two had met while students at Newtown High School.

George and Irene Blantin had never met the woman and had no way of getting in contact with her after Eric’s death. They held on to the class ring along with other mementos of Eric’s, hoping that one day they might hear from the woman. She, too, must have been struck by their son’s death, they thought.

Surely, the Blantins, now in their 70s, must have wondered what ever became of their son’s high school sweetheart, who was two years younger than Eric – a 1967 Newtown High School graduate. But finding her seemed highly unlikely, especially after all these years. They doubted they would ever be able to return the ring to its rightful owner.

Late last month, however, Gil Whitlock, a local private investigator, located Patrice Albright in New Hampshire and the woman, now approaching 50, is scheduled to finally pay that visit to the Blantin family later this month. Mrs Blantin contacted The Bee this week with the news.

Mr Whitlock, who operates Associated Research & Investigations, Ltd, out of his Main Street home, became interested in the Blantin story after reading an article in The Newtown Bee last November (on the 30th anniversary of Eric Blantin’s death).

“I saw the article and wondered if Mrs Blantin had ever tried to find her. I cut the article out and left it on my desk where it sat for three months. Time went by and I finally called Mrs Blantin and told her I would try and find this woman,” Mr Whitlock explained. “It was all in the last several weeks that this all came together.”

 The private investigator said the Blantins’ story touched him. A 1969 graduate of Bethel High School himself, Mr Whitlock, 48, was just two years younger that Eric Blantin. He informed the Newtown couple that he would find Patrice Albright at no cost.

“It wasn’t easy. I found her using a combination of technology and shoe leather foot work,” he explained. “I find people all the time. This was something that I just felt needed to be done.”

Mr Whitlock’s search took flight after a trip to the town clerk’s office where he discovered land records showing that a Charles and Wilma Albright had sold their home in Newtown in 1967. Then, after many long hours on the phone, the PI determined that the couple, Patrice Albright’s parents, was living in Florida. Their phone number was unlisted, however, forcing Mr Whitlock to write them a letter.

“Then I waited and waited. I thought about giving up and I even thought about going down there. As a private investigator, you don’t want to ever give up,” he said.

Finally, a Wilma Albright called Mr Whitlock and confirmed that she was the mother of Patrice Albright, who is now living in Jaffey, New Hampshire.

“I explained that I had read the article about Eric Blantin in the local newspaper and she said, ‘oh, The Bee,’” Mr Whitlock said during an interview this week at his office on Main Street.

Soon after, Mr Whitlock established contact with Patrice Albright, who has long since married with children, but who still holds a special place in her heart for Eric. Incidentally, Mrs Albright maintained her maiden name.

“She was very happy to hear from me. She said she has been to Newtown and visited Eric’s grave. I think she’s looking for some closure, too,” Mr Whitlock said. “She wanted to visit the Blantins but figured it would only stir up memories.”

Of course, Mr and Mrs Blantin were thrilled at the news and look forward to meeting their son’s last girlfriend.

Gil Whitlock, a Newtown resident since 1979, said one of his favorite shows was always Magnum PI, the story of a hunky private investigator taking high-profile cases in the Hawaiian Islands.

“I always thought that would be pretty cool to do. I always wondered if I could make a living at it,” he said.

 And, after a career in the law enforcement business, Mr Whitlock too became a licensed private investigator, although Newtown is not exactly an island paradise.

When not working as a private sleuth, Mr Whitlock enjoys spending time with his wife, Tami, and their three children: Jason, 16, Ashley, 14, and Anthony, 12.

The Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 in Newtown now bears the name Eric G. Blantin, along with Charles Howard Peck, Sr and Jr.