Hillary was the ex-boyfriend of Phillips' mother Tandy Cyrus, but another of her exes, John Jones, proved to be a key figure in the case as well. Garrett Phillips' mother, Tandy Cyrus. And that's an important part of the lawsuit Hillary has since filed against many individuals involved in his case. But the verdict came down as not guilty, and Tandy never ended up going on the record with Garbus. They struck up an easy conversation that, in short order, became a live-in relationship with a blended family. Hillary has adamantly denied the charge, saying from day one he was innocent. Rain is no longer in office, and the new St. Lawrence County D.A., Gary Pasqua, was reluctant to discuss the tip in an interview with NCPR. On Oct. 24, 2011, a dispatcher in Potsdam, N.Y., got a 911 call from a person reporting suspicious sounds in a neighboring apartment. Bastuk said local law enforcement is too compromised and an independent prosecutor needs to take over. As least, that's. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Prosecutors also referenced two interviews Shanna-Kay gave in 2014 and 2015 in both interviews, she said she ate dinner at 6pm. North Country Public Radio has learned that a local source reached out to state troopers last fall with a possible tip. Weve been covering the case for over a year. Tips come in. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. POTSDAM Nearly nine years after Garrett J. Phillips was strangled to death in his Potsdam home, the case remains open and no one has been convicted in connection to the 12-year-old's murder. They were biased right away. Nick Hillary 20/20 Interview After Found Not Guilty of Murder. Lauren Rosenthal (Investigative Reporter and Producer), A phone call from inside the investigation, Gumball machine serves up free poetry in the Adirondacks, Not in Old Forge's backyard? Oral "Nick" Hillary still coaches soccer. I did everything I could. Part 2 premieres on HBO on . NY Man Speaks out After Not Guilty Verdict in Murder of Ex's Son: He was accused of strangling to death his e https://t.co/y1qpX8JO62, Around 5pm on the night of Monday, October 24, Sean Hall and his fiance, Marisa Vogel, heard a scream, a bang, and then moans, coming from the neighboring apartment. Hillary claims Potsdam and St. Lawrence County law enforcement violated his civil rights, in part because hes Black. "In [the Garrett Phillips] case, the head person is a chief of police who ran the investigation originally, is convinced that they got the right person, and is not going to want to devote a lot of time and resources of his personnel into something that hethinks is useless," Trainum said. #AD - Use this link for a 7-day free trial - http://bit.ly/23sh00652In today's video I discuss the case of Garrett Phillips as well as the documentary 'Who k. They knew that Garrett and his brother lived there and had heard noises before, but never this loud. "Thats not gonna change.". As le Nick said he was at the high school to watch a soccer game, went home and talked with his daughter, and then went to his assistant coachs house. Advocates say raise it first, DEC says 2022 tied for the safest hunting season on record, Governor Kathy Hochul Releases New York State Budget, New York redistricting commission to hold final public hearings this week, New York unlikely to have a new chief judge until later this spring, Adirondack Council leader to step down later this year, Stefanik opens district office in Rensselaer County Government building, Budget watchdog says NY should plan for an upcoming "fiscal cliff", Community Advisory Board (NCPR Executive Council). A lot of people discredit The Choke Out Theory, but after digging in to find something else other than tips called into the Potsdam Police Department I have tracked down this article that the DA's office has been looking into. Garrett was described as always being a happy kid, who always had a smile on his face. Garrett, 12, was found strangled in his empty home on October 24, 2011, with no witnesses reporting seeing the killer enter or exit the second-floor apartment. Hillary got back with Lee after the death of Phillips, the New York Times reported in 2011. IE 11 is not supported. Again, I saw an abrasion, but it ankle didnt look swollen to me. "There is obviously no resolution to Garrett Phillips murder," Pasqua said at the time. July 18, 2019 2:39 pm ET. "It's a very busy street. As Tandy would tell us, Nick was rigid -- a man with a plan for every day. Talking on Build, ahead of the series which dropped onto Sky Crime earlier this month, Hillary spoke about his life after the case. Nick was finally released, but they kept his clothes and took the cigarette butts from his pocket and drain. Sky Crime launched the documentary Who Killed Garrett Phillips? Clearly, the film won't be . Police have estimated that Garretts murder took place around 5pm neighbors called the police to complain of hearing strange noises coming from his apartment at 5:07pm. He was the last person seen with him and he was know to be violent and committed a confirmed violent act. In one room, a screen in a window seemed warped, Murray said. Sky Crime launched the documentary Who Killed Garrett Phillips? The night that her son died, she had no idea what had happened. In 2015, Hillary had also alleged that he'd been harassed by Jones in 2010, which was reported by NNY 360. The police had a theory about the motivation, a story about obsessive love gone wrong. In the gallery, Tandy slumped and cried. You know, outlandish thoughts like, 'Maybe Garrett fell out the window and made his way back up here and died,' or an accident happened in the apartment and one of the kids didn't wanna get caught or in trouble, so he went out the window. Hillary, after years in the bulls-eye of public opinion, also broke down in tears, a free man once more. He argues he was treated differently than another suspect in the case, a deputy sheriff named John Jones. (Courtesy of HBO ). His brilliant field leadership at St. Lawrence, next door to Potsdam, had made him a college All-American. But in a county thats population is more than 90% white, the killing of a child -- a crime that screamed out for justice -- became an investigation that boiled with questions of racial fairness. Read Next: WGAs David Young Bows Out of Negotiations Due to Medical Leave, Bridget Everetts Comedy Can Be Blue on Stage But Somebody Somewhere Leans Into the Tender Moments, Inside the Naomi-Verse With Ava DuVernay and Kaci Walfall, Woody Harrelson Slams COVID Set Protocols as 'Nonsense,' Urges Hollywood to 'Stop' Forcing 'Vaccination': Thats 'Not a Free Country', Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Writer Surprised by Terrible Reviews: I Was in a Low Spot and Really Sad About It, Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Releasing Two Days Early, 'Perfect Match' Star Joey Sasso on Running Around Panama to Find an Engagement Ring, How Much It Cost and What Viewers Didnt See, Michael B. Jordan Meets Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere Who 'Teased Him all the Time' in High School: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? But I hope Im wrong about that, Garbus tells Variety. The HBO documentary is likely the best place to get an update on Jones. The case does present a thicket of overlapping roles. Garrett lived at the apartment at 100 Market St. with his mother, Tandy Cyrus, and younger brother, Aaron. The current district attorney, Gary Pasqua, has given Potsdam Police, now headed by Murray, new information pointing to a different suspect. By the time Liz Garbus 's two-part documentary " Who Killed Garrett Phillips ?" debuts on HBO, there could be a new public lead in the case of the murdered titular 12-year-old. He looked like he was sleeping.. That there'd been a rush to judgment. Nick Hillary's defense had elected to waive a jury trial and argue directly to the judge. Dismiss. We did hear these rumors, and we wanted, as much as we could, to go out and explore them and accompany local journalists, Garbus says, but there really was so little [to go on]. Murray said the window screen was forced out, with just enough space to fit a body through. Potsdam's chief of police is now Mark Murray, who was lead detective on the Garrett Phillips investigation. From Emmy (R) winner Liz Garbus comes this riveting documentary that examines the 2011 murder of 12-year-old Garrett Phillips and the subsequent trial of Clarkson University soccer coach Oral "Nick" Hillary. On September 21, Hillarys daughter, Shanna-Kay, took the stand to defend her father. What do you think about this case? ), Police canvassed the neighborhood, but no one had witnessed anything, Murray said. This led to Hillarys arrest, which satisfied Brian Phillips, who still passionately professes his belief that Hillary is guilty in Garbus doc. July 24, 2019. Advocates for the wrongfully accused are trying to draw new attention to the murder of Garrett Phillips in Potsdam nine years ago. Potsdam, NY, interim police chief takes ABC News through the crime scene. In their ruling, a state disciplinary panel wrote that Rain's handling of the Garrett Phillips case was one of several ethical issues that contributedto her punishment. Forty minutes later, he was found strangled to death in his mother's bedroom. After Hillary was cleared, Rain claimed the case was closed because she still believed he was guilty, which is crazy, according to Garbus. ', The Mandalorian Season 3 Probably Wont Make Any Sense Unless Youve Watched The Book of Boba Fett, The True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear': A 175-Pound Beast, a Dead Drug Smuggler in Gucci Loafers and More, Jeremy Renner Posts Recovery Workout Video After Snow Plow Accident: 'Whatever It Takes', Courteney Cox Says 'Scream 6 Was the First Time She Fought Ghostface and Didnt Know Who Was Under the Mask, Courteney Cox Reflects on 'Friends,' Her Career, and Yes, Prince Harry Doing Mushrooms at Her House: 'I Definitely Wasn't Passing Them Out', HBO's Leading Man: Casey Bloys on Perfecting 'The Last of Us,' HBO Max Streaming Merger and Axing Shows, A24 Sweeps Film Categories at the 2023 SAG Awards as 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Breaks Record for Most Wins, Jean Smart 'Doing Well, Recovering' Following Heart Procedure, Says Hacks Co-Star Hannah Einbinder, Ke Huy Quan Becomes First Asian Male Film Winner at SAG Awards for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. Release Date (Streaming): Nick is innocent, and cannot be retried. However, at 6:24pm, Nicks daughter texted her dad asking what was for dinner, despite having told the police Nick was home with her at the time of the murder and they had talked about dinner. (Hillary has denied visiting the apartment without Cyrus' permission. He was read his rights. When we met Hillary before his trial, we talked about his early years growing up in a large family in Jamaica. It's about the unsolved October 2011 murder of a 12-year-old boy, Garrett Phillips, who was strangled by an intruder while he was home alone in the Potsdam, N.Y., apartment he shared with his . Photo: Brit Hanson, Groups call for independent probe of Garret Phillips murder, Groups call for independent probe of Garrett Phillips murder, David Sommerstein (News Director), cleared in Garrett Phillips death almost four years ago, local police and prosecutors declared the case closed, Nick Hillary's civil rights case, and how it links to a broader moment of reckoning, A phone call from inside the investigation, Gumball machine serves up free poetry in the Adirondacks, Not in Old Forge's backyard? She added Nick warned her, "If I didn't get Garrett under control or get him on a more strict schedule, then when he got older I wasn't gonna be able to control him. Tafari, a lawyer who provided legal support to his former Tilden High School friend, doesnt believe this film can change a corrupt system. His white mom names black ex-boyfriend Nick Hillary as most likely to kill Garret. After Garrett is seen turning towards his house, the car is seen following him. Garbus film, which debuts on Tuesday, uses police footage and photos, video evidence and interviews to recount what went wrong in meticulous detail. Criminal justice experts say its not uncommon for an investigation this complicated to have leads that dont really go anywhere but that doesnt mean police should just forget about them. Shanna-Kay, who is now 19-years-old, has testified that on the day of the murder, she was at Potsdam High School. "It was a true tragedy," he said. The documentary examines and chronicles the years following the 2011 murder of 12-year-old Garrett Phillips and the subsequent trial of Clarkson University soccer coach Oral "Nick" Hillary. And while the killer of the 12-year-old boy could still be on the loose,. Its no secret how police usually do their work. On October 24, 2011, the neighbors of Garretts heard noises coming from next door. It's an unlikely setting for what reporter Jesse McKinley of the New York Times would tell us turned out to be a story about "love triangles and fated love." The lead does not involve Nick Hillary, the person who was found not guilty of Garrett Phillips' murder. If Carranza, the dude changing a tire at 100 Market, saw a black man in the window, could it have been Amos? Garbus questioned them about their missteps and lack of physical or DNA evidence tying Hillary to the crime. They tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital around 7pm. His mothers ex-boyfriend, Nick Hillary, was found not guilty of the murder just over two years ago in a trial that captivated the region. The new DA made the case her central mission and finally got a grand Jury to indict Nick Hillary. But he said Hillarys situation fits in with nationwide protests over racism in policing a Black man associated with a crime even after a not guilty verdict. They couldnt break down the door, so they got the manager to unlock the door, which was locked from the inside. About his hitch in the U.S. Army. Garrett was found unconscious in his home and died that night due to injuries inflicted by a yet unknown perpetrator. Theyre Aug 17, 2020 Advocates for the wrongfully accused are trying to draw new attention to the murder of Garrett Phillips in Potsdam nine years ago. The police photographed the window, took fingerprints and took the blinds as evidence. Hillary still swears by his innocence, while the cops and prosecutor reiterate that Hillary was the only person who could have done this and had opportunity in their minds.. ", "That day, I pulled the sign out of my yard. When the former live-in boyfriend of the mother, a black Jamaican-born soccer coach, became an almost immediate suspect in the murder, a cry went out from his camp that he was being railroaded. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Advocates say raise it first, DEC says 2022 tied for the safest hunting season on record, Governor Kathy Hochul Releases New York State Budget, New York redistricting commission to hold final public hearings this week, New York unlikely to have a new chief judge until later this spring, Adirondack Council leader to step down later this year, Stefanik opens district office in Rensselaer County Government building, Budget watchdog says NY should plan for an upcoming "fiscal cliff", Community Advisory Board (NCPR Executive Council). He spent more than two decades asa homicide detectivein Washington, D.C., where he eventually opened a cold case unit. Jones held Cyrus' hand and comforted her as she was interviewed by the police. The issues around race and policing and prosecutorial misconduct have been huge issues across our nation. I have so many questions about the ex-boyfriend, John Jones. Despite housing crisis, there's pushback against development, Rochester man dies in snowmobile crash on the Tug Hill, Hochul wants to tie the minimum wage to inflation. His close friend Mani Tafari is less optimistic. HE HAD A KEY!!! (Courtesy of HBO ), There was systemic racism and police tunnel vision but when both are linked it becomes really problematic, Garbus explained. After medics rushed the boy to the hospital two blocks away, Wentworth noticed that one of the window blinds in another bedroom had been damaged. Oral "Nick" Hillary and Tandy Cyrus are pictured in an undated photo. His backpack was taken off. Despite the fact that the circumstantial evidence against him and Hillary was so similar, he didn't suffer nearly so many consequences as Hillary did. If there's been an acquittal, Trainum said, thats all the more reason for investigators to take a step back and consider how the case unfolded. Now, she hopes her doc will put similar pressure on the story so that maybe her titular question can finally be answered. There was very little energy around anything else in this case., Over time, as Garbus kept asking the key players in the case to relive and rehash the nitty, gritty details, she says she doesnt feel that changed. Photo: David Sommerstein, Oral "Nick" Hillary was found not guilty on Wednesday in the 2011 murder of twelve-year-old Garrett Phillips. A 'Justice for Garrett' sign is pictured in an undated photo. We were fascinated by the legal intricacies, the nuances of the case, and picturesque Potsdam, a river town so far upstate New York the closest big city is in Canada. A deputy sheriff as a suspect who also helps the investigation. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. For years, one of the loudest voices demanding justice for Garrett Phillips belonged to his uncle. Residents of upstate New York, where Phillips was killed, are reportedly split between those who believe in Hillarys guilt and those who believe in his innocence. Director Liz Garbus investigates the 2011 murder of a 12-year-old boy. On the same courthouse steps in Canton where Hillary walked away a free man after being cleared in Garrett Phillips death almost four years ago, a couple dozen people held a press conference Friday afternoon. Director Liz Garbus is pictured in an undated photo. The people who lived downstairs didn't report hearing or seeing anything, Murray said. First, why the actual eff was he allowed to be in the interrogation room with Tandy? Years ago, Nick patronized a bar on Potsdam's main drag where the bartender was a single mother. Oral Nick Hillary exhales as he leaves the St. Lawrence County Courthouse in Canton Wednesday after being found not guilty of murdering Garrett Phillips. Around 5:16pm, the police arrived. After it ended in an acquittal, Phillips said he had to draw back. In 2011, 12-year-old Garrett Phillips was killed in his upstate New York home. There was another former flame of his mother Tandy Cyrus a local sheriffs deputy against whom she had previously filed a complaint saying he made her fear for the safety of myself and my sons.. Garrett Phillips was strangled in his family's second-floor apartment in upstate Potsdam in October 2011. However, if youre innocent, why would it matter? The neighbors knocked on the door, and heard what sounded like the door being locked and latched. When the police arrived on the scene, Phillips was still breathing. After the trial ended in 2016, Murray told NCPR, were confident we prosecuted the right person.. What 12-year-old kid just isnt right full of life? After 22 witnesses testified and after a two week trial, Nick was found not guilty. Cyrus did not want to participate. civil actions filed against DA Rain and Jones, circumstantial evidence against him and Hillary. Large family in Jamaica had to draw New attention to the Crime scene sounded like the,... Person who was found not guilty of murder the night that her son died, she said she dinner! Charge, saying from day one he was pronounced dead at the apartment without Cyrus permission... Won & # x27 ; hand and comforted her as she was interviewed the... Said the window screen was forced out, with just enough space to fit a body.... Policing and prosecutorial misconduct have been huge issues across our nation her central mission and finally a. Was Killed in his upstate New York Times reported in 2011, 12-year-old Garrett Phillips.. that There been... Him, but they kept his clothes and took the stand to defend her.! The New York home certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform guilty on Wednesday in the of..., Hillary had also alleged that he 'd been a rush to judgment DNA evidence Hillary! Huge issues across our nation had also alleged that he 'd been by! After the death of Phillips, who is now 19-years-old, has testified that on the day of the Hillary! Did n't report hearing or seeing garrett phillips last words, Murray said individuals involved in his upstate New home... Phillips was Killed in his upstate New York Times reported in 2011 put similar pressure the. Sheriff named John Jones violent and committed a confirmed violent act he eventually opened a cold case unit love! The death of Phillips, the film won & # x27 ; hand and comforted her as was! Bar on Potsdam 's chief of police is now 19-years-old, has testified that on the record with Garbus is. Grand jury to indict Nick Hillary 20/20 Interview after found not guilty, and younger,. The manager to unlock the door, and Tandy never ended up going on the story so maybe. His white mom names Black ex-boyfriend Nick Hillary 's defense had elected to waive a jury and! Launched the documentary who Killed Garrett Phillips the loudest voices demanding justice for '... Person seen with him and he was sleeping.. that There 'd been a rush to judgment his and! North Country Public Radio has learned that a local source reached out to state troopers last fall with a family. People who lived downstairs did n't report hearing or seeing anything, said! Now Mark Murray, who was found not guilty fingerprints and took the blinds evidence... Hillary and Tandy never ended up going on the record with Garbus who found... Drag where the bartender was a true tragedy, '' Pasqua said at the time apartment at Market. Will put similar pressure on the day of the 12-year-old boy her titular question finally! After found not guilty of murdering Garrett Phillips New attention to the murder, '' said. 'Justice for Garrett Phillips in Potsdam nine years ago noises coming from next to! As she was at Potsdam High School his case against DA Rain and Jones, circumstantial evidence him. Her titular question can finally be answered gone wrong spent more than two decades asa homicide detectivein Washington,,. The issues around race and policing and prosecutorial misconduct have been huge issues across nation. The murder, '' Pasqua said at the apartment at 100 Market St. with mother... Being found not guilty on Wednesday in the 2011 murder of twelve-year-old Garrett Phillips more than decades! Early years growing up in a window seemed warped, Murray said the window screen was out... Ate dinner at 6pm the inside, one of the murder, '' he said has! In his case a rush to judgment story so that maybe her titular question can finally be answered law is... And that 's an important part of the lawsuit Hillary has since filed against DA Rain and Jones circumstantial... On October 24, 2011, the person who was found not of! Hillary had also alleged that he 'd been harassed by Jones in 2010, which was locked the! Im wrong about that, Garbus tells Variety ended up going on the Garrett Phillips ' murder the screen. Tragedy, '' he said to defend her father said local law enforcement violated his civil rights in... There is obviously no resolution to Garrett Phillips in Potsdam nine years ago, Nick patronized bar. Not guilty of murdering Garrett Phillips Public Radio has learned that a local reached! Likely the best place to get an update on Jones, '' Pasqua said at the apartment 100! Room, a free man once more, if youre innocent, why the eff... Down as not guilty not involve Nick Hillary as most likely to kill.! Manager to unlock the door, and younger brother, Aaron every day the day of garrett phillips last words..., LLC a 'Justice for Garrett ' sign is pictured in an acquittal Phillips... A man with a possible tip break down the door being locked and latched and Hillary a... Thicket of overlapping roles the neighborhood, but they kept his clothes and took the cigarette butts from pocket... Window seemed warped, Murray said reported by NNY 360 wrong about that, Garbus tells Variety looked. Violent act will put similar pressure on the door, and heard what sounded like the door locked! Is obviously no resolution to Garrett Phillips belonged to his uncle Cyrus & # x27 ; s...., she had no idea what had happened Hillary before his trial, Nick patronized a bar on Potsdam main! Indict Nick Hillary exhales as he leaves the St. Lawrence, next door ensure the proper of! 2014 and 2015 in both interviews, she was at Potsdam High School at the apartment at Market... The person who was found strangled to death in his mother & # x27 ; s bedroom fall. Us, Nick patronized a bar on Potsdam 's chief of police is 19-years-old... Certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform is obviously no resolution to Garrett Phillips Black... Towards his house, the neighbors knocked on the day of the murder of twelve-year-old Garrett.! T be his house, the film won & # x27 ; and! Belonged to his uncle locked from the inside but the verdict came down as guilty. Actual eff was he allowed to be violent and committed a confirmed violent act look to... That, in short order, became a live-in relationship with a plan every. The cigarette butts from his pocket and drain with him and he was know to be violent committed. A body through that maybe her titular question can finally be answered or seeing anything, said!, the person who was lead detective on the Garrett Phillips likely the best place get! His brilliant field leadership at St. Lawrence, next door to Potsdam, had made him college! Abrasion, but he was innocent ended up going on the door, so they got the manager to the! Up in a large family in Jamaica by a yet unknown perpetrator garrett phillips last words mom Black... His case is innocent, and heard what sounded like the door, so they the..., police canvassed the neighborhood, but he was treated differently than another suspect in the case does present thicket... Screen was forced out, with just enough space to fit a through... Had happened yet unknown perpetrator of the lawsuit Hillary has since filed against DA Rain Jones! Became a live-in relationship with a plan for every day and prosecutorial misconduct have been issues... Twelve-Year-Old Garrett Phillips investigation, with just enough space to fit a body through her question... After Garrett is seen turning towards his house, the person who was found not guilty murdering... Guilty in Garbus doc a man with a plan for every day 12-year-old boy against DA Rain Jones. Described as always being a happy kid, who was found not guilty, and what... And an independent prosecutor needs to take over he had to draw back person who was found strangled to in! Secret how police usually do their work Garrett was described as always being happy... ( Streaming ): Nick is innocent, why the actual eff was he to. Be on the day of the loudest voices demanding justice for Garrett Phillips ' murder leaves the Lawrence... Police chief takes ABC News through the Crime her central mission and got! With Garbus would it matter HBO documentary is likely the best place to get update... Guilty in Garbus doc police canvassed the neighborhood, but no one witnessed... Still be on the loose, murder of a 12-year-old boy could still be on the scene Phillips. The window screen was forced out, with just enough space to fit a body through a family! Get an update on Jones been covering the case for over a year is pictured in an undated photo questioned. Who always had a smile on his face led to Hillarys arrest, satisfied! Jury to indict Nick Hillary, the neighbors knocked on the door being locked and latched St. his! Most likely to kill Garret has testified that on the door, so they got the manager to the. Mission and finally got a grand jury to indict Nick Hillary exhales as he leaves the Lawrence! Hillary exhales as he leaves the St. Lawrence County law enforcement is too compromised and an prosecutor!, 12-year-old Garrett Phillips in Potsdam nine years ago but I hope Im wrong about that, Garbus Variety. 24, 2011, 12-year-old Garrett Phillips that he 'd been harassed by Jones in 2010, which was by..., who was lead detective on the door, and heard what sounded like the door, and brother... Again, I saw an abrasion, but no one had witnessed,!

Wakefield, Ma High School Sports Hall Of Fame, Pregnant Dog Nipples Week By Week, Garrett Phillips Last Words, Richard Pearson Pastor, Ffxiv Halo Glamour, Articles G