When Hillary was acquitted this week, the judge said that his case was mostly circumstantial and didnt prove he was guilty without a doubt. Theyre calling for the state Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the 12 year-old boys death. [2] Formal complaints were filed against him for violence and abuse. After the trial ended in 2016, Murray told NCPR, were confident we prosecuted the right person.. 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. HE HAD A KEY!!! Oral "Nick" Hillary still coaches soccer. Interim Police Chief in Potsdam, New York, Mark Murray, stands in the house where Phillips' body was found on Sept. 27, 2016. Its so heartbreaking, and I feel bad for his family. Nicks defense team said right away that the police had tunnel vision and said it was a race issue. 1. Just like his father, spitting image of my brother, a heck of a little athlete. 24. But despite being a free man, it seems Hillary is still struggling to clear his name in his community. This button displays the currently selected search type. But then when we looked at it closer. Movie Info. David SommersteinGroups call for independent probe of Garret Phillips murder. That there'd been a rush to judgment. Nick had to leave the station that day in a hazmat suit. She was raising two boys, he had three kids from a past relationship. Text. 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. However, Postdam is apparently really small, so if you go a different way it doesnt take long to be back where you started. About his hitch in the U.S. Army. However, Shanna-Kays phone records show she texted her father at 6:24pm, asking Whats for dinner?. They couldnt break down the door, so they got the manager to unlock the door, which was locked from the inside. Phillips was convinced police had the right suspect, but he felt it was time to move on and it became clear that law enforcement wanted to move on, too. Garrett and his family lived on the second floor, so the police determined that the killer would have had to jump on the landing and then down to the ground. What do you think about this case? Meanwhile Garretts autopsy was done. 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. Photo: David Sommerstein, D.A. Prosecutors have also said they will not reopen the investigation. The night that her son died, she had no idea what had happened. Now, she hopes her doc will put similar pressure on the story so that maybe her titular question can finally be answered. When 12-year-old Garrett Phillips was murdered in 2011 . 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. In one room, a screen in a window seemed warped, Murray said. The police photographed the window, took fingerprints and took the blinds as evidence. According to Grantland, Officer Mark Wentworth investigated the apartment at 100 Market Street. By then, the D.A. Powered by. From the polices point of view, they thought they had the best suspect the most they could put together on someone, says Garbus. Nick did drive a blue car, however the footage is so blurry that you cant tell who is driving or see the license plate. Cookie Notice 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. In 2015, Hillary had also alleged that he'd been harassed by Jones in 2010, which was reported by NNY 360. Garbus credits the dogged local reporters who wouldnt let up on the case for bringing it to the larger attention, including her own. Today, Garrett's mother's ex-boyfriend, Nick Hillary, was found not guilty in the boy's murder. But at around 5 p.m., when the murder is estimated to have occurred, no one saw anyone jump or flee from the building. Nick and Tandy met while Tandy was working part time as a bartender. But at the same time, so many armchair sleuths, so many Reddit boards, so much discussion only increased the chances of it being solved.. Nick tried to leave for work, and the police blocked the door. Oral "Nick" Hillary and Tandy Cyrus are pictured in an undated photo. Nick was interviewed for 9 hours that day. This case is currently still unsolved after a not guilty verdict. Tandy Cyrus, Garretts mom, was at her other sons basketball practice. After it ended in an acquittal, Phillips said he had to draw back. They called 911 around 5:08pm. Police suspect the killer jumped out it after strangling Garrett. ", Brian Phillips, Garretts uncle, said he hadn't been notified about the existence of any tips but he also admitted he's not too interested in continuing to hear them. They also knocked on the door and said they heard footsteps coming from inside the apartment. They were very much in his personal space as he was standing there naked with several cops around. The car is seen driving to the back of the lot into a parking space. The apartment that Jones helped Cyrus find was the same spot where Phillips was found gravely hurt. Years passed with no arrest, and now Nick Hillary, a former college soccer coach and an ex-boyfriend of Phillips's mother, awaits trial on a murder charge. Ignorance and arrogance walk hand in hand through "Who Killed Garrett Phillips ?"documentarian Liz Garbus 's incendiary true-crime drama about the death of . The last time Phillips was seen alive was on school surveillance footage, in which he's seen making his way home on a Riptide skateboard. His mother was rushed to the hospital. The police also made Nick strip down in the nude, so they could take photographs. A Brandon D. Murphy from nearby Norfolk was arrested in 2013 for sexual contact with a minor under 14. Pasqua and local police have declined to comment. People want to be heroes. 2. North County Public Radio - NPR for the Adirondack North Country, Jennifer Baxtron (front center) of Black Lives Matter in Potsdam and William Bastuk (front right) of It Could Happen To You called on the state Attorney General's office to launch a special investigation into the unsolved Garret Phillips murder from 2011. It would take 18 more months for any more information about what happened to Garrett would come to light. Oral "Nick" Hillary still coaches soccer. After Garrett is seen turning towards his house, the car is seen following him. They moved in just months before Garrett died, after Cyrus and Hillary broke up. The apartment is on the second floor of the roughly 100-year-old building, Murray said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "It's a very busy street. On that rainy afternoon in October 2011, police responded to the scene at just after 5 p.m. after next-door neighbors heard concerning noises from Garrett's apartment and called 911. But I hope Im wrong about that, Garbus tells Variety. Back in the hospital, Garrett Phillips was pronounced dead at 7:18pm. Nick Hillary, Tandy Cyrus Collins, lawyer who questioned Hillary in civil suit to be featured on NBC https://t.co/EkWKVOTN1o #lawyer. The prosecutor would thunder that the camera had in fact recorded Nick out "hunting" for the boy just minutes before his death. 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. On October 26, two days after the murder, Nick was brought into the station. So we had intelligent people, people with a lot of power working to deny him of his freedom, knowing that hes innocent., Teacher who misgendered trans pupil 'was acting like a preacher', Teacher sacked for restraining 'out of control pupil' wins unfair dismissal claim, Emergency assemblies and extra staff: how schools are tackling Andrew Tate, He added: District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, he knew there was no evidence, and he said quote after Nick was acquitted: I have locked people up with much less evidence than this.. Following this, Hillary was then indicted for murder in the second degree, spending 70 days in prison before he was released on bail. He has maintained his innocence since day one telling Elizabeth Vargas, I have absolutely nothing to do with what has happened to Garrett. 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. Bastuk admits theyre just familiarizing the AGs office with the details of the case. The two-part HBO documentary Who Killed Garrett Phillips? doesnt solve the mystery but looks at the case through a critical lens. But no one would see his killer leap out of the back window. Heres what you need to know about the case. But you cant take race out of the picture the way in which white Americans are just more likely to look at Black people as capable of committing crimes. Rain ran for district attorney of Potsdam in 2013 with a platform that specifically singled out Tandy Phillips, promising to prosecute someone for the murder of Garrett. In the gallery, Tandy slumped and cried. Dismiss. "It was over five years whether it was selling stickers, selling T-shirts, [raising money for] the reward, " Brian Phillips said in an interview with NCPR last week. I was in complete shock, she told ABC News. This case is about a murdered 12 year old and the polices tunnel vision against one suspect. A few other people who were interviewed in this episode also said they didnt see a limp and it could have been the recording and camera. Murray said the window screen was forced out, with just enough space to fit a body through. The accused was Nick Hillary, 37 years old at the time of the boy's death. How are police handling new leads in the Garrett Phillips case? Dateline's been covering the case of Garrett Phillips for over a year. Garretts family, especially his mom and uncle, Brian Phillips, believe Nick 100% killed Garrett. As le In regards to the interesting and sad story about Garrett Phillips the 12- year old CHILD murdered victim. he was with his girlfriend til 11pm (his girlfriends mom confirmed this). Hillary does not shy away from the scrutiny the film will bring, saying his ordeal will have had purpose if it saves others from similar mistreatment by law enforcement. A new foreign DNA company called Starmix said that Nicks DNA matched the crime scene, however, during the investigation, the police said the DNA mixture was too small. He was 19 at the time of the 2013 arrest, which makes him the same age as the Brandon D. Murphy in question for Garrett's murder. "Even the appearance of impropriety is as devastating in its consequences to the judicial system as the actual impropriety itself," said Downs. As Tandy would tell us, Nick was rigid -- a man with a plan for every day. "Oral Hillary will face that for the rest of his life unless the true perpetrator is found and held accountable," Bastuk said. Its no secret how police usually do their work. He also said he'd talked with police and met with Garrett Phillips mother but he didn't want to discuss his findings. The boy in the security video was 12-year-old Garrett Phillips. She ignored Hillary's phone calls. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. 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). In 2006, Hillary was acquitted of murder after a trial before a judge without a jury, The jury pool came from the same individuals who had elected the district attorney, Hillary, 45, told The News. 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. "To keep dredging up that case and to continue to put people in the spotlight who Im sure dont want to be in the spotlight like Garrett Phillips family," Pasqua said. New pieces complicate Garrett Phillips murder storyPeople in St. Lawrence County know his face: the smiling, golden-haired 12-year-old boy, Garrett Phillips. Phillips was the 12-year-old boy who was fatally attacked at his home in Potsdam in 2011. He argues he was treated differently than another suspect in the case, a deputy sheriff named John Jones. Hillary has adamantly denied the charge, saying from day one he was innocent. And then there was the potential witness about whom prosecutors never told the defense a revelation that nearly led to the trials dismissal. On Oct. 24, 2011, a dispatcher in Potsdam, N.Y., got a 911 call from a person reporting suspicious sounds in a neighboring apartment. However, if youre innocent, why would it matter? Rain credited the "Justice for Garrett" movement Brian Phillips, Garrett's uncle, sold and distributed thousands of posters bearing the slogan and raised $40,000 for a reward fund . It was two days after 12 year-old Garrett Phillips was found strangled to death in his home in Potsdam. After the schoolboys body was found suffocated and strangled, all fingers pointed to Nick as the murderer. The new documentary Who Killed Garrett Phillips?, airing on HBO July 23 and 24, looks into the unsolved 2011 death of a 12-year-old boy by that name. Shanna-Kay, who is now 19-years-old, has testified that on the day of the murder, she was at Potsdam High School. When asked if it was under investigation, Pasqua responded: "I think that's safe to say, yes.". Garretts mother, Tandy Cyrus, has said that her son was a gregarious boy who had absolutely no fear. Jones held Cyrus' hand and comforted her as she was interviewed by the police. Privacy Policy. Garrett Phillips' mother, Tandy Cyrus. Garrett was taken to the local hospital where he was declared dead later that night. According to the documentary, that once police focused in on Hillary an Army veteran and respected soccer coach at nearby Clarkson University other investigative avenues were not explored. Nick was finally released, but they kept his clothes and took the cigarette butts from his pocket and drain. His mother's ex-boyfriend, Nick Hillary, was found not guilty of the murder just over two years ago in a. There were many similarities in Hillary and Jones: they were both romantically connected to Phillips' mother and they were both allegedly seen in proximity to Phillips before the murder. 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. Potsdam, NY, interim police chief takes ABC News through the crime scene. Back at the crime scene, the police realized there was no forced entry, but there was an open window, with the screen cut out. No prints or hairs from the scene matched the police's suspect, Hillary. 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. "Mr. Jones went on to say that if I was sleeping with his ex-girlfriend he would have 'kicked in my door,'" Hillary said. Though the crime happened almost five years ago, the whodunit of it all has consumed this quiet area. His white mom names black ex-boyfriend Nick Hillary as most likely to kill Garret. I dont want to ever talk bad about the police, because some of them actually do their jobs the way they are supposed to, however this police department didnt. Dateline's been covering the case of Garrett Phillips for over a year. Hammond, Norfolk teens jailed on charges of sex abuse, endangering the welfare of child . The coachs daughter Shanna-Kay Hillary testified for her father and said he was in their house at the time of Garretts murder. He looked like he was sleeping.. The big question now is how law enforcements following up. Soon afterwards, a neighbor in Garretts apartment building heard strange noises and called 911. Soon afterwards, a neighbor in Garretts apartment building heard strange noises and called 911 after it ended an. From a past relationship still struggling to clear his name in his community be answered then there the... Jailed on charges of sex abuse, endangering the welfare of CHILD Hillary and Tandy Cyrus, has that! After it ended in 2016, Murray told NCPR, were confident we the. 12-Year-Old boy who was fatally attacked at his home in Potsdam in 2011 & # ;. Raising two boys, he had three kids from a past relationship, who is now 19-years-old, testified... Personal space as he was declared dead later that night 2013 for contact! Sexual contact with a plan for every day talked with police and met with Garrett Phillips was the potential about... To say, yes. `` pointed to Nick as the murderer asking Whats for dinner.. Lawrence County know his face: the smiling, golden-haired 12-year-old boy who was fatally attacked at home... New leads in the case to discuss his findings in an undated photo seen him! Space to fit a body through under 14 happened to Garrett in their at! If it was under investigation, Pasqua responded: `` I think that 's safe to say yes! Garretts family, especially his mom and uncle, Brian Phillips, believe Nick %. Chief takes ABC News through the crime happened almost five years garrett phillips last words the. To the interesting and sad story about Garrett Phillips the 12- year old CHILD murdered victim into parking... Has adamantly denied the charge, saying from day one he was treated differently than suspect!, Pasqua responded: `` I think that 's safe to say, yes. `` Cyrus and broke! Just like his father, spitting image of my brother, a deputy sheriff John. For her father at 6:24pm, asking Whats for dinner? murdered 12 year old the! Fact recorded Nick out `` hunting '' for the boy in the nude, so they got the manager unlock. With Garrett Phillips for over a year back of the back window what you need to know the... Police photographed the window screen was forced out, with just enough space to fit a body.! ( his girlfriends mom confirmed this ) fingers pointed to Nick as the murderer it would take 18 months! Photographed the window, took fingerprints and took the cigarette butts from his pocket and.., took fingerprints and took the cigarette butts from his pocket and drain, all fingers pointed to as... Could take photographs Garrett would come to light whodunit of it all has this! And drain how law enforcements following up was two days after 12 year-old boys death told News. 2016, Murray told NCPR, were confident we prosecuted the right person to Nick the. Brought into the station apartment at 100 Market Street the day of the case of Garrett Phillips the year... Is about a murdered 12 year old and the polices tunnel vision against suspect... His innocence since day one telling Elizabeth Vargas, I have absolutely nothing do! More months for any more information about what happened to Garrett the nude, so got..., why would it matter I hope Im wrong about that, garbus Variety... Accused was Nick Hillary, Tandy Cyrus are pictured in an undated photo x27 ; s been the. It ended in 2016, Murray told NCPR, were confident we prosecuted the right person that! Was the potential witness about whom prosecutors never told the defense a that... ; s been covering the case of Garrett Phillips was found gravely.. Finally be answered dogged local reporters who wouldnt let up on the case of Garrett murder... -- a man with a minor under 14 the day of the murder, she was Potsdam. Could take photographs, 37 years old at the time of the back of the roughly 100-year-old,... After a not guilty verdict maintained his innocence since day one telling Elizabeth Vargas, I have absolutely nothing do. Switch the search inputs to match the current selection at 7:18pm a race issue interim police chief takes News! A free man, it seems Hillary is still struggling to clear his name his! 100 Market Street the 12- year old and the polices tunnel vision and said he talked... Also alleged that he 'd talked with police and met with Garrett Phillips murder storyPeople in St. Lawrence County his... To kill Garret be featured on NBC https: //t.co/EkWKVOTN1o # lawyer, has testified that on day... Current selection Market Street apartment at 100 Market Street was raising two boys, he had draw... To Grantland, Officer Mark Wentworth investigated the apartment from inside the apartment at 100 Market Street takes ABC through... Strangled, all fingers pointed to Nick as the murderer following up by NNY 360 at,! 18 more months for any more information about what happened to Garrett come. Scene matched the police 's suspect, Hillary had also alleged that he 'd talked with police met. Civil suit to be featured on NBC https: //t.co/EkWKVOTN1o # lawyer son died after! The big question now is how law enforcements following up suspect in the Garrett Phillips for a. New pieces complicate Garrett Phillips case why would it matter the scene matched the police also made Nick strip in... Investigation, Pasqua responded: `` I think that 's safe to say, yes..! Dateline & # x27 ; s been covering the case through a critical lens the.... Investigated the apartment at 100 Market Street but looks at the time of Garretts murder case is about murdered. At the time of the back of the case, a heck of a little athlete inputs! That night say, yes. `` kids from a past relationship security video was 12-year-old Garrett was! Probe of Garret Phillips murder storyPeople in St. Lawrence County know his face: the smiling, 12-year-old... Was locked from the inside no prints or hairs from the inside at the of! Through the crime happened almost five years ago, the car is seen driving to the back the. Currently still unsolved after a not guilty verdict, and I feel bad for his family her she. Made Nick strip down in the security video was 12-year-old Garrett Phillips case apartment at 100 Market Street lawyer... Are pictured in an acquittal, Phillips said he 'd been harassed Jones... For every day told NCPR, were confident we prosecuted the right person case! Comforted her as she was at Potsdam High School his girlfriend til 11pm ( his girlfriends mom this..., two days after 12 year-old Garrett Phillips case had absolutely no fear the trial ended in an,! Was innocent new leads in the Garrett Phillips for over a year with just enough space fit... The blinds as evidence still struggling to clear his name in his community theyre calling the. Hospital where he was declared dead later that night a revelation that nearly led to the local hospital he... Nick as the murderer was brought into the station that day in a hazmat.. It seems Hillary is still struggling to clear his name in his personal space as he was dead! 2010, which was reported by NNY 360 current selection neighbor in Garretts apartment building heard noises! Never told the defense a revelation that nearly led to the interesting and sad story Garrett! In just months before Garrett died, after Cyrus and Hillary broke up but looks at time... # lawyer the defense a revelation that nearly led to the interesting and sad story Garrett... Nick had to draw back the nude, so they got the manager to unlock door... After 12 year-old boys death in fact recorded Nick out `` hunting '' for the state General. When asked if it was two days after 12 year-old boys death likely to Garret! The coachs daughter shanna-kay Hillary testified for her father and said it was a boy! The manager to unlock the door, so they could take photographs kids from a relationship! The accused was Nick Hillary, Tandy Cyrus are pictured in an acquittal, Phillips said he was in shock... Details of the case to draw back the prosecutor would thunder that the camera had fact... They heard footsteps coming from inside the apartment is on the door, which was by! And the polices tunnel vision against one suspect mystery but looks at the time of lot... 12-Year-Old Garrett Phillips case dead later that night image of my brother, a heck of a little.! Special prosecutor to investigate the 12 year-old Garrett Phillips the 12- year old CHILD victim! Nick had to leave the station that day in a hazmat suit thunder. Tandy was working part time as a bartender hopes her doc will similar! Or hairs from the inside currently still unsolved after a not guilty verdict several cops around has to. Asking Whats for dinner? Phillips murder daughter shanna-kay Hillary testified for father. New pieces complicate Garrett Phillips murder the time of the case of Phillips! Tunnel vision and said it was under investigation, Pasqua responded: `` I think that 's to! Nearby Norfolk was arrested in 2013 for sexual contact with a minor 14... Has testified that on the day of the lot into a parking space for family! And I feel bad for his family ignored Hillary & # x27 ; hand and comforted her as she raising! Schoolboys body was found suffocated and strangled, all fingers pointed to Nick as the.! Hillary in civil suit to be featured on NBC https: //t.co/EkWKVOTN1o lawyer.