Garrett Phillips was a 12-year-old boy who was murdered in Potsdam, New York, on October 24, 2011. His death led to a high-profile murder case that remained unsolved for years.
On the afternoon of October 24, 2011, Garrett Phillips was found unresponsive in his home by neighbors who heard strange noises and called the police. He had been strangled and suffocated, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead later that evening. The case quickly gripped the small town of Potsdam, stirring fear and uncertainty among its residents.
The investigation into Garrett’s murder focused on several individuals, including his mother’s ex-boyfriend, Oral “Nick” Hillary. Hillary, a former soccer coach at Clarkson University, became the prime suspect due to his past relationship with Garrett’s mother and circumstantial evidence that placed him near the crime scene. However, the case against him was complicated by a lack of direct evidence and allegations of racial bias—Hillary is a black man in a predominantly white community.
After years of legal battles, Hillary was charged with second-degree murder in 2015. His trial in 2016 ended with a judge, rather than a jury, finding him not guilty due to reasonable doubt. The verdict was controversial and left many feeling that justice had not been served.
The murder of Garrett Phillips remains officially unsolved, and the case has been featured in various media outlets, including a documentary titled “Who Killed Garrett Phillips?” produced by HBO. The documentary explores the complexities of the case, the impact on the community, and the broader issues of race and justice in the American legal system. Garrett’s family and the Potsdam community continue to seek answers and closure for this tragic loss.
