NK Police Seeking Info on 1986 Cold Case Murder

It's been more than 26 years since John Phillips was found dead following a house party in 1986 and police are still searching for answers. This time around, they're looking to social media to help solve the cold case murder.

On Oct. 1986, Phillips was at a house party watching Game 7 of the World Series as the Boston Red Sox fell to the New York Mets. Hours later, he was found dead in a nearby parking lot of Golf World at 22 Austin Rd. (where Swenson Granite is currently located) during the early morning hours. 

According to police, the 19-year-old man's body was surrounded by guns, ammunition and knives. Fresh tire tracks led away from Phillips' body. It was later determined that the guns and weapons had been stolen from the house where the party was held. The cause of death was a single gunshot to the head.

Captain Patrick Flanagan and Sgt. John MacCoy of the North Kingstown Police Department are turning to Facebook to help gather information about the senseless crime that took the life of a 19-year-old NK man.

Police are seeking any information on Phillips and the days leading up to his murder. Any information, no matter how trivial, could be helpful in the case.

"Sometimes the information that a person may think is not important is very helpful to a police investigation," said Capt. Flanagan in a press release.

This is the second cold case to get the Facebook treatment from the NKPD. Earlier this year, Det. John Urban created a Facebook account for 0. 

Visit John Phillips Facebook page here.

Capt. Flanagan and Sgt. MacCoy can be reached via email at johnphillips@gmail.com