The case of Pamela Phillips and the killing of her ex-husband, Gary Triano, was highlighted in an episode of ABC’s “20/20” on January 24, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET. This intense episode looks back at the shocking car bombing in Tucson, Arizona, in 1996, and the long investigation that eventually resulted in the arrests and convictions of Phillips and her partner, Ron Young.
The episode explores the life and character of Gary Triano, a well-known real estate developer who is remembered by his friends and family as a charming, kind and caring person. Interviews with his niece, Melissa Triano, and close friends provide a look at the real person behind the news stories and the personal difficulties he dealt with, such as money problems and a difficult divorce from Pamela Phillips. Viewers will see the 18-year investigation that shows how police linked Phillips and Young to the murder.
Who is Pamela Phillips?
Pamela Anne Phillips born on 1958. Her journey from a successful model and real estate agent to a convicted murderer is as complex as it is shocking. Phillips made a name for herself in the tough world of commercial real estate. She was born into a life of wealth and ambition. Personal and financial problems harmed her rise to fame, and they would later become linked to one of the most shocking murder cases in Arizona’s history.
Pamela Anne Phillips and Gary Triano got married in San Diego, California, on October 4, 1986. Their marriage looked like a match made in high society heaven. Gary Triano wasa real estate developer from Tucson, Arizona. They had two children together, Trevor and Lois, and lived a very good life. But as Gary’s business started to fail, their marriage started to fall apart. When they split up in 1993, Gary was in danger of going bankrupt because he was owed $40 million from failed casino investments. Along with their kids, Pamela moved to Aspen, Colorado—where she kept working as a real estate agent and tried to start over in her life.
Sunday, November 1, 1996, at the fancy La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona. It was a calm afternoon. Known for building homes and going out with friends, Gary Triano had just finished a round of golf. But as he got closer to his 1989 Lincoln Town Car—an ear-splitting explosion broke the calm. When the bomb went off, the windshield of the car flew hundreds of feet into a nearby swimming pool—killing Triano at the scene. People in the community were shocked by what happened, and investigators have one important question; who would have wanted Gary Triano dead?
Decades later, the story keeps going as new evidence comes to light—calling into question the convictions of those who were found guilty. There is a name that still makes people curious—Pamela Anne Phillips. She is Triano’s ex-wife and is thought to have planned the murder.
The Murder Plot Unfolds
After Gary’s death, police found a complicated web of personal and financial problems. People became interested in Pamela Phillips after it came out that she had bought a big life insurance policy for her ex-husband. Authorities said that Pamela and a business partner, Ronald Young, planned Gary’s death so that they could both get $2 million from the insurance policy.
Ron Young was caught in 2005. He had worked with Pamela in Aspen. His belongings were searched and found to contain handwritten notes, emails, and recorded phone calls that showed payments from Pamela. Police also found a van he had rented that was full of evidence against him, including divorce papers, receipts that put him in Tucson around the time of the murder, and even a taser and a shotgun that had been cut in half. The evidence was very bad: Young was said to have been paid $400,000 by Pamela to kill the man.
Pamela’s Arrest and Trial
In 2009, Pamela Phillips was finally extradited to Arizona to face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy. The trial was a media spectacle, capturing the attention of the nation. Pamela’s defense team argued that Gary’s murder was a mob hit orchestrated by one of his business associates, Neil McNeice—who allegedly kept a “to-kill” list with Triano’s name on it. Prosecutors, however, presented a mountain of evidence linking Pamela to the crime. This included financial records showing payments to Ron Young—as well as testimony from law enforcement officials who had uncovered the conspiracy.
Pamela was sent to Arizona to stand trial after years of investigations. In 2014, she was found guilty of first-degree murder and planning to kill someone. During the trial, the prosecutors showed strong evidence, such as the financial transactions between Pamela and Ron Young and the texts that laid out the plan to kill Young. Pamela’s defense said she wasn’t guilty and that the killing happened because Gary did business with dangerous people. But the jury thought there was a lot of evidence against her.
Pamela was given a sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole. Even though she was found guilty, Pamela has always said she is innocent, saying Gary’s murder was an act of revenge by the mob.
Where is Pamela Phillips Now?
Recently, Pamela’s case has been brought back into the public eye. In 2023, DNA tests were done on crime scene evidence by her defense team. The results showed DNA from an unknown person on parts of the bomb. This made people wonder if Ron Young had anything to do with making and setting off the bomb. Stephanie Bond, Pamela’s lawyer, says that this new evidence weakens the prosecution’s case. In August 2024, she filed a petition for post-conviction relief.
In January 2025, the Pima County Attorney’s Office replied that the DNA results did not clear Pamela or Ron Young. Prosecutors said that Young could have built the bomb without leaving any DNA evidence, and they said that the new results did not change the fact that Pamela was clearly guilty. In the past, both Pamela and Ron’s appeals were turned down but the latest developments in the case have sparked interest again. Pamela Phillips is currently incarcerated at the Arizona State Prison Complex – Perryville—serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
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