Police seek info in unsolved 1986 murder

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) -- North Kingstown police have turned to social media in hopes of finding information in a decades-old cold case.

On Oct. 27. 1986, 19-year-old John Phillips was at a house party, watching Game 7 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. In the early-morning hours of the following day, he was found dead in the parking lot of 22 Austin Road, which is now the location of Swenson Granite.

Police tell us Phillips' body was surrounded by numerous guns, ammunition, and knives, and that fresh tire tracks were seen leading away from the scene. It was later discovered that the weapons had been stolen from the home where Phillips was watching the baseball game.

The cause of death was determined to be a single gunshot to the head, though the senseless killing remains unsolved to this day.

Officers in North Kingstown have set up a Facebook page in hopes of gathering more details about the crime. They ask that anyone with information, regardless of how trivial it may seem, to try to piece together the events leading up to Phillips' death.

• Link: John Phillips Facebook Page

In addition to Facebook, we're told anyone with information can contact Captain Flanagan or Sergeant MacCoy by e-mail at johnphillipsnk@gmail.com or by phone at (401) 294-3316 ext. 8201. Anyone who provides information will remain anonymous.