Ep 18. Footprints in the Snow

In this episode of Dateline, titled "Footprints in the Snow," viewers are taken on a journey through a small, close-knit community in upstate New York. The episode revisits the unsolved murder of Garrett Phillips, a 12-year-old boy who was found strangled in his mother's apartment in 2011.

The episode begins with a reenactment of the events leading up to Garrett's murder, which occurred on a snowy afternoon in October. Viewers see footage of Garrett playing basketball with friends after school, buying snacks at a local convenience store, and walking home alone. The atmosphere is tense and ominous, as the snow-covered streets and empty sidewalks create a sense of foreboding.

Over the course of the episode, we hear from a range of people who were involved in the investigation, including law enforcement officials, family members, and neighbors. We learn that in the immediate aftermath of Garrett's murder, the police focused their attention on a suspect who lived in the same apartment building as Garrett. The man, Oral "Nick" Hillary, was a former soccer coach at a local college and had a contentious relationship with Garrett's mother.

Despite a lack of physical evidence linking Hillary to the crime, he was charged with second-degree murder and put on trial in 2016. The trial was highly publicized and controversial, with many members of the community supporting Hillary and believing he was falsely accused. In one particularly poignant moment, we hear from Garrett's estranged father, who expresses his belief in Hillary's innocence.

Ultimately, Hillary was acquitted of all charges, and Garrett's murder remains unsolved. The episode concludes with a discussion of the ongoing search for justice for Garrett and his family, as well as the challenges faced by small-town law enforcement in trying to solve such a complex case.

Throughout the episode, the snowy landscape serves as a haunting backdrop to the tragedy, underscoring the feeling of isolation and vulnerability felt by the community. The show's producers have clearly put in a great deal of effort to recreate the atmosphere and mood of this case, using archival footage, interviews, and reenactments to bring viewers into the heart of the investigation.

Overall, "Footprints in the Snow" is a riveting and thought-provoking episode of Dateline that will leave viewers with a renewed sense of the challenges faced by law enforcement officials and the communities they serve. Despite the lack of closure in Garrett's case, the episode offers a respectful and compassionate look at a heartbreaking situation, shedding light on the enduring impact of violent crime and the power of small-town solidarity.