A manhunt that has shadowed the Hudson Valley for more than a decade is still very much alive, as local and federal investigators renew their push to find Eugene Palmer, the man accused of killing his daughter-in-law and then disappearing into the woods in 2012.
On Monday, June 8, the Town of Haverstraw Police Department said the search for Palmer is ongoing and far from forgotten. Palmer is wanted in connection with the Sept. 24, 2012, killing of Tammy Palmer in Stony Point, according to Daily Voice. Police and their federal partners stressed that they "have not forgotten this crime" and urged anyone who knows where Palmer is, or who may have helped him, to speak up.
Federal Warrant And Suspect Profile
A federal arrest warrant charging Palmer with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution remains active, and the FBI’s wanted notice warns that he "should be considered armed and dangerous," FBI records state. The bureau lists his date of birth as April 4, 1939, and describes him as an experienced hunter and auto enthusiast. Based on that date of birth, he would be 87 years old this year.
How Investigators Say The Killing Unfolded
Investigators allege Palmer ambushed Tammy Palmer as she walked up her driveway, waiting until her children had left for the school bus before opening fire, according to CBS New York. After the shooting, sources told reporters, Palmer went to a relative’s home, admitted what he had done, left money to cover taxes and then vanished.
Trail Into Harriman State Park
The trail quickly pulled investigators into nearby Harriman State Park after officers found an abandoned pickup truck on a park trail and bloodhounds picked up a scent near a campsite, Fox News reported. Authorities have repeatedly said the park’s rugged, wooded terrain complicated the manhunt, and they have never ruled out the possibility that Palmer slipped out of the area or had help.
Some relatives have privately voiced the belief that Palmer may have died in the woods years ago, but law enforcement officials counter that the case is still active and that even small tips might crack it open. The investigation remains one of the Hudson Valley’s longest-running fugitive pursuits, Daily Voice reported.
How To Help
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Haverstraw Town Police Detective Division at (845) 354-1500, according to the department’s official site, or to submit tips to the FBI online through the bureau’s case page. Investigators emphasize that people should not approach Palmer if they believe they see him, and should instead call law enforcement immediately.
Legal Status
Rockland County prosecutors charged Palmer in connection with Tammy Palmer’s death, according to reporting by CBS New York, and federal authorities later obtained a warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, as noted by Fox News. Officials also caution that anyone who knowingly helped shelter or assist him could face legal consequences.
