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Grand jury hands up new indictment accusing former soccer coach in 2011 murder of Potsdam boy

Posted 1/21/15

CANTON -- A grand jury today re-indicted Oral “Nick” Hillary on second-degree murder charges. A former assistant Clarkson soccer coach, he is accused of killing middle school student Garrett …

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Grand jury hands up new indictment accusing former soccer coach in 2011 murder of Potsdam boy

Posted

CANTON -- A grand jury today re-indicted Oral “Nick” Hillary on second-degree murder charges.

A former assistant Clarkson soccer coach, he is accused of killing middle school student Garrett Phillips of Potsdam on Oct. 24, 2011 at Phillips’ Market Street residence that he shared with his mother.

District Attorney Mary Rain was not available for comment.

This is the second grand jury that has heard the case. In October, St. Lawrence County Court Judge Jerome Richards dismissed the previous indictment on grounds of prejudicial questioning of witnesses that might have unduly influenced the grand jurors.

Hillary was initially indicted in May, two and a half years after the strangulation death of 12-year-old Phillips.

No suspects were ever specifically named by police, but Hillary was named by Potsdam police as a person of interest, the only person so identified.

Hillary is alleged to have had a relationship with Phillips’ mother.

The investigation appeared stalled until an indictment last May by St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain, who had been elected the previous November.

Hillary was released on bail after several months of wrangling over the value of property he wanted to put up as collateral.