There are major developments in the investigation of the 1978 Holiday
Inn fire in Greece. It was 36 years ago today that flames spread through
the hotel, killing 10 guests.
The fire was ruled an arson and today, for the first time, police are telling News10NBC they have a suspect.
Chief Patrick Phelan tells our Brett Davidsen they hope to hand over
their evidence to the District Attorney’s office in the next couple of
months. Asked if that meant police have a suspect, Phelan said, “Yes.
That would be correct.†Phelan would not identify the suspect in the
case. “There’s identified investigative steps that have to be finished
and that’s what they’re working on right now. And we hope to be able to
do that relatively soon,†added Phelan.
Police re-launched the cold case investigation just over three years
ago, putting together a task force of investigators from Greece, ATF and
the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Since then, they have been
re-examining the case file and have re-interviewed hundreds of
witnesses.
On the night of November 26, 1978, the Holiday Inn on West Ridge Road
was full with 200 sleeping guests, including a Canadian tour group in
town on a shopping trip. The fire was discovered by Harold “Budâ€
Phillips, an off-duty firefighter who said he was driving by and noticed
the flames coming from the back of the hotel.
Police have said Phillips, now the chief of the Ridge Road Fire
District, was a person of interest who they would like to question as
part of the revived investigation but Phelan says recent efforts to
speak with Phillips have been unsuccessful. “As part of the
investigation, we’ve asked Mr. Phillips to come in for an interview and
thus far he has refused through an attorney,†he said.
Calls to Phillips for comment were not immediately returned but in May
2011, Phillips indicated he was eager to cooperate. He told News10NBC,
“As the chief of the Ridge Road Fire District, I’m supportive of opening
the investigation again. It’s been opened a couple times. I support
them looking at it again, and as I did in 1978, I, as well as the
department, will fully cooperate with them.â€
In recent months, the case had seemingly gone quiet. The last major
development came in October 2013 when police secured a search warrant
and raided the Ridge Road firehouse. Today Phelan was asked about the
search. “We retrieved a large number of documents and that took a long
time to go through. So that was part of the reason you didn’t hear
anything afterwards,†he said. Phelan said some of the documents have
proven useful in the investigation.
In the meantime, the families of the victims continue to wait for answers.
Brian Sundue of Canada lost his mother, grandmother and aunt in the
Holiday Inn Fire. On a Facebook page dedicated to providing information
and support about the case, Sundue today posted, “36 years and
counting…will we ever see justice done in this case...??!!â€
Brett Davidsen will have the latest tonight on News10NBC at 5....