FBI Adds Rockland County Murder Suspect Eugene Palmer To Its 10 Most Wanted List; $100,000 Reward Possible
RYE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The FBI on Wednesday added the suspect in a Rockland County cold case to its 10 Most Wanted list.
Previously, the bureau offered a $20,000 reward for information on Eugene Palmer, who is considers armed and dangerous.
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Palmer, 80, is accused of fatally shooting his daughter-in-law, 39-year-old Tammy Pannirello Palmer, in Stony Point in September of 2012. He was allegedly angry that she had filed for divorce and for custody of his grandchildren.
Her body was found in Haverstraw, Rockland County.
Palmer disappeared into the woods of Harriman State Park. There was a manhunt at the time, but Palmer was never found. Even though he had health issues, including diabetes, investigators are convinced he's still alive, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.
"Eugene Palmer might be thinking we've given up on finding him, but he'd be wise to think again," said William F. Sweeney, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York field office. "This is a good time as any to remind him the team up here plays by a different set of rules. In our eyes, the victim always comes first and this team will never give up until justice is served."
"Hopefully, when they see this, it might ring a bell with a doctor that might have provided care for him somewhere along the line in the last seven years," Haverstraw Police Chief Peter Murphy added.
The Bureau is not ruling out the possibility that Palmer has had help remaining in the shadows.
Palmer is approximately 5-foot-10 with grey hair. The FBI said he might have changed his glasses or shaved his beard, but he cannot alter one distinguishing characteristic, his deformed left thumb.
"It appears to be thinner on top and thicker on the bottom. It's a very obvious injury. It does stand out," Haverstraw Police Det. Michael Cruger said.
Palmer is an experienced hunter and an avid outdoorsman with an interest in cars and auto racing. Investigators believe he has ties to upstate New York and Florida.
If you think you have information about Palmer's whereabouts, you are urged to called the FBI or your local police department. Anyone with information that leads to the arrest of Palmer could receive up to a $100,000 reward from the FBI.
"That is a life-changing amount of money to a lot of people," Sweeney said.
Palmer is the 523rd fugitive to be placed on the Most Wanted list. Since it was formed in 1950, more than 90 percent of the fugitives have been brought to justice, Aiello reported.