What happened to Gary Triano? Details explored ahead of 20/20 on ABC 

Gary Triano was a real estate developer based in Tucson, Arizona. He was killed by a pipe bomb in the parking lot of La Paloma Country Club, where he was known to frequent. Before his death, he was dealing with a set of financial problems and a messy divorce with his ex-wife Pamela Phillips.

The murder investigation revealed that Phillips had taken out a substantial life insurance policy on Triano, this cast a strong suspicion over her. Phillips and Ronald Young, a man she had hired to carry out the killing, were subsequently convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy.

The upcoming episode of 20/20 Explosive Secrets will feature the case of Gary Triano on Friday, January 24, 2025, on ABC from 9 pm to 11 pm EST.

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Background of Gary Triano

According to Tuscon Weekly, Tucson real estate insider Gary Lee Triano was born on November 6, 1943. He graduated from Rincon High School and then proceeded to graduate from the University of Arizona with a degree in accounting.

He married Pamela Phillips in 1986 and had two children with her, but the couple divorced in 1993 amid much controversy. At the time of their separation, Gary Triano had significant financial issues. He had declared bankruptcy with debts of around $40 million due to bad business ventures.

According to CBS News, Triano's life was full of indulgences despite his dire monetary situation. He reportedly participated in high-end gambling activities and had connections among an influential circle of businessmen with links to organized crime.

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The Murder Probe

According to Tuscon Weekly, on November 1, 1996, Gary Triano died when a pipe bomb exploded inside his Lincoln Town Car as he parked at La Paloma Country Club. The blast not only killed him instantly but also caused extensive damage to the surrounding area.

According to the promo released by ABC 20/20, as investigators continued to dig, they found out that Pamela Phillips had recently obtained a $2 million life insurance policy on Gary Triano.

According to the promo released by ABC 20/20, the investigation revealed that Phillips had been in contact with Ronald Young, a small-time criminal who was later identified as the hitman hired to kill Gary Triano. Evidence collected from an abandoned van linked Young to Phillips and included documents related to the couple's divorce and maps of Tucson.

According to CBS News, after years of investigation and various leads, both Young and Phillips were arrested—Young in 2008 and Phillips in 2009.

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Trials and Convictions

Young's trial began in 2010, at which time the prosecutors provided evidence that Phillips had offered him $400,000 to carry out the murder.

The jury found Young guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder. Pamela Phillips was also given two life sentences without the possibility of parole. Tuscon Weekly reported that Pamela Phillips had her trial in 2014 when it was determined that she was competent to stand trial. The evidence used against her during Young's trial was used again against her.

Tuscon Weekly reports that she was also convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, for which she was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. In her trial, Phillips insisted on her innocence and stated that Triano's death was connected with organized crime and not her.

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Watch the upcoming episode of 20/20 on ABC for more details on the case.