The Adirondacks

Summary of The Adirondacks

by Audiochuck

42m•July 28, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of The Adirondacks (Park Predators / Audiochuck)

This episode tells the story of a multi-victim убийца, Robert Garrow Sr., whose 1973 crime spree in New York’s Adirondack Mountains left several young people dead or missing and triggered one of the largest manhunts in state history. What began as a missing-couple case involving Danny Porter and Sue Petz expanded into a terrifying pattern of violence that also included the murder of Phil Domblewski and the later discovery of Alicia Houck’s remains. The episode focuses on the investigation, the clues that linked the crimes, and the disturbing role Garrow’s attorneys played after he confessed.

What Happened in the Adirondacks

The first missing persons case

  • On July 14, 1973, Danny Porter and his girlfriend Sue Petz drove from Massachusetts into the Adirondacks for a camping trip.
  • When Danny failed to show up for work, friends became concerned and called authorities.
  • Police initially treated the abandoned BMW as routine, but the car’s location and contents eventually made clear that something serious had happened.

Danny Porter’s murder

  • Danny’s body was found near the roadside in Weavertown, New York.
  • He had been stabbed multiple times and died from hemorrhaging and shock.
  • Investigators found a white nylon rope and a shoelace at the scene, but there was no strong evidence of a struggle inside the car.
  • Sue Petz was missing, and her disappearance became part of the same search effort.

The Phil Domblewski attack

  • On July 29, 1973, a separate group of campers near State Route 8 was confronted by a man with a rifle in a fedora.
  • He forced four friends into the woods, tied them to trees, and stabbed Phil Domblewski to death.
  • The others escaped in different directions, with Carol Malinowski and Nick Fiorello helping alert authorities.
  • Their descriptions helped create a composite sketch of the suspect.

The Suspect: Robert Garrow Sr.

How police identified him

  • Troopers later chased a man fitting the description in a car traced to Robert Garrow Sr., a Syracuse resident with a long criminal history.
  • Garrow matched the composite sketch and was soon confirmed by witnesses as the killer in the Phil Domblewski case.
  • His background included:
    • kidnapping allegations
    • burglary and grand larceny
    • sexual assaults
    • prior convictions involving violence against women and children

Why he was so hard to catch

  • Garrow knew the Adirondacks well and used that familiarity to evade police.
  • He traveled at night, stole supplies, and hid in remote areas and vacant properties.
  • The manhunt became the largest and most expensive in New York State history at the time.

The Confession and the Hidden Bodies

Garrow’s attorneys discover the truth

  • After Garrow was arrested, his defense attorneys put him under hypnosis and interviewed him extensively.
  • Garrow confessed to:
    • murdering Danny Porter
    • murdering Phil Domblewski
    • kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and killing Sue Petz
    • murdering 16-year-old Alicia Houck
  • He also provided a map showing where the bodies were hidden.

Why the attorneys did not immediately go to police

  • The attorneys believed they were bound by attorney-client privilege.
  • This created a major ethical and legal controversy because they knew where the bodies were but did not report it.

Recovery of the remains

  • Sue Petz’s body was eventually found in a mine shaft near Mineville, preserved by cold air.
  • Alicia Houck’s remains were later found in Syracuse, after authorities had already searched the area once before.

Trial and Outcome

Phil Domblewski murder trial

  • Garrow’s first major trial was for Phil Domblewski’s murder.
  • His defense attempted to argue temporary insanity, citing childhood trauma and psychological issues.
  • Garrow testified and ended up admitting to multiple crimes, including the other murders.

Verdict and sentencing

  • He was found guilty of Phil’s murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.
  • He later pleaded guilty to the murders of Danny Porter, Sue Petz, and Alicia Houck.

Later Escape and Death

  • In 1978, Garrow escaped from a minimum-security prison with help from family connections and smuggled contraband.
  • Authorities quickly recaptured him, and he died during a gunfight with police.
  • His son and others involved in the escape were also charged.

Key Takeaways

  • The episode highlights how one violent offender can terrorize an entire region across multiple crimes.
  • It also shows how slow initial police responses can delay urgent missing-person investigations.
  • Garrow’s case became infamous not only for the murders, but for the ethical controversy surrounding his attorneys and the hidden bodies.
  • The story is ultimately framed as a remembrance of the victims rather than the killer.

Victims Named in the Episode

  • Danny Porter
  • Sue Petz
  • Phil Domblewski
  • Alicia Houck
  • Plus other surviving victims of Garrow’s assaults and kidnappings

Source / Context Notes

  • The episode references extensive reporting, including Jim Tracy’s book Sworn to Silence.
  • It is part of Audiochuck’s Park Predators series, hosted by Delia D’Ambra.