The Murder of Tammy Palmer

Tammy Palmer was born on April 6, 1973, in Pascack Valley, NJ. She grew up in Rockland County, NY, attending North Rockland High School. At 16, she met John Palmer, who was 17, and they eventually married in the 1990s. The family ties were tangled: Tammy’s sister Denise married Clarence Palmer, John’s brother, so two sisters married two brothers. Tammy and John had two children, Rosemarie and John Jr., and lived on John’s father Eugene Palmer’s property on the border of Stony Point and Haverstraw, NY.

Their marriage quickly soured. John’s drinking, cheating, and drug use spiraled, and Tammy was left raising the kids while John vanished for days. He would leave vile letters calling her names, escalating to physical abuse after their son was born. Between 2009-2012, police were called to their home four times for domestic disputes. In 2012, after John came home drunk and reeking of perfume, Tammy told him to leave for good. She filed for a restraining order, citing domestic violence, and John was banned from the property.

This set off a war between Tammy and her father-in-law, Eugene. Eugene was furious that his son couldn’t come onto “his” land and believed women should “know their place.” He began harassing Tammy: shutting off her electricity, spying on her with binoculars, and confronting her while armed. When Tammy threatened divorce and to sue for the land, Eugene’s anger boiled over.

On September 24, 2012, Tammy walked her kids to the bus stop like any normal Monday. As she walked back to her house, Eugene was hiding in the woods. He shot her in the arm with a shotgun, nearly severing it. Tammy ran, desperately trying to get inside her home but found the doors locked. She collapsed in the backyard, bleeding heavily, as Eugene walked up and fired a final, fatal shot to her chest. She died at 7:40 AM, trying to protect her face.

Neighbors reported hearing three shots and screaming. When police arrived, they found Tammy’s body in the backyard. Initially, suspicion fell on John due to the restraining order, but the truth came out quickly. Eugene’s sister, Elaine, told police that Eugene had shown up at her home after the murder, handed her cash for property taxes, and confessed, saying, “I just shot that bitch three times.”

Eugene then disappeared. His truck was found abandoned in Harriman State Park, less than a mile from the murder scene. The FBI and local police launched a massive manhunt using bloodhounds, helicopters, and ground searches. His scent was tracked to a campsite before being lost at a road, leading to theories that someone picked him up or that he escaped deeper into the woods.

Harriman State Park, spanning over 47,000 acres, was Eugene’s second home. He was an experienced hunter and outdoorsman, and many believe he died in the woods due to his heart issues, diabetes, and lack of medication. Others think he may have fled to Florida or upstate NY under an alias, as some family members insist he is alive. The FBI even raided his granddaughter’s Warwick home in 2021 after a tip, but Eugene was not found.

Eugene Palmer was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in 2019 but removed in 2022, an unusual move for the Bureau, which has a 93% capture rate on that list. Still, the FBI believes he may be alive, and there is a $100,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Tammy’s murder devastated her family. Her mother, Violet, fought hard for justice but passed away before seeing it. Violet once said, “I wish he’s alive so I can see him in jail. I want justice for my daughter.” Tammy’s children, Rosemarie and John Jr., were awarded over $2 million from Eugene Palmer’s estate, with a judge ruling there was enough evidence showing Eugene killed Tammy.

Custody battles followed. Tammy’s parents temporarily received custody of the children, with John getting visitation. At the time of her death, Rosemarie was 16, and John Jr. was 12, forced to grow up without their mother because of a senseless act of violence.

Despite different stories floating around, the facts remain: Tammy Palmer was hunted and killed in cold blood by her father-in-law while her children were at school. Eugene Palmer has never faced justice. If alive, he is now 85, with a deformed left thumb, brown eyes, and graying hair, last seen at 5'10 and 220 pounds. He is considered armed and dangerous.

This case underscores how domestic violence doesn’t always end with leaving the abuser. Tammy did everything right: she filed for a restraining order, tried to protect her children, and was preparing for a custody meeting the day she was murdered. Her killer was someone who believed women should submit, and when Tammy refused to bow down, he took her life.

If you have any information about Eugene Palmer’s whereabouts, contact your local FBI office or submit a tip online. Let’s get justice for Tammy Palmer.

You can listen to our FULL episode coverage of this case with all the specific details here: Episode 1: The Murder of Tammy Palmer