PHARSALIA – Ten years have now passed since the unsolved murder of a Town of Pharsalia man, but his family and investigators are still optimistic that one day the culprit will be found.
At around 5 p.m. on July 7, 1999, the body of 38-year-old Thomas L. Francisco was found dead in his trailer on One Eye Road by his nephews. He had several small-caliber gunshot wounds to his head and neck.
“As a result, an autopsy was conducted at Lourdes Hospital and the cause of death was ruled ‘homicide.’ On the same evening the body was discovered, a multi-agency task force was established consisting of primarily members of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. As the investigation continued, members of the Broome, Cortland and Madison County Sheriff’s Offices also assisted in the investigation,” said Sheriff’s Lt. James E. Lloyd, who has worked on the case since the beginning.
The victim’s eldest brother, Gerald ‘Gerry’ Francisco, said his family continues to mourn the loss of the youngest of four siblings and maintains hope that his killer will be brought to justice.
“We want to get a hold of the media and get it talked about again. For all we know, this guy could be bragging to others about it by now. You never know, people are stupid and they get themselves caught,” said Gerry.
“It is not a cold case. No murder case should ever be a cold case. It means to me that you’ve forgotten, and we haven’t,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd said incoming detectives who weren’t even working for the Sheriff’s Office at the time of the murder still have to read through the case file and familiarize themselves with incident.
“We feel the homicide was drug-related. We try to keep it in our minds ... the drug world is a world of its own. We are always rigorously investigating drug activity in the area and are still hoping that one of these days, a connection will be uncovered that will lead us back to the case,” he explained.
In the meantime, the family has had to learn how to cope with their loss.
“It’s always a difficult time of the year. You see, Tom was murdered on the same day as our mother’s birthday. Each year, when it comes to your mother’s birthday, of course it’s still in the back of our minds,” said Gerry.
Doris Francisco, Thomas’ mother, still survives, but his father, Rexford, died of lung cancer a few years ago without seeing his son’s killer brought to justice.
“He always wanted to see it solved. He thought he’d see it in his life time,” said Gerry.
Although never married, Thomas left behind a seven-year-old son, who today is 17.
The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the Francisco homicide as an open investigation and has been assisted by the New York State Police and various law enforcement agency throughout New York.
Investigators and the Francisco family urge anyone with information regarding the homicide to contact the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office by phone at 337-1864.
Since 1999, the family has offered a $5,000 cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Francisco’s killer.
Lloyd said the investigation included countless witnesses, friends and members of the victim’s family, along with several “persons of interest, who were extensively interviewed.”
“Investigators conducted numerous polygraphs and have executed several search warrants regarding the unlawful sale and possession of narcotics drugs and marijuana. For approximately five weeks, the task force conducted its investigation by operating a 24-hour command post at the South Otselic Fire Station and the Sheriff’s Office South Otselic Substation. Various leads and interviews have been pursued and conducted as far away as the state of Indiana, Pennsylvania and throughout New York State,” said Lloyd.
Police said they investigated over 750 leads and tested 50 firearms at the New York State Police Crime Lab in Albany for ballistic matches.
“We are still comparing firearms and with new technology, like DNA, additional evidence may be becoming more of a possibility. There is no statute of limitations for murder,” said Lloyd.
“We realize the importance of information getting out again ... hopefully someone will make a phone call that’ll make a huge difference in all our lives,” said Gerry.