The Murdered
Deborah Ann Phemister
Brooklyn Heights, New York
A Dream Cut Short in Brooklyn Heights: Deborah Phemister 🌃
In the summer of 1973, 21 year old Deborah Phemister left her hometown of Portland, Indiana, to pursue her passion for acting in New York City, enrolling in summer classes at the prestigious Juilliard School. Full of promise and talent, she had recently settled into a sublet apartment at 19 Grace Court in the quiet neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, sharing the space with her childhood friend Zoe Mundy, who was studying sculpture and pottery. In the early morning hours of July 20, after spending the evening with friends in Manhattan near Broadway and 72nd Street, Deborah boarded a subway around 2:28 A.M., arriving at Borough Hall shortly after 3 A.M. Neighbors later reported hearing screams and a disturbance around that time. At approximately 5:30 A.M., a milkman discovered her body in the vestibule of her apartment building. She had been stabbed multiple times, and the contents of her purse, containing only a small amount of cash and subway tokens, were scattered nearby. Detectives found no immediate motive; she was still wearing her watch and jewelry, and there were no signs of assault beyond the stabbing.
The shocking crime stunned the Brooklyn Heights community, unfolding just across from the historic Grace Episcopal Church, an area known for its stately brownstones and sweeping harbor views. Mayor John Lindsay personally visited Deborah’s grieving parents, Warren and Mrs. Phemister, offering condolences and the hospitality of Gracie Mansion. He called the murder “a shocking outrage” and directed Police Commissioner Donald F. Cawley to prioritize the investigation, assigning 20 officers to the case. Despite retracing her route, interviewing subway passengers, and following up on dozens of tips, police reported no concrete leads and no established motive.
Back in Portland, a close-knit town surrounded by corn and soybean fields, Deborah’s death reverberated deeply. She was remembered as vibrant, articulate, and deeply involved in school activities, a young woman with genuine theatrical talent and a bright future. Just three days before what would have been her 22nd birthday, she was laid to rest in Green Park Cemetery, mourned by family, friends, and neighbors. Her father, though heartbroken, expressed no bitterness toward New York, saying, “It’s not the city. It’s just some people. The same thing could have happened in Indiana.” Yet for many, the tragedy is a painful contrast between the quiet rhythms of small-town life and the harsh unpredictability of the city where Deborah had gone to chase her dreams. 🌧️
Deborah Ann Phemister (1951-1973) – Find a Grave Memorial
POLICE PRESS HUNT FOR GIRL’S SLAYER – The New York Times
Drama Student Slain Here Buried in Indiana – The New York Times
The Lost & The Taken 
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