20/20: Explosive Secrets (ABC, Friday, January 24, 2025)

20 20 Explosive Secrets Key Art

ABC’s 20/20 returns with a look at the perplexing murder of Gary Triano, a Tucson, Arizona real estate developer whose life came to an abrupt end in 1996 when his car exploded. Triano, a man accustomed to high-stakes deals and the opulent lifestyle that came with them, found himself in the crosshairs of an unknown assailant. The explosion, caused by a remote-controlled pipe bomb, wasn’t just a tragic accident—it was a targeted attack, leaving investigators with a complicated puzzle and a long list of potential suspects.

Triano’s life, though marked by outward success, was also filled with financial troubles and a messy divorce from his second wife, Pamela Phillips. This troubled personal life quickly became a focal point for investigators. Phillips, the beneficiary of Triano’s $2 million life insurance policy, emerged as a person of interest. The motive, it seemed, was as clear as the Arizona desert sky: money. But proving it would take years of investigation, tracing a convoluted path of betrayal and hidden agendas.

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The case went cold for a significant amount of time, allowing various theories to circulate. Was this a mob hit connected to Triano’s business dealings? Or a more personal act of revenge? The investigation eventually expanded beyond Arizona’s borders, becoming an international manhunt. The search eventually led authorities to Phillips and her lover, Ronald Young, both of whom were charged with first-degree murder.

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20/20 presents the twists and turns of this complicated case through conversations with retired ATF investigator Anthony May, retired Detective James Crowley, retired Detective James Gamber, and Kevin McDonald, Phillips’ former nanny. They piece together the clues, revealing the extent of the plot against Triano and the lengths to which Phillips and Young allegedly went to cover their tracks. This episode offers a stark look at how greed and betrayal can intersect with deadly consequences.

20/20 airs Friday, January 24, 2025, at 9:01-11:00 p.m. EST on ABC. The episode will be available the next day on Hulu.

Andrew Martins, reviewer, recapper, deep diver, scifi specialist. Thinks Blakes 7 is better than Star Trek. Yes I do go to fan conventions and no I don't dress up. Well okay maybe I do a bit.