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Vigil held for Pleasantville firefighter killed 30 years ago, case remains unsolved

Pleasantville firefighters and others gathered Monday for the vigil. It marks 30 years since the death of fellow volunteer firefighter, Tom Dorr.

Melanie Palmer

Jan 12, 2026, 10:17 PM

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Pleasantville firefighters and others gathered Monday for the vigil. It marks 30 years since the death of fellow volunteer firefighter, Tom Dorr.

"He was like a teacher, keeping us young kids in line," says John Brooks, Dorr's friend and colleague at the Pleasantville Fire Department.

On top of being a volunteer firefighter, Dorr was a City of White Plains employee. Friends and colleagues say he was a good person who they call, a "gentle giant."

"He was a gentleman. He was kind of big and imposing but at the end of the day, he wouldn't hurt a fly," says John Thys, friend and colleague of Tom Dorr.

In 1996, Dorr was beaten and stabbed to death. His body was found by fellow firefighters at Graham Hills Park in Pleasantville.

Since then, a vigil has been held at the park every year to honor Dorr's memory and, also fight for justice. The case remains unsolved.

"We ask anybody, if they think of anything as miniscule as it might seem, get in touch with the police," Thys tells News 12.

Police say the case is still open and active.

Anyone with information about his death is urged to contact the Westchester County Police Department.

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