When Netflix’s Homicide: New York premiered in March 2024, audiences across the world were riveted by a murder case so shocking it seemed like fiction. Episode four, titled “Midtown Slasher,” tells the story of Howard Pilmar — a prosperous New York City entrepreneur stabbed to death in his own office in 1996 — and the 20-year journey to bring his killers to justice. At the center of that story, then and now, stands his son: Philip Pilmar.
Philip’s life is one of the most compelling real-world narratives to emerge from the true crime genre in recent memory. It is a story about childhood trauma, quiet resilience, the moral complexity of family loyalty, and ultimately, a steadfast dedication to the very justice system that convicted his own mother. This article takes a comprehensive look at who Philip Pilmar is, what happened to his family, and where he is today.
Who Is Philip Pilmar?
Philip Nathan Pilmar was born in 1986 to Howard and Roslyn Pilmar, a high-achieving couple who lived in an Upper East Side apartment in New York City. His father, Howard, was a charismatic and driven entrepreneur who had transformed the family’s King Office Supply chain into a thriving business empire that also included a string of upscale coffee bars operating under the name Philip’s Coffee — a name chosen specifically in honor of his son.
Growing up as an only child in one of New York’s most affluent neighborhoods, Philip attended private school and was raised in an environment of ambition, education, and comfort. By all external appearances, the Pilmar family represented the very best of 1990s New York success. Beneath the surface, however, serious financial tensions and marital difficulties were quietly building.
Philip would not be spared from the consequences.
The Murder That Changed Everything: Howard Pilmar’s Death in 1996
On the night of March 21, 1996, Howard Pilmar was working late in his Midtown Manhattan office. Philip, just 10 years old at the time, was at the Chelsea Piers Sports Complex with his nanny, Allyson, for ice hockey practice. While Philip skated, his father was being murdered.
Howard was found the following morning, having been stabbed 48 times. There were no signs of forced entry, no murder weapon recovered, nothing stolen from the office, and almost no physical evidence at the scene. The only forensic clue was a single, small drop of blood — later identified as belonging to Evan Wald, Roslyn Pilmar’s brother.
Investigators quickly identified Roslyn and Wald as persons of interest. They had been the last two people known to be with Howard that evening, and Wald’s blood placed him at the crime scene. Yet without eyewitnesses willing to come forward, the case stalled. It went cold.
Philip was left to grow up fatherless, raised by his mother — the very woman who, investigators suspected, had orchestrated his father’s killing. That devastating irony would not be resolved for more than two decades.
Two Decades of Uncertainty: The Cold Case
For Philip, the years that followed Howard’s murder were defined by absence and unanswered questions. He channeled his grief into academic excellence, eventually pursuing undergraduate studies and later attending the London School of Economics, where he sharpened his analytical and critical thinking abilities.
The case sat dormant until 2013, when the Manhattan District Attorney’s office assigned a fresh team of investigators to re-examine the evidence. These detectives combed through old reports and — crucially — tracked down witnesses who had gone silent after the original investigation, including Allyson, the nanny who had been present on the night of the murder. Allyson had left New York in the aftermath of Howard’s death, built a life elsewhere, and only agreed to testify years later. Her account would prove pivotal.
Among the details Allyson recalled: when she returned Philip to the Pilmar residence that night, Roslyn was in a bathrobe with wet hair, and the apartment was unusually dark. As Allyson and Philip had tried to leave Howard’s office earlier in the evening, Roslyn had told her, “We’re not done here.” Prosecutors later used that phrase as one of the most chilling moments of the trial — a window into what they alleged had transpired.
Financial evidence was also introduced. Roslyn reportedly owed $160,000 to a former employer and $14,000 in unpaid taxes. Howard had begun consulting a divorce lawyer. And upon his death, Roslyn received more than $1 million from two life insurance policies.
The 2019 Conviction: A Devastating Revelation
In 2019, Roslyn Pilmar and Evan Wald were arrested, tried, and ultimately convicted of Howard Pilmar’s murder. Both were sentenced to 25 years in prison — the maximum allowed under the law. Jurors later indicated that Allyson’s testimony had been the most persuasive factor in reaching their verdict.
For Philip, the verdict delivered something deeply paradoxical: closure about his father’s death, but the simultaneous loss of his mother to the prison system. He had been raised by Roslyn. She had provided for him, loved him, and supported his education and legal career — even while allegedly concealing her role in his father’s murder.
Philip’s response at sentencing was extraordinary. He stood before the court and asked the judge for leniency on his mother’s behalf. He acknowledged that the loss of his father had been devastating, but stated plainly that the woman who raised him should not die behind bars. His words — “Having my mom die in jail will not bring back my dad” — were later featured in a 2019 episode of 48 Hours that covered the case.
Philip reportedly left the courtroom almost immediately after the verdict was read. According to those present, he appeared to believe — or at least needed to believe — in his mother’s innocence, even in the face of the jury’s decision. He appears to have severed contact with his paternal family in the aftermath, including his grandfather, Frank Pilmar, who had sought to reconnect.
Philip Pilmar Today: An Award-Winning Federal Prosecutor
Despite the extraordinary personal turmoil of his life, Philip Pilmar has built a distinguished and deeply meaningful legal career. After the London School of Economics, he enrolled at and graduated from New York University School of Law. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2012 and joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Where he serves as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA).
The Eastern District of New York is one of the most active and consequential federal prosecutorial offices in the country, handling everything from complex financial fraud and organized crime to terrorism and civil rights violations. It is not a posting for the faint of heart — and by all accounts, Philip has excelled there.
In January 2024, his contributions were formally recognized at the highest level. Attorney General Merrick Garland presented Philip, alongside 16 other current and former EDNY colleagues, with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service at the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony. The award, drawn from a pool of more than 800 nominees, is among the most prestigious honors in American federal law enforcement.
At the ceremony, Attorney General Garland remarked of all honorees: “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” Philip was one of a select group — including AUSAs who handled landmark terrorism prosecutions and long-serving appellate attorneys — to receive this recognition.
His colleagues have described him as meticulous, empathetic, and unwavering in his pursuit of accountability.
Personal Life: Stability Amid Complexity
Philip Pilmar married Dr. Larissa D. Gabelman, a pediatrician, on May 9, 2015, in a ceremony held in Manhattan. The couple resides in New York City, balancing demanding professional lives with a shared commitment to their respective fields.
Philip maintains an exceptionally low public profile on social media — a deliberate and understandable choice given the scrutiny his family history has attracted. He is, by all indications, a private man who prefers to let his professional record speak for itself.
The Deeper Story: What Philip Pilmar’s Life Tells Us
It would be easy — and reductive — to reduce Philip Pilmar’s story to its most sensational elements: the stabbing, the cold case, the shocking conviction of his own mother. But the more meaningful story is the one about what a person does in the aftermath of unimaginable circumstances.
Philip did not retreat from the legal system that upended his family. He joined it. He chose prosecution — the work of holding people accountable for violence and wrongdoing — as his life’s vocation. Whether that choice was driven by grief, purpose, a need for control, or simple passion for justice is something only he can know. What is observable is that he has pursued that vocation with enough dedication and skill to be recognized by the Attorney General of the United States.
The renewed public interest sparked by Homicide: New York has introduced Philip’s story to a new generation of viewers, many of whom are left with a single compelling question after the credits roll. How does someone carry all of that, and still show up every day?
The answer, it seems, is that Philip Pilmar has made peace with complexity. He defended his mother in open court He accepted that the jury saw things differently. He moved forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Philip Pilmar
Who is Philip Pilmar?
Philip Pilmar is the son of Howard Pilmar, a New York entrepreneur murdered in 1996. He is now an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Why is Philip Pilmar in the news?
Philip gained renewed public attention following the 2024 release of Netflix’s Homicide. New York, which features the murder of his father in its fourth episode, “Midtown Slasher.”
What happened to Philip Pilmar’s mother?
Roslyn Pilmar was convicted in 2019 of murdering her husband Howard, along with her brother Evan Wald. Both are serving 25-year prison sentences.
What award did Philip Pilmar receive?
In January 2024, Philip received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service at the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony, presented by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Where does Philip Pilmar work?
Philip works as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn.