Vigil marks 16th anniversary of Phylicia Thomas’ disappearance

NANTICOKE — Sixteen years have passed since Phylicia Thomas was last seen alive by family and friends.

And as she has done in the years since, Pauline Bailey led a vigil for her missing daughter on Tuesday evening to mark the somber anniversary.

“We need justice, we need to bring her home,” Bailey said before the gathering on Patriot Square got underway.

Thomas was 22 when she attended a house party at a Hunlock Creek trailer on the night of Feb. 11, 2004 after finishing her shift at the Pump & Pantry convenience store at routes 118 and 29.

State police have previously acknowledged Thomas was last seen leaving the house trailer with a man named Steve Martin and another man who was not identified.

Martin took his own life in 2005 while incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, where he was jailed on an unrelated vehicular homicide conviction. State police said at the time Martin was a “person of interest” in Thomas’ disappearance.

Bailey reported her daughter missing on Feb. 13, 2004, about 41 hours after she was last seen.

Years of searching

Thomas was never seen again, and no remains have ever been found, despite extensive searches, including around the site where the trailer formerly stood — the most recent of those searches was in 2018 — as well as tips and media attention.

Cadaver dogs brought in for the effort made several “hits,” but no discoveries.

Judy Fisher, a longtime friend of the family and the chief organizer in the search efforts, said she and Bailey don’t question who killed Thomas, “we just don’t know where they put her.”

“I’m doing everything in my power to find Phylicia, and I’m going to continue to do so,” Fisher said during the vigil.

Bailey also said that she was disheartened by what she feels is a lack of help from state police.

“I can’t believe that they seem to have given up,” Bailey said.

Bailey and Fisher previously gave a large packet of information about the case to state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township. As has been reported, Baker said she turned the packet over to state police to assess the information to see if it can be used in furtherance of any investigation.

State police last year did investigate reports that bones were in the basement of a home on Golf Course Road, about one-half mile from Martin’s residence and the house trailer. Troopers searched the house, and the remains were determined to be animal bones.

Prayers and candles

Pastor John Butch of Christ Community Church in Kingston opened Tuesday’s vigil by reading from Scripture, and leading everyone in a prayer.

Despite windy conditions, candles were lit in Thomas’ honor.

To pay tribute to Thomas and her love of Pink Floyd, family friend Kevin Ryan presented Thomas with a painting featuring Thomas with the background of Pink Floyd’s signature rainbow prism logo.

“I just wanted to give something to Pauline that she could remember Phylicia by,” Ryan said.

The crowd closed the vigil with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Thomas’s favorite song, “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. Usually played with accompaniment from a guitar, this year’s version was sang with the help of a few cellphones, nothing more.

The crowd had many words of encouragement and support for Bailey, who was visibly moved by the turnout.

“You’re all here now, and that’s what counts,” Bailey said.

Seeking tipster

Fisher and Bailey were both hoping for the appearance of a man that they said gave them a helpful tip at last year’s vigil.

“We don’t know his name, but we just want him to come forward and help,” Fisher said.

The two said that they’ve received many helpful tips over the years, but they’re just waiting on the one that could finally bring a resolution to their 16-year nightmare.

“The tips are like pieces of a puzzle,” Fisher said. “We just need them to start fitting together so we could bring Phylicia home.”