MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Fan Favorite – "Big Bang"
Date: March 6, 2026
Host: John Allen (MrBallen)
Episode Overview
In this remastered fan-favorite episode, MrBallen recounts the shocking 1996 car bombing murder of Gary Triano, a prominent real estate developer in Tucson, Arizona. The story unravels over 13 years, spanning from the immediate chaotic aftermath of the explosion to its international resolution. Through the eyes of young detective James Gamber, listeners experience the twists and setbacks of one of Arizona's most notorious unsolved cases—until its final, explosive revelations.
Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown
1. The Crime Scene: November 1, 1996
- [00:16] Detective Gamber, new to homicide, rushes to La Paloma Country Club after a reported explosion.
- The parking lot resembles “a war zone”: blaring car alarms, shattered glass, and a Lincoln Town Car with its roof blown off.
- Gary Triano, known for his flamboyant personality and high-profile career, is found dead inside his car, victim of a bomb left on the passenger seat.
- Quote [07:03]: “It was like this man’s last moment on Earth was frozen in time.” – MrBallen, on Gary’s watch stopping at 5:38pm.
2. The Investigation Begins
- [09:50] Multiple agencies (FBI, ATF) quickly take over the scene, suspecting mafia involvement due to Gary’s business dealings and the bomb’s nature.
- Detective Gamber wants to start smaller and interviews Gary’s current girlfriend.
- She describes Gary as trusting, even careless: “He always left his car unlocked… he just believed nothing bad would ever happen to him.”
- Admits Gary had a tumultuous relationship with ex-girlfriend Robin Gardner, who had left a threatening message months earlier: “You’re going to pay someday.”
3. Early Leads & Frustration
- Gamber interviews Robin Gardner, Gary’s ex-girlfriend, but finds no convincing link.
- Her husband defends her: “If Robyn was mad, she made it really clear. But she told me Gary was a good man for admitting he was wrong and helping with the baby.”
- Both ex-wives and Gary's grown children also provide alibis and positive views, leaving Gamber empty-handed.
- Quote [20:57]: “In about the span of a week, Gamber had met with the people he believed had the clearest personal motives to kill Gary. But he still hadn’t gotten anywhere.”
4. Break in the Case: The Ron Young Connection
- [22:38] A month after the bombing, an Aspen, Colorado investigator contacts Gamber after discovering suspicious evidence:
- A map of Tucson and a paper with “Gary Triano” among other names in a van linked to fraud-artist Ron Young.
- Despite months of searching, Ron Young is elusive—“this man was a ghost”—and the case grows cold by summer 1997.
5. Years of Silence – Case Goes Cold
- For nearly a decade, no progress is made; Gary Triano’s case fades from public view and priority for local law enforcement.
6. Unexpected Turn: National TV Leads to Breakthrough
- [30:00] (Nine Years Later, 2005)
- A chiropractor in Florida recognizes Ron Young on "America’s Most Wanted" and turns him in.
- Young is arrested, but denies involvement in Gary’s murder. Investigators require years to gather concrete evidence.
7. International Pursuit and Arrest
- [31:50] (Thirteen Years Later, 2009)
- Austrian police arrest Gary’s ex-wife, Pamela Phillips, in Vienna after sufficient evidence links her to the murder plot.
- She is extradited back to the U.S.
8. The Full Picture: How the Crime Was Committed
- [33:26] MrBallen reconstructs the events:
- Ron Young, hired by Pamela, builds and plants a homemade bomb in Gary’s car, using information provided by Pamela’s knowledge of Gary’s habits and schedule.
- The bomb is detonated by remote as Gary retrieves what he thinks is a birthday gift, instantly killing him.
- Pamela’s motive: She stood to collect on a $2 million life insurance policy, meant for her children but under her control until they turned 18.
- Quote [36:07]: “Pamela had decided that the only way she could get the kind of money from Gary that she wanted was by killing him.”
- Pamela used her inside information about a surprise party to plan the timing and location of the murder with Ron Young.
9. Justice & Aftermath
- Both Ron Young and Pamela Phillips are convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
- The case’s duration meant it was both Detective Gamber’s second and last homicide before retiring.
- Quote [38:55]: “Because of the amount of time this investigation took, it was both Detective Gamber’s second homicide case and his last.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “It was like this man’s last moment on Earth was frozen in time.”
— MrBallen (on Gary’s stopped wristwatch at the scene) [07:03] - “Ron was not just elusive. This man was a ghost.”
— MrBallen (on the difficulty of finding Ron Young) [24:33] - “You’re going to pay someday, you’re going to pay.”
— Robin Gardner (voice message) [17:58] - “Pamela had decided that the only way she could get the kind of money from Gary that she wanted was by killing him.”
— MrBallen [36:07] - “A chiropractor in Florida recognized Ron Young on America’s Most Wanted and made the call that broke the case wide open.”
— Summary moment [30:08]
Important Timestamps
- 00:16 – Detective Gamber arrives at the explosive crime scene.
- 07:03 – Discovery of Gary’s stopped wristwatch.
- 09:50 – Federal agencies take over; mafia angle introduced.
- 17:58 – Threatening message from Robin Gardner discussed.
- 22:38 – Colorado investigator links Ron Young to Tucson case.
- 24:33 – Case goes cold; Ron Young vanishes.
- 30:00 – Nine years later: America's Most Wanted TV tip leads to Ron Young’s arrest.
- 31:50 – Four years after, police arrest Pamela Phillips in Vienna.
- 33:26 – Detailed reconstruction of the murder plot’s execution.
- 36:07 – Pamela Phillips’ motive and the life insurance plot.
- 38:55 – Detective Gamber’s retirement and case resolution.
Tone and Delivery
MrBallen’s signature storytelling style shines: suspenseful, vivid, and engaging, blending meticulous investigative detail with human emotion and empathy. The narrative immerses listeners in both the chaos of the crime and the painstaking, years-long search for justice.
Final Thoughts
"Big Bang" stands out as a gripping tale not just because of its shocking crime but also for the testament to persistence and international cooperation in achieving justice. Through careful storytelling and the perspective of Detective Gamber, listeners are reminded of how even cases that seem hopeless can still be solved—sometimes by the unlikeliest of events.
(Note: Some names and finer details were fictionalized for dramatic storytelling, as clarified by MrBallen at the end of the episode.)