The Deck: Episode Summary – Gregory Fickess (Jack of Diamonds, New York)

Release Date: August 6, 2025
Host: audiochuck

Introduction

In this gripping episode of The Deck, host audiochuck delves into the chilling unsolved murder of Gregory Fickess, famously known as the "Jack of Diamonds," which occurred in downtown Rochester, New York, on a warm summer night in 1993. This case, marked by its brutal and seemingly random nature, has remained cold for over three decades, leaving the community desperate for closure and justice.

The Night of the Crime

At approximately 10:00 PM on July 22, 1993, Gregory Fickess, a 19-year-old trombone student at the Eastman School of Music, was brutally attacked in downtown Rochester. As he walked near the music school, two assailants confronted and violently assaulted him. The attack was so severe that Greg was left unconscious with life-threatening injuries, ultimately leading to his death less than a day later.

Notable Quote:
"I mean, these were injuries that took serious force. And notably, this poor young man had no defensive wounds. It was as if the attack had come out of nowhere."
— Investigator John Brennan ([06:14])

Initial Investigation and Challenges

The initial investigation faced numerous hurdles:

• Lack of Motive: The attack appeared random with no clear motive. Greg's personal belongings were untouched, eliminating robbery as a motive.
• Vague Witness Descriptions: Witnesses provided limited and inconsistent descriptions of the assailants, making it difficult to identify suspects.
• Trooper's Inaction: A trooper present at the scene declined to pursue the attackers despite being given a direction, a decision later criticized by Retired Investigator John Brennan.

Notable Quote:
"I absolutely could have gone after those two men. And his decision not to probably changed the course of the investigation forever."
— John Brennan ([05:35])

Emerging Leads and Witness Accounts

As months passed, the investigation remained stagnant until new leads emerged:

1. Lisa’s Testimony: A parking lot attendant, Brian, revealed that a woman named Lisa witnessed the attack. Initially hesitant, Lisa eventually provided more details:

   • She approached Greg for money before the attack.
   • She identified the assailants from a photo array as Dan and his nephew Tim.

   Notable Quote:
   "Maybe they just overheard him walking by and saying, get a job. They may have taken offense, and that's when they accosted him."
   — Sergeant Vanosa ([28:48])

2. Connie’s Information: A narcotics informant, Cornelius Welch (Connie), implicated Dan and Tim in Greg's murder, stating they brutally assaulted Greg.

   Notable Quote:
   "We both looked at that and said, man, that's too coincidental he just got made wearing a wire and he committed suicide out a window."
   — Sergeant Vanosa ([24:25])

Investigative Setbacks

Despite these leads, the investigation experienced significant setbacks:

• Connie’s Death: In October 1995, Connie was found dead in circumstances that raised suspicions of foul play, potentially linked to his role as a witness.

  Notable Quote:
  "Supposedly, he's there. Everybody has the same story that he just got up, didn't say anything, walked, I think it was to the bedroom, and boom, they heard a crash, and they looked out, and he was on the sidewalk."
  — Sergeant Vanosa ([24:39])

• Lost Documentation: By the time new investigators took over in 2016, much of the original case documentation was missing or incomplete, hindering progress.

Renewed Efforts and Current Status

In 2016, Sergeant Vanosa and Investigator Brennan revisited the case, piecing together old leads and seeking new information:

• Re-Interviewing Lisa: Lisa provided a more detailed account, describing how Dan and Tim followed and assaulted Greg after her interaction with him.

• Identifying Dan and Tim: Through persistent efforts, Dan was apprehended for a traffic violation in 2017, leading to further questioning. Although initially uncooperative, Dan confirmed his connection to the crime, while Tim denied involvement despite circumstantial evidence.

Notable Quote:
"We started talking to him, and he just, like, basically knew why we were picking him up. When we started talking to him, he said, I already talked to the police about this. I'm like, what?"
— Unknown Speaker ([32:49])

Despite these efforts, no charges have been filed against Dan or Tim. The police remain convinced of their involvement but lack the concrete evidence needed for prosecution.

Community Impact and Ongoing Advocacy

Greg’s murder had a profound impact on the Rochester community, sparking calls for an end to violence and highlighting the strain on police resources during a particularly violent summer marked by a rampant drug epidemic.

Notable Quote:
"It wasn't like every student down there was worried about getting robbed or getting killed."
— Investigator Brennan ([20:57])

Greg’s family continues to advocate for closure, hoping that someone with vital information will come forward to finally solve this decades-old case.

Conclusion

Gregory Fickess’s murder remains a haunting mystery, emblematic of the challenges in solving random, violent crimes without clear motives or sufficient evidence. The Deck underscores the importance of community involvement and the relentless pursuit of truth by dedicated investigators, keeping Greg’s memory alive and the hope for justice burning.

Final Call to Action:
If you have any information regarding Gregory Fickess's murder, you are encouraged to contact the Rochester Police Department at 585-428-7033 or Rochester Area Crime Stoppers at 585-42393. Your tip could be the key to unlocking this cold case.

Produced by: The Deck
Theme Music: Ryan Lewis
Learn More: thedeckpodcast.com