Never Forget: Slain Pleasantville Firefighter Remembered 27 Years Later
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
By Jonathan Notis

Twenty-seven years ago, Pleasantville resident and volunteer firefighter Thomas Dorr walked into the woods near his Pollywiggle Lane home to feed wild turkeys. He was never seen alive again.
Dorr, who was to report to the Washington Avenue firehouse on Jan. 6, 1996, ahead of a blizzard, was discovered buried under two feet of snow, stabbed to death, his throat slashed.
While Dorrâs murder has never been solved, making it a âcold case,â his friends and firefighter colleagues remain determined to keep his memory alive until his killer or killers are caught.
On Monday evening, Pleasantville firefighters, police and friends honored Dorrâs memory days after the anniversary of his murder at a vigil in Graham Hills Park. The memorial for the former White Plains Water Department employee took place near where he was murdered.
âHe deserves the respect. What happened to him was brutal,â said his neighbor, Jimmy Danykan, who has been attending the annual vigil every year.
Fellow firefighter John Thys, one of the organizers and main speakers at the vigil, suggested that âthere wasnât enough proof, but people know what happened.â
Dorrâs wife, Jane Sawyer, and stepson, Jeffrey Sawyer, were the primary suspects early on in the investigation, but authorities have previously mentioned that much of the evidence was lost because of the snow and weather conditions at the time.
Once again, candles lit up the evening, with more than 30 attendees on hand to honor Dorr. Candles were also placed in front of a maple tree planted in Dorrâs memory.
Many of those who turned out, like John Cullen who joined the Pleasantville Fire Department the year after Dorrâs murder, have regularly attended the vigil to help the department mark the solemn event.
Friends and fellow firefighters said Dorr was someone who âwas larger than life,â and who would âdo anything for anybody.â
Thys described the 6-foot-8 Dorr as a âgentle giant,â and is hopeful that ânext year, weâll get our guy and keep our candles.â
Danykan echoed those sentiments.
âHopefully someday we wonât be here, and weâll see justice,â he said.
Anyone with information regarding Dorrâs murder should contact the Westchester County Police at 914-864-7700.

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