Richard Uffelman was a part-time postal clerk in Machiasport, Maine, who shot and killed his neighbors Michael and Florence Phillips on August 29, 1989, in a killing captured on the couple’s own camcorder. He was convicted of two counts of intentional or knowing murder, sentenced to life in prison plus a concurrent 50-year term, and died behind bars on February 2, 2021, at age 74.1The Cinemaholic. Michael and Florence Phillips Murders
The Feud With the Phillips Family
Uffelman lived with his wife and two young sons on a quiet street in the small coastal town of Machiasport, in Washington County. He had briefly served as a Machiasport police officer in 1978 before working as a part-time postal clerk.2The New York Times. Fatal Feud Divides a Village in Maine
In 1987, Michael and Florence Phillips moved into a house diagonally across the street. Relations soured quickly, and both households filed a series of complaints against each other with local law enforcement.3Justia. State v. Uffelman, 626 A.2d 340 Uffelman installed an elaborate alarm system, planned escape routes, and stockpiled weapons out of what the Maine Supreme Judicial Court later described as an “apparent fear of the Phillips family.” Some townspeople called him paranoid; others viewed him as an eccentric who had been provoked.2The New York Times. Fatal Feud Divides a Village in Maine
The Phillipses, meanwhile, set up a VCR camcorder in their kitchen window aimed at the Uffelman house. They were gathering evidence for a harassment lawsuit against Uffelman.4Orlando Sentinel. Man Gets Life Sentence in Videotaped Slayings
The August 29, 1989 Shooting
After dinner on the evening of August 29, 1989, Michael Phillips, 38, and Florence Phillips, 41, went for a walk. As they passed the Uffelman house, gunfire erupted from inside. Uffelman and his two sons, then 10 and 12, fired from the living room, and roughly 25 rounds were discharged in all.2The New York Times. Fatal Feud Divides a Village in Maine5Military Justice for All. Fear Thy Neighbor – Red Picket Fences
Both victims were struck in the initial volley. Uffelman then walked out into the street and shot each of them at point-blank range with a hunting rifle, killing them. He went back inside and called police.3Justia. State v. Uffelman, 626 A.2d 340
The Phillips camcorder was still running through the entire episode. The tape became the central piece of evidence at trial and directly contradicted Uffelman’s later claim that the couple had started the confrontation.3Justia. State v. Uffelman, 626 A.2d 340
What Investigators Found at the House
The search of the Uffelman property turned up far more than the firearms used that night. The land was rigged with tripwires, and the house held explosives that bomb technicians had to remove. Police also found secret passageways and tunnels on the premises. Uffelman had reportedly been wearing military fatigues and running quasi-military drills with his sons in the weeks before the killings.5Military Justice for All. Fear Thy Neighbor – Red Picket Fences
His two sons were never charged. Investigators concluded the boys were themselves victims of their father’s behavior and had followed his orders when they fired.5Military Justice for All. Fear Thy Neighbor – Red Picket Fences
Trial, Insanity Defense, and Sentence
A Washington County grand jury indicted Uffelman on September 7, 1989, on two counts of intentional or knowing murder. He pleaded not guilty and also entered a plea of not criminally responsible by reason of insanity, arguing he had acted in self-defense and in defense of his family.3Justia. State v. Uffelman, 626 A.2d 340
Trial began on October 7, 1991, delayed largely by Uffelman’s own requests for an independent psychiatric evaluation, a change of venue, and a continuance to switch attorneys. The proceedings were bifurcated. In the guilt phase, the jury convicted him on both murder counts, with the Phillips videotape anchoring the state’s account of the shooting. In the second phase, the jury rejected the insanity defense and found him criminally responsible.6The New York Times. Killer of 2 Gets Life Sentence
On December 30, 1991, the court sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Florence Phillips and a concurrent 50-year term for the murder of Michael Phillips.6The New York Times. Killer of 2 Gets Life Sentence
The Appeal
Uffelman appealed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, arguing that the delay between indictment and trial violated his right to a speedy trial, that his lawyers had been ineffective, and that the jury had received improper instructions on reasonable doubt, self-defense, and possible verdicts. On June 2, 1993, the court affirmed the convictions on every ground, noting that Uffelman himself had caused most of the pretrial delay and that no reversible error had been shown.3Justia. State v. Uffelman, 626 A.2d 340
Civil Judgment, Later Coverage, and Death in Prison
Michael Phillips, the son of the murdered couple, filed a wrongful death suit against Uffelman in Maine Superior Court and won a judgment of $513,320. It reportedly remains unpaid.5Military Justice for All. Fear Thy Neighbor – Red Picket Fences
The case drew renewed attention in 2014 when Investigation Discovery’s Fear Thy Neighbor covered it in an episode called “Red Picket Fences,” walking through the feud and the tripwires, explosives, and hidden tunnels found on the property. According to the program, the Uffelman house was later destroyed by fire after new owners moved in.5Military Justice for All. Fear Thy Neighbor – Red Picket Fences
Richard Uffelman died in prison on February 2, 2021, at age 74.1The Cinemaholic. Michael and Florence Phillips Murders