Ralph James “Bucky” Phillips was born on 19 June 1962 in Western New York and grew up in Stockton, Chautauqua County. His early life was reportedly turbulent. According to some accounts, he began running away from home at a young age due to an abusive father, setting a pattern of defiance and flight that would mark the rest of his life. Phillips developed a long-standing criminal record that included burglary, grand larceny, and parole violations, as well as repeated incarceration in the New York State correctional system.

By 2006, Phillips was a familiar figure in upstate New York law enforcement circles. He had served multiple sentences and was once again in custody at Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, New York, for parole violations, including his failure to report after being released in November 2005.

On 2 April 2006, Phillips escaped from jail, cutting through the kitchen roof with a can opener, launching one of the most expensive and controversial manhunts in New York history. He fled across Western New York, Warren County (PA), and McKean County (PA), stealing vehicles and breaking into cabins to survive.

On June 10, 2006, Ralph James Phillips shot State Trooper Sean Brown in Veteran, New York. Trooper Brown had spotted a stolen Ford Mustang and, when he approached the vehicle, Phillips shot him in the abdomen before fleeing the scene. Trooper Brown was seriously injured. Subsequently, police discovered an abandoned backpack with items linked to Phillips and the gun used in the shooting.

As the manhunt continued, it reached a critical point on August 31, 2006. While under surveillance near his ex-girlfriend's home in Pomfret, Phillips shot two more state troopers, Donald Baker Jr. and Joseph Longobardo, with a high-powered rifle. Trooper Baker was wounded, but Trooper Longobardo succumbed to his injuries a few days later after surgery.

Phillips was captured on September 8, 2006, in Warren County, Pennsylvania, after being spotted by a deputy. He surrendered without any violence. Phillips faced multiple charges, including attempted murder for the shootings of the troopers.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated murder for killing Trooper Longobardo and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He received additional sentences for the other shootings, totaling more than 40 years. Phillips is serving his time at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, New York.