It is still hard to comprehend that my good friend is gone. He was, without a computer and a cell phone, an amazingly social and charming human being. A wonderful friend who not only wrote letters but called on his land line phone (yes, they still exist) to talk in person for hours at a time. He wrote poetry, much of it turned into songs by his brother. CD's of these songs are out there in the world, still entertaining us. The public library box in his honor outside his home would make him very happy, I believe. So many hours were spent on his porch or in his dining room discussing everything and anything, and most of all, having such good laughs - and big hugs every time I'd walk into or out of his open door. Yesterday was his birthday. He will never be forgotten.

How is it possible that without the internet one even exists at all? This bit of media imbecility deserves a story on its own..... : On the Media Means You Exist"

@Max - the song at the end of the show is "Toot Toot, Boom Boom" by Meatyard. Philip's brother, Josh Welsh, is in the band. Several of their songs are based on Philip's poems. Not sure if that is the case for this one but you can listen to it at http://open.spotify.com/track/78wy7RF7rC58hiegE98bkT or https://myspace.com/meatyard/music/song/toot-toot-boom-boom-27224778-27025963 Enjoy!

I'm not sure the Police would have found anything by going through a cellphone or social media account. If it is true that he was killed by someone who walked through the open door, no data on the internet could give the police any information.

I get that it is sensational that someone doesn't have internet or a cellphone but really I fail to understand why the focus of the story headline and introduction was his openness and trusting character.

The house-shaped wooden box that you mention at the end of the story is probably a Little Free Library.
http://littlefreelibrary.org/

I'm troubled that we are somehow deciding that people don't exist unless they have social media projecting their lives. I won't use Facebook or Twitter or Google...too bad for the lazy detectives if I am not leaving a big enough trail. Perhaps the police are wrong to do their searching online instead of using traditional police techniques. What happened to face-to-face communications? My brother stays in touch the same way as Phillip and his friendships are substantial. It is tragic that Phillip was murdered, but it doesn't mean he didn't exist....the real tragedy is if we get so obsessed with digital trivia that that is the only thing that defines us or we are doomed to remembered only as byte dust. Perhaps he existed more thoroughly than a lot of people obsessed with a virtual life instead of living a real one.

I took a de-tour going to work, because I wanted to listen to the end. What a sad, beautiful story. At the beginning, the first 30 seconds or so, I didn't know where it was going to end but I never expected what came at the end. A delicate portrait of someone who was generous and who was really loved. I hope they find who did it. Not for anything else, just to be able to close that door.

You are great guys, listening to you is always a treat.

What's the name of that beautiful song at the end? "Wish I could be walkin, in the rain with you"

How funny that you posted a pic of the house here, door ajar; I just spent 20 minutes finding the same picture, because the story had made me curious.

Great article. Thanks for sharing Philip's story. So sad. I am a long time Woodside neighbor.