An ‘armed and dangerous’ fugitive from New York, suspected of killing his father and setting the family home on fire, was captured Sunday. This concluded a manhunt that involved the FBI and various police agencies across New York State.
Thomas David Ryan, 32, was apprehended in the Gilboa area of Schoharie County. Authorities had been searching for Ryan after his father, Robert Ryan, aged 70, was found dead inside his burning home in Greenville on Thursday evening. The fire was reportedly started deliberately.
Police have not yet disclosed details about Ryan’s capture or his arrest. Further details are expected to be released later.
Details of the Case
The incident began around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday when state troopers responded to a house fire on Greenville Turnpike in Orange County. After the fire was extinguished, a man’s body was discovered inside. He was later identified as Robert Ryan.
Investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set, and Robert Ryan’s death was treated as a homicide. Police then began searching for his son, Thomas Ryan.
Thomas did not live with his father and had no known connections to the Greenville area at the time. Investigators suspected he fled in his father’s gray 2016 Toyota Prius. As the search progressed, police urged the public to call 911 if anyone spotted Ryan, emphasizing he was ‘armed and dangerous.’
Surveillance and Investigation
Officers examined surveillance videos from homes and businesses to track Ryan’s movements post-incident. They asked residents in Greenville and nearby areas to review footage from around 6 p.m. Thursday and the subsequent night.
Ryan had stayed at various shelters across New York and was known to visit the Plattsburgh area, located over 200 miles north of Greenville. Law enforcement checked locations where he had previously stayed and collaborated with rail operators, as Ryan frequently traveled by train.
The investigation attracted the involvement of the FBI, NYPD, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and police departments from Middletown and Port Jervis. Several State Police units and other state and county agencies also participated.
Authorities have not revealed a possible motive or the exact cause of Robert Ryan’s death. Charges against Thomas Ryan remain undisclosed.