NY manhunt ends after man accused of killing father, setting fire is arrested
Man in custody following multi-county New York manhunt and homicide investigation
Police have taken 32-year-old Thomas Ryan into custody following a multi-agency search in connection with a fatal arson and the death of his 70-year-old father in Orange County, New York. Investigators located Ryan in Schoharie County after receiving civilian tips regarding his location and vehicle.
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. - A three-day manhunt in New York has come to an end after police took 32-year-old Thomas David Ryan into custody in the Gilboa area of Schoharie County early Sunday morning in connection with the death of his father.
The widespread search—involving New York State Police, the FBI and several other agencies—ended more than 100 miles north of Orange County after civilian tips led law enforcement to the victim's gray 2016 Toyota Prius in a local parking lot, according to authorities.
Police say Ryan was apprehended just after midnight and is currently receiving treatment for injuries at a New York hospital while awaiting formal charges.
Search for Thomas Ryan
What we know:
Prior to his arrest, officials said Thomas Ryan was last seen in Greenville on Thursday night, shortly after allegedly killing his father, 70-year-old Robert Ryan, at the family's Greenville home and setting it on fire.
Police say that Ryan fled the area in his father's gray 2016 Toyota Prius with a New York license plate reading HNH-7671. Investigators used tools like traffic camera footage, video surveillance and vehicle tracking data during the search.
Police are searching for a gray 2016 Toyota Prius with New York license plate HNH-7671, believed to be driven by murder suspect Thomas Ryan. (File Photo)
Police say Thomas Ryan didn't live with his father in the home, and "has no other known current ties to the Greenville community." They did say, however, that Thomas Ryan frequents the Plattsburgh area, but that he also has been living at multiple shelters throughout New York State.
Firefighters were called to the home on Greenville Turnpike around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. After the fire was put out, investigators discovered a body inside the home. Police later identified that victim as Robert Ryan, Thomas' father.
Greenville murder, arson investigation
The backstory:
According to officials, Robert Ryan was killed before the house was set on fire. Police have not yet released a motive or the exact cause of death.
"The grief is tremendous, the adrenaline from waiting for the arrest has worn off, and I am in a tremendous amount of pain," the victim's daughter said in a statement provided to FOX 5 N.Y.
"Conceptualizing what has happened is almost impossible," she added.
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New York State Police are searching for Thomas David Ryan in connection with a homicide and house fire in the Town of Greenville.
The Source: Information in this story is from the New York State Police and previous FOX 5 N.Y. reports.