By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-08-12 21:11:52 | Updated at 2026-08-12 22:01:30
51 minutes ago
New York State Police Troop F in the Town of Greenville on Aug. 12, 2026. Oliver Mantyk/The Epoch Times
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—Thomas Ryan, 32, was arrested on Aug. 9 by state police for the homicide of his father, Robert Ryan, 70, and the burning of a house.
The Greenville State Police responded to a house fire on Greenville Turnpike in the town of Greenville at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, and found the the body of a man later identified as Robert Ryan inside. Police immediately began searching for Robert’s son, Thomas, in connection with the case.
The state police said in their original Aug. 7 statement that the fire had been deliberately set, and that Thomas Ryan was seen in the area of Greenville Turnpike wearing sweatpants and a black shirt. He was driving a 2016 gray Toyota Prius, and the police stated that he was believed to be armed and dangerous.
Ryan was arrested at 12:10 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 9 in the Town of Gilboa, Schoharie County, a 90-mile drive north from the crime scene.
A local individual had given a tip to the state police about a Toyota Prius that matched the description in an empty parking lot at 199 State Route 990V. Police arrived on scene, and after confirming that the vehicle matched, searched the scene for Ryan. Another tip from a local resident led the police to the suspect.
Ryan was given medical treatment on the scene for injuries he received prior to the arrest, and was transported to a hospital for treatment. He remains in the custody of the state police and will be charged and arraigned when his medical conditions permit.
The state police said that Ryan did not live with his father and had no known ties to the Greenville area otherwise. Ryan had been a drifter who stayed in numerous New York City, Long Island, and northern New York shelters, authorities said.
The state police received significant assistance from the City of Middletown Police Department, City of Port Jervis Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and other county and state bodies.
New York State Police Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation led the investigation, and its captain, Brad Natalizio, said in the press release that this case was an example of what can be accomplished when communities and law enforcement cooperate.
“The information provided by alert members of the public, combined with the relentless efforts of our investigators, Troopers, and law enforcement partners across multiple jurisdictions, allowed us to locate Thomas Ryan and bring this search to a safe conclusion.”
The Epoch Times was unable to reach Ryan’s legal representation for comment. The Orange County District Attorney’s office did not reply to a request for comment by publication.
Thomas Ryan Courtesy of the New York State Police
