A statewide search is ongoing for a 32-year-old man connected to his father’s death and a deliberate house fire in Hudson Valley, New York. The New York State Police have advised the public that Thomas David Ryan is armed and dangerous, and they should avoid approaching him.
Authorities stated that on the evening of August 6, around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a house fire report on Greenville Turnpike in Greenville. They found the body of 70-year-old Robert Ryan after firefighters managed the blaze. Investigations revealed the blaze was set intentionally to conceal the crime, leading to a homicide inquiry.
Greenville is a rural area approximately 65 miles northwest of New York City. Following the incident, law enforcement has increased patrolling in Greenville and neighboring areas, including Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Officers request that residents and businesses review surveillance from 6 p.m. on August 6 through that night for information. “The community’s support is vital,” state police expressed. “Even a minor detail might help locate Thomas and conclude this investigation safely.”
Who Is Thomas David Ryan?
The police describe Ryan as approximately 6-foot-2 and weighing 200 pounds. He was last observed in black clothing—T-shirt and sweatpants. Ryan lived a transient lifestyle in state shelters, mostly connected to the Plattsburgh area near the Canadian border. He faced seven prior arrests in New York City and is on probation until April 2028.
Ryan’s sister, Stephanie Coiro, shared his struggles with severe mental illness with ABC News. Their father had recently brought Ryan to the Greenville home just hours before the tragic event, after a call for help. “He first faced difficulties at 16,” Coiro stated. “Treatment programs have limits, and medication isn’t enforced after 18. Schizophrenia often convinces you that you’re well.”
Authorities caution that Ryan might drive a gray 2016 Toyota Prius, carrying New York license plate HNH-7671. He is also known to use trains, prompting cooperation with rail transport partners.
Police ask anyone spotting Ryan to call 911 or contact the State Police Middletown Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 845-344-5300 immediately.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Steve Mollman and Anthony Murray.