AMITY MATTERSBECAUSE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS MATTER
According to reports on Q 96.1 FM this morning, a family member found the horrendous murder scene about 9:30 pm Wednesday night and called 911. Two adult males and a young boy were stabbed to death. The boy, reported to be between the ages of 9 and 11, was the son of one of the victims. Early reports listed two deceased victims of the attack, but later reports indicated there were three deceased individuals. The remains will be transported to Augusta later today for autopsys.
This afternoon State Police identified the victims as Jeff Ryan 55, his 10 year old son Jessie Ryan, and their neighbor Jason DeHahn 30.
According to a Bangor Daily News update State Police Lt. Gary Wright confirmed that all three were stabbed, but would not say what weapon was used or divulge any other details about the killings. He said the bodies were taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Augusta for autopsy
The light green trailer sitting just off Route 1, complete with a large tree house and pool in the front yard, was surrounded by State Police units this morning. A mobile Crime Lab was on on scene to collect and process any evidence from the scene. One officer could be seen working a tracking dog in the front yard, while other officers were clustered at the back of the home. The continuing rain, fog, and drizzle are not helping police efforts.
A 1989 Ford F-15- Blue & Silver pickup has been reported stolen from the crime scene. Police are asking the public's help in finding this vehicle. Maine plate number 415-5RY, the pickup has white rims on the front and silver on the back. There is also a row of running lights across the top of the cab just over the windshield. If you have any information, please call the Maine State Police or 911.
Residents shook their heads in shock and sorrow that the violent death of such a young boy could happen in our small town; all expressed hope the murderer will be caught soon.
6/24/2010
6/25/2010
A bereaved mother is begging for public's help to find the killer of Jesse Ryan, her 10 year old son.
The triple murder may be one of the worst in the state's history. The discovery of two men and a 10 year old boy stabbed to death in the Route 1 home has not just shocked and frightened residents in Amity; it has angered many too.
Today's Lewiston Sun Journal (www.sunjournal.com) describes Jamie Merrill's anguish at being informed by Maine State Police of the murder of her son and exhusband. Young Jesse Ryan had been living in Lewiston with her since March. She pleads for the killer to come forward or if anyone knows any information, please call the State Police.
When police refused to answer her questions, Merrill got online and found out her son had been stabbed to death and the other details. Merrill is six months pregnant and engaged to Dwayne Lebrecque. She later collapsed and was taken to the hospital by ambulance to be checked by her obstetrician.
Jesse had guessed he was getting a baby brother. Jesse has a 16 year old sister, Mariah Ryan, so he has had years of experience at being a little brother. He was looking forward to being a big brother.
Mariah's mother, Tamara Strout who lives in Addison, previously had a nine year relationship with Ryan. They had rekindled their relationship and planned to marry.
Merrill was married to Ryan for seven years, but left because of abuse. She claimed that Ryan, a Vietnam veteran, was "a prescription drug addict, buying and selling the pills". Ryan had "been threatened by quite a few people" over the years, she said. A criminal background check only revealed a disorderly conduct charge in 1992. According to WGME TV13 (www.wgme.com), Merrill claims the stolen pickup was acquired by trading drugs for it.
Lebrecque's opinion was that Ryan must have known his assailent, while Merrill believes there must have been more than one attacker. She believes her exhusband would never allow anything to happen to their son if it was in his power to prevent it. She cannot understand how someone could "do this to a kid and walk around with a conscience."
Shannon Ryan, another son of Jeff Ryan who resides in Texas, also feels that one person could not have overpowered the two men. He also objected to Merrill's description of his father as a prescription drug addict and dealer.
This is not Merrill's first brush with murder. In 1998, Randy McGowan shot and killed Bobby G. Brown in Danforth. Merrill, then 18 years old, had been Randy McGown's girlfriend. About two weeks after breaking up with McGowan, Merrill went back to this apartment to retrieve personal belongings with her new boyfriend, Bobby Brown. Brown was known locally as the Mountain Man. McGowan shot Brown with a 9mm handgun. McGowan received a 28 year prison sentence for the crime.
No matter what the story behind this horrible and cruel crime may be, nothing can change the fact that an innocent little 10 year old boy lost his life. Pure evil slipped into our little town and a bright little light was brutally smashed out and we are left wondering who and why someone would harm this precious little boy.
Jason DeHahn was a neighbor and long time friend worked as a sheetrocker. Living so close, DeHahn stopped by nearly every day to visit; Ryan was disabled and a Vietnam veteran.
Residents of the Town of Amity and Amity Matters would like to extend their deepest sympathy to the DeHahn, Ryan, and Merrill families and extended families.
Missing Ryan Pickup Found
According to Maine Sunday Telegram, the missing truck from the triple homicide in Amity was found in Weston about 11:30 Saturday morning June 26. The Ford 150 was found burned in a clearing about 15 miles from Ryan's Route 1 trailer where the slayings occurred. The land the pickup was found on belongs to the Cifelli family of Cape Cod. The truck has been moved to the Maine Crime Lab in Augusta for processing.
Later reports say the crime lab has finished processing the truck and no new evidence was found.
6/25/2010
6/29/2010
State Police continue to search for clues in the triple slaying which occurred Wednesday on Route 1 in Amity. The remains of the burned out pickup, stolen from the Ryan residence at the time of the murders, was found in Weston by out of state landowners up for a visit. Police are seeking the driver of the pickup in connection with the murders of 10 year old Jesse Ryan, his father Jeff Ryan, and family friend Jason DeHahn. Memorial crosses and flowers sit beside the side of the road in front of the light green trailer where the slayings occurred.
The Mill Pond School in Hodgdon opened Sunday for 2 hours offering counseling sessions for grieving classmates of Jesse. Students were encouraged to share their memories of Jesse. Sharing their stories of the class clown who could make them laugh helped the children cope with their feelings at the tragic loss of their classmate. Students created a memory book for the family. Some family members who attended the session accepted the cards, drawings, photo collage and memory book prepared by the students.
According to the Bangor Daily News, one teacher, Brenda Adams used to sell pencils to students lacking one for 10¢; she found out Sunday why her business had been down. Showing good business potential, Jesse was selling his pencils for 5¢.
6/29/2010
6/30/2010 - 7/01/2010
An arrest has been made today in the murders of Jesse and Jeff Ryan and Jason DeHahn. Maine State Police have charged Thayne Ormsby, 20, of Orient with three counts of murder. Ormsby was arrested in Dover, NH on a fugitive from justice charge.
WAGM Channel 8 Evening News reported that the State Police are searching areas of Amity, Orient, and Weston based on evidence they have gathered. Investigators have worked tirelessly on solving this terrible crime that has kept Amity residents locking their doors.
The Bangor Daily News reports that a search warrant had been served on the Route One home of Robert Strout in Orient this morning. The State Police Evidence Team and several detectives are searching for evidence connecting him with the crime. He is the father of Tamara Strout, Ryan's former girlfriend.
Tamara Strout and Ryan have a 16 year old daughter together. Strout, of Addison, told police on the day of the murders that she and Ryan had rekindled their relationship and that he had recently asked her to marry him.Tamara Strout, Robert and Joy Strout's daughter, is reported to be a long time friend of the killer's mother, Maria Ormsby.
The entire affidavit of Detective Joshua Haines was printed on WLBZ TV 2 and describes the entire story of the murders. It can now be found here. Warning: the content is quite graphic. Out of respect for the DeHahn family and the families of the other vicitms, Amity Matters will not print these details at first. We have since decided to make it available, before it is moved from the WLBZ site,
Search Warrents were executed at the homes of Tamara Strout in Weston and Robert Strout in Orient on Friday. According to many news reports, Ormsby had been staying with Robert Strout and his family. He was present at the table when Bangor Daily News Reporter Jen Lynds interviewed Joy Strout concerning the homicide.
Robert Strout spoke with news media (see video) shortly after the slayings stating what a great father Jeff Ryan was. Strout is also the grandfather of Mariah Ryan, Jeff' and Tamara Strout's daughter. Yet he admits to harboring and assisted the person who killed her father.
With the killer caught and making statements; the finger pointing has begun - who knew what and when did they know it. As more information comes out, the stranger and more twisted the tale becomes. Residents will not rest easy until all the facts come out and justice is meted out to a murderer and any accomplices.
Jake DeHahn, Jason's brother, said he did not know Ormsby but heard that Tamara Strout had brought him to town a while ago. DeHahn still feels that it would have taken more than one person to have overpowered and murdered his brother Jason.
Amity Matters and the residents of Amity would like to commend the State Police and all the other agencies involved for their diligence and hard work in solving this crime so swiftly. State Police said that information from the public would solve this crime. Many thanks to the alert citizens who came forward with the information that broke the case.
7/02/2010
Police believe they may have found the knife used in the triple homicide on Route One last week. Police have been searching a bog, along the East side of Route One in Orient.The bog is located down the road from the Robert Strout residence. Ormsby admitted that Strout drove him to the bog where he threw the knife into the water. Search teams and divers waded through mud, chest high grass clumps and muddy brook bottoms diligently searching and were rewarded for their efforts by finding a knife they hope is the murder weapon.
Reports late last night on various news and media outlets stated that it was the murder weapon, but they have since removed both the pictures and stories from their online news. They are now saying it is unclear if the knife Police found is connected to this case.
Ormsby claims he planned to fix up Tamara Strout's home in Weston and planned to live there with Tamara Strout and Mariah Ryan. Mariah Ryan is the 16 year old daughter of Strout and Jeff Ryan, one of the men Ormsby murdered.
WLBZ TV 2 News interviewed Jamie Merrill, mother of 10 year old Jesse Ryan, after the arrest of Ormsby. Merrill said she never heard of Ormsby. She said she knew the Strouts, but claimed she and Jeff never got along with the them. She still cannot understand why Ormsby would kill her son.
Ormsby claimed he did not know Ryan's son, Mariah's half brother, or Jason DeHahn, a friend of Ryan's. Ormsby will be arrainged in Rochester, NH on Tuesday, July 6.
Although Amity residents are relieved that a suspect has been caught, the savage slaying of two men and a 10 year old boy in this quiet little town still have residents in shock.
People are having a hard time understanding the Strout's involvement and why they did not turn Ormsby over to the police immediately when they found out what he had done. It would appear the Strouts' had plenty of time to dial 911 while Ormsby was cleaning up at Tamara Strout's home in Weston.The Strout's had the opportunity to turn him in when State Police interviewed Robert and Joy Strout at their home in Orient and Ormsby was sleeping in the back room. Instead they admit they helped get him out of the state.
7/05/2010
The investigation into the slaying of three Amity residents continues. Little orange flags can be seen fluttering in the breeze at the bog on Route One in Orient, locally known as Scagrock, marking spots State Police have searched for the weapon used to murder three Amity residents.
The Bangor Daily News reports that Jake DeHahn, brother of murder victim Jason DeHahn, said that Jeff Ryan had words with Ormsby in June. Ormsby was reportedly dating 16 year old Mariah Ryan. Ryan did not want the 20 year old Ormsby around his 16 year old daughter. Ormsby reportedly planned to live with Mariah Ryan and her mother, Tamara Strout in Strout's home in Weston.
WGME 13 News reports that while staying in Dover, New Hampshire with Robert Strout II, Ormsby told a neighbor that he was an alcoholic. He also stated that when he drinks he gets vicious. Ormsby still has not given a reason for killing Jason DeHahn and 10 year old Jesse Ryan.
The Foster's Daily Democrat of New Hampshire reports Dover Police had been alerted that Ormsby was a suspect in the slayings and Maine State Police had asked for their help in the case. Ormsby reportedly came to the station on his own and while there, enough probable cause was found to issue a warrant from Maine. He was arrested for Fugitive from Justice charges in the station. Ormsby is being held in Stafford County Jail with no bail and will be arraigned on Tuesday. He can either agree to or fight extradition to Maine to face the three murder charges.
Many Amity residents question why none of the Strouts have been charged since they admitted their involvement in the savage murders. State Police say they are following the trail of evidence and if the evidence supports it; there may be more charges as progress is made in the investigation
7/08/2010
An article taken from the Daily Bulldog gives John Frary's account of the Thayne Ormsby he knew. It is rather long and you can view the entire statement at Daily Bulldog. The Bulldog is a Franklin County newspaper.
According to the article, Ormsby was one of three live in aides that worked for Frary, of Farmington, when he ran for Congress in 2008. Frery describes Ormsby as one of three homeless men he took in to help out on his campaign for Rep. Mike MIchaud's seat in 2008. Ormsby stayed on after the election while the other two men left. Ormsby talked about joining the Marines, but always found excuses for not going to see a recruiter. Frary claims he never suspected Ormsby could do something like this.
WLBZ 2 News carries an interview with Paulette Hanscom, an aunt of the slain Jason DeHahn. The family still feels that it would be nearly impossible for one person carry out the three murders.
"You have to keep going," said Hanscom, "and we are not going to fail Jason...We won't do that because Jason was special and that's what's going to keep us going. With emotion filling her voice, Hanscom described Jason DeHahn as "an every day person with a good heart and good soul."
Robert DeHahn, the victim's father, described his son as his best friend.
Ormsby was arrraigned in Rochester District Court in Dover, New Hampshire today via video feed from the Stafford County Jail. He does not have a lawyer and did not enter a plea on the fugitive from justice charge. Ormsby will be held without bail until an extradition hearing scheduled for July 16th.
7/09/2010
Amity residents, recovering from the shock and horror of the gruesome murder of two men and a 10 year old boy, are reacting with anger that none of the murder's accomplices have been arrested or charged.
Residents cannot understand why none of the Robert Strout family have been taken into custody after confessing to helping accused murderer Thayne Ormsby dispose of evidence and flee the state. The description by police of Robert Strout as a key witness in the crime has residents asking why they need Strout's testimony if the killer has confessed.
Many residents feel the Strout's are "in it up to their necks, all of them" and are expressing their outrage that nothing has been done with them. A common thread in the list of complaints is that the Strout's had so many chances to turn Ormsby over to law enforcement. Instead Robert Strout decided to share a coffee with a blood soaked Ormsby immediately after the murders.
Strout chose to follow Ormsby to Tamara Strout's home in Weston and left Ormsby there; a perfect opportunity to call 911. Why didn't Strout bring law enforcement back with him when he went back to Tamara Strout's house? If Ormsby left Tamara Strout's house in his underwear as Robert Strout recounts, where did he get the clothes he was seen wearing at the lot where the truck was burned?
Many feel Ormsby could not have known about the clearing he burned Ryan's pickup in. Someone had to show him that spot, a spot some say Strout knew of. Why didn't Strout bring the police with him when he came back to pick Ormsby up after the pickup was burned?
The Strouts let Ormsby sleep in a back room while the police were interviewing them. If they did not wish to speak aloud that Ormsby was the killer, they could have merely pointed to the room Ormsby was sleeping in. Every opportunity Strout had to turn over Ormsby and help solve the horrible crime; he chose to help the killer instead.
Ormsby stated, in his affadavit to New Hampshire Police, that it was Robert Strout who said he had to get out of the state. Robert Strout, after first lying to police, admitted to driving Ormsby to Robert Strout II's apartment in Dover New Hampshire. There Strout II's boyfriend provided a hair cut to hide the hair burned when Ormsby set fire to the pickup he took from Jeff Ryan's residence at the time of the murder.
"If a murderer threatened your family, why you would take the murder to your son's home?" one Amity resident questioned.
Another resident commented that it still breaks his heart to drive by the Ryan residence and see the toys in the yard and know he will never see the little boy play with them again.
Even though the killer has been caught and confessed, Amity residents are still dismayed that nothing has been done to the Strouts after their admitted involvement with the crime.
7/09/2010
According to the Associated Press, Thayne Ormsby waived extradition in Stafford County Court in Rochester, New Hampshire this morning. Maine State Police will return Ormsby to Maine as soon as possible.
The Aroostook Grand Jury has just been seated and Ormsby was charged with 3 counts of murder and one count of arson for burning Ryan's truck.
According to the Bangor Daily News, Strout has not been charged with any crime yet.
Amity residents will have to wait to see if any indictments are issued for Robert Strout and any others in the Strout family.
7/10/2010
On Wednesday June 23, 2010, I was assigned as primary investigator of the facts and circumstances surrounding a triple homicide in the town of Amity. Through my own investigation, and the efforts of other investigtors I have learned the following:
On Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 9:30 pm a 9-1-1 call was placed to Penobscot RCC. The call was transferred to Houlton RCC and the caller, Robert DeHahn, advised he went to 163 US Route One in the town of Amity to look for his son Jason DaHahn. Robert entered the residence and found ten Year old Jesse Ryan (D.O.B. 2/20/00) deceased. Tpr. Carman Lilley arrived and discovered the owner of the residence Jeffrey Ryan (D.O.B. 5/24/55) deceased in a small shed next to the residence. Based on information from Robert DeHahn, officers learned Jeffrey Ryan's 1989 Ford F-150 truck, bearing Maine passenger car 4155 RY, was missing from the scene as well as Jason DeHahn. An attempt to locate teletype was put out through NCIC for Jeffrey Ryan's Ford truck and Jason DeHahn. Sgt. Brian Harris and other units had responded and during a subsequent search of the property, Jason DeHahn (D.O.B. 7/10/79) was found deceased in a ditch at the end of the driveway. All three victims had apparent sharp force trauma injuries. Jason DeHahn also had an apparent encised wound to the neck.
On Wednesday June 23, 2010 Tpr. Carman Lilley spoke with Jeffrey Ryan's neighbor, Roland Mayberry who was staying in a camp out behind Jeff Ryan's residence. Roland told Tpr. Lilley he left his residence on Wednesday June 23, 2010 at approximately 7:30 am hours and observed Jeff's truck and car parked in his driveway. When Roland returned home from Houlton at approximately 10:00 am, he noticed Jeff's truck was no longer parked at the residence.
Interviews with family members and acquaintances were conducted. Jeffrey Ryan and Jesse Ryan were identified as residing at 163 US Route One. Jeff traveled to Lewiston, ME. on Saturday June 19, 2010 to pick up his son Jesse for a Father's Day visit. Jason DeHahn was identified as residing at 313 US Route One, with his wife and three children. Crystal DeHahn, Jason's wife, reported she last saw Jason at approximately 4:00 pm the previous evening, Tuesday, June 22, 2010, when Jason left on a four-wheel ATV to go work on it at his parent's residence located a short distance away. Jason did not return home and Crystal later called Jason's parents learning that Jason never showed up there. Crystal called Jeff Ryan's cell phone several times Tuesday night and Wednesday and did not make contact with Jeff.
By requesting cellular telephone records on Jeffrey Ryan's cellular phone through Verizon, we learned the following: Jeff Ryan's phone had been text messaging his ex-wife Jaime Merrill's cellular phone and, through a subsequent interview with Jamie, we learned she and Jesse Ryan were text messaging back and forth with the last message sent from Jesse at 12:41 pm on Tuesday, June 22, 2010. Jeff Ryan's cell phone placed a call to Vincente Burgos' phone at 5:36 pm on Tuesday, June 22, 2010. At 5:39 pm on Tuesday, Jeff Ryan's cell phone received a phone call from Vincente Burgos' phone. All subsequent incoming calls into Jeff Ryan's cell phone appear to have been unanswered based on cellular records and interviews.
6 On Thursday June 24, 2010 at 3:30 pm, detectives interviewed Vincente Burgos. Vincente reported that he spoke to Jeffrey Ryan via cellular phone on Burgos' way back from work on Tuesday June 22, 2010 at 5:39 hours and during that conversation stated he planned to stop by Ryan's residence for a visit. Vincente told detectives he stopped by the 163 US Route One Amity residence and had a beer with Jeff Ryan and Jason DeHahn at approximately 6:00 pm. During a follow up interview with Vincente on Sunday, June 27, 2010 detectives confirmed that Vincente was there on Tuesday June 22, 2010 and learned the beer Vincente drank while he was with Jeff Ryan was a Budweiser beer, in a can, and Vincente took the can with him when he left approximately fifteen minutes later. On Wednesday June 23, 2010, Vincente reported that he cashed a check at the Houlton Wal-Mart at 6:07 pm hours then traveled to 163 US Route One in Amity. Vincente reported that he went into the house and yelled, but no one was in sight or responded. Vincente said the dog was inside at the time. Vincente was the last identified person to see Jeff Ryan, Jason DeHahn and Jesse Ryan alive.
On Thursday June 24, 2010 at approximately 12:00 am Maine State Police Evidence Response Team technicians arrived and began to process the scene at 163 US Route 1 in Amity. Evidence technicians collected three Budweiser beer bottles located together on the kitchen counter inside the Ryan residence.
All three Budweiser bottles were approximately half full of liquid.
Numerous cigarette butts were collected from the scene, only one of which stood out to evidence technicians. One cigarette butt with a white filter was resting on the ash tray on the kitchen table, and appeared to have burned out leaving a long ash attached to the filter. The cigarette butt had a distinct brownish line around the filter and diamond pattern around the cigarette butt.
Many items of evidence were collected from the scene both inside and outside the residence.
On Friday June 25, 2010, autopsies were conducted on the bodies of Jeffrey Ryan, Jesse Ryan and Jason DeHahn. All three male victims were examined by Dr. Marguerite Dewitt at the Medical Examiners Office in Augusta. The manner of all three deaths was determined to be homicide caused by sharp force trauma.
On Saturday June 26, 2010, at approximately 11:28 am, Darren Cifelli reported he found a 1989 or 1990 Ford F-150 that had been burned on his property at 678 Bancroft Rd in Weston. Det. Darrin Crane responded to the property and confirmed that the burned truck was the missing 1989 Ford F-150 truck belonging to Jeff Ryan. State Police Evidence Response Team technicians and State Fire Marshalls Office Investigators responded and processed the scene. Footwear impressions were observed and documented on the ground near the driver's door. Brett Hanington, a local resident, stopped by the entrance to the burned truck scene and relayed information to investigators. A Budweiser beer bottle was located near the tree line adjacent to the truck and later determined to have the same 'born on' date and lot number as one collected on the wood pile at Jeff Ryan's residence. The truck was taken by MSP flatbed to the Crime Lab in Augusta for further processing.
On Saturday June 26, 2010 at 6:12 pm, Brett Hanington was interviewed by detectives. Brett reported that he and his girlfriend, Ashley Wardwell, were traveling the Bancroft Rd on Wednesday June 23, 2010 during the day, and observed a maroon, four wheel drive, Dodge extended cab pickup stopped at the entrance to the field road leading into where Jeff Ryan's burned truck would later be discovered. Brett reported he saw a male getting out of the passenger side of the Dodge pickup. The truck was parked along side of the roadway facing towards Danforth. The male got out of the truck and started down the grass opening and then veered to the right and went into the woods.
The male was carrying a square to oval shaped container out in front of him with two hands. It appeared the top of the container had been cut off and the male was walking as if he was trying not to spill the contents of the container.
The container was white to clear in color. Brett described the male as 5' 8" to 6'2" and 180 pounds or less. The male was wearing a baseball style hat, a grayish shirt and jeans. The male's hair was brownish and coming out from the sides of the hat. Detectives asked if Brett knew the male and Brett said he did not and only saw him from the back side. Brett did say that the man might look like Craig Strout but that he has not seen Craig in a long time. Brett stated the truck looked like a 1995 to 2000 style Dodge extended cab pickup.
He further stated it looked just like one owned by Robert Strout. The maroon Dodge truck took off towards Danforth, leaving the male behind walking up the field road towards where the Jeff Ryan truck was located on Saturday, June 26, 2010.
On Sunday June 27, 2010 at 1:09 pm, I learned from Forensic DNA Analyst Christine Waterhouse, that the evidence scene yielded a full DNA profile of an unknown male on one of the partially full Budweiser beer bottles on the kitchen counter and the white filtered cigarette butt with a long burned out ash resting on an ash tray on the kitchen table, referred to in paragraph 7 of this affidavit. The two other partially filled Budweiser beer bottles collected on the kitchen counter yielded DNA profiles belonging to victims Jeffrey Ryan on one bottle and Jason DeHahn on the other.
On Saturday June 27, 2010 at approximately 5:21 pm, Detective Darrin Crane, who has specialized training in evidence collection and is a member of the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team, went to the Robert and Joy Strout residence. Det. Crane observed footwear impressions in the dirt path leading to the residence doorway. Det. Crane had previously observed similar footwear impressions next to Jeff Ryan's burned truck at the scene on the Bancroft Rd.
On Sunday June 27, 2010 at 2:45 pm, Detective Darrin Crane learned from an interview with Robert Strout of Orient, that he went to Sanford by himself on Friday, June 25, 2010 and returned on Saturday June 26, 2010. During a simultaneous interview with Taunya Strout, one of Robert Strout's daughters, Det. Dale Keegan learned that a Thayne Ormsby had been staying at the Robert and Joy Strout residence in Orient for several weeks. Detectives learned that Thayne Ormsby is a son of Maria Ormsby who is a long time friend of Tamara Strout, Taunya's twin sister. Taunya told detectives that her father's recent trip downstate was to take Thayne to stay with Robert (Bobby) Strout II in Dover New Hampshire. In follow-up conversation, Robert Strout of Orient, admitted to Detective Crane that he actually did take Thayne to Dover New Hampshire and the purpose of the trip was to take Thayne to Bobby's.
On Monday June 28, 2010 at approximately 1:00 pm the Jeff Ryan pick-up truck was processed at the crime lab in Augusta by Maine State Police Evidence Technicians, Crime Lab Staff and Fire Marshall's Office Investigators. Evidence was collected from the truck. Fire Marshall's Office Investigators determined that the truck fire started in the driver's side of the interior cab most likely originating as a result of human element.
On Tuesday June 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm, detectives spoke with Mike Kinnon of Danforth, who reported that on Wednesday June 23, 2010 between 12:20 12:30 pm, he observed gray smoke coming from the same general area where the burned truck was eventually located. On Tuesday June 29, 2010 at 12:24pm, detectives spoke to Keith Potter of Weston who drives truck for an oil delivery company. Keith was driving on the Bancroft Rd returning from Wytopitloc on Wednesday June 23, 2010 at approximately 12:00 pm, when he observed very black smoke in the same general area where the burned truck was eventually located. Keith described the smoke as similar to that of burning tires. Keith proceeded to Danforth where he switched trucks and drove back up the Bancroft Rd at approximately 12:30 pm. Keith again observed smoke and this time he pinpointed the location as the corner of the field where the burned truck belonging to Jeff Ryan was eventually located. Keith explained that at the time, he suspected the land owners were burning brush.
On Tuesday June 29, 2010 at approximately 1:30 pm, Thayne Ormsby was interviewed in Dover, NH by Maine State Police Detectives Dale Keegan and Adam Stoutamyer. Thayne was located by detectives in Dover, New Hampshire. This residence is located in Strafford County in the State of New Hampshire. This residence is inhabited by Robert (Bobby) Strout II. During the interview Thayne stated that he smokes Largo pipe tobacco and that he rolls in Gambler tubes. Thayne told detectives he came to Orient to stay with Robert and Joy Strout just after Memorial Day 2010, and left when Robert Strout drove Thayne to Dover, NH on Friday June 25, 2010. Thayne told detectives that Tuesday June 22, 2010, Wednesday June 23, 2010, and Thursday June 24,2010 he was with the family at Robert and Joy Strout's residence in Orient. Thayne told detectives his plan was to move up to Tamara Strout's 214 Springer Rd., Weston residence and fix it up to live there with Tamara's daughter, Mariah Ryan. Thayne told detectives he drove Robert's truck once to the Weston dump. Thayne told detectives he only met Jeff Ryan once when Jeff stopped by the Robert Strout residence for fifteen or twenty minutes approximately two to three weeks ago. Thayne also told detectives the only time he ever went to Jeff Ryan's house was about two to three weeks ago.
While there he stated he drank a bottle of Budweiser beer in the kitchen and out on the porch. Thayne told detectives he had never met Jason DeHahn or Jeff's son. Thayne said he left the beer bottle in Jeff Ryan's sink. Thayne told detectives that on Thursday June 24, 2010 he was in the back bedroom asleep while detectives conducted interviews at the Robert and Joy Strout residence in Orient. Thayne voluntarily gave detectives his DNA and fingerprints. At the conclusion of the interview Thayne Ormsby returned to the Dover NH address with Robert Strout II.
Thayne Orsmby advised detectives that if they needed to find him, he would be staying at the Robert Strout II apartment.
On Wednesday June 30, 2010 at 9:37 am, Forensic Scientist Cindy Homer from the Maine State Police Crime Lab informed detectives that the inked prints of Thayne Ormsby, obtained the day before, match a latent print developed on the Budweiser beer bottle with the unknown male DNA which was collected from the kitchen counter in Jeffrey Ryan's residence.
On Thursday July 1, 2010, at 10:29 am, Forensic DNA Analyst Christine Waterhouse of the Maine State Police Crime Lab informed me that DNA of Thayne Ormsby is a match to the unknown male profile on the Budweiser beer bottle collected from the kitchen counter in Jeffrey Ryan's residence as well as a match to the unknown male profile found on the white diamond pattern cigarette butt in the ashtray on the kitchen table.
On Friday July 2, 2010, at 11:20 am, Detectives Darrin Crane and Josh Haines interviewed Robert Strout of Orient. Robert said that on Tuesday or Wednesday June 22, 2010 or June 23 2010. Thayne Ormsby was staying at the Orient address with Robert and Joy Strout. Robert said he was sitting on his porch when Thayne came through the woods with his bike and went out behind the Strout residence. Thayne asked Robert for a cup of coffee. Robert took the cup of coffee out to Thayne and saw that Thayne's shirt, pants and shoes were covered in blood. Thayne told Robert that he killed Jeffrey Ryan and then said he "killed them all". Thayne told Robert that if Robert did not help him he would kill Robert's family. Thayne told Robert that he took Jeffrey's truck and they had to get rid of it. Robert followed Thayne in Jeffrey's truck to the 214 Springer Rd. Orient residence owned by Tamara Strout. Thayne parked Jeffrey's truck out behind Tamara's residence and entered her residence still wearing the blood soaked clothing. Robert said he left Thayne there and returned to his Orient residence. Robert said he later returned to the Springer Rd residence and Thayne came outside wearing nothing but his underwear. Robert said he was in his maroon Dodge truck and he followed Thayne in Jeffrey's truck to the field road on the Bancroft Rd.
Thayne later told Robert that he needed to go back and burn the truck because there was too much evidence inside. Robert drove Thayne back to Jeffrey's truck on the Bancroft Rd and parked by the mouth of the field road. Robert said Thayne ran back into where Jeffrey's truck had been concealed and moments later Robert heard a "whoosh". Robert said Thayne came running back and told Robert "it's done". Robert said Thayne later told Robert he needed to get rid of the knife. Robert drove Thayne South from his Orient residence and stopped on Route One near a bog where Thayne got out and threw a knife into the water on the East side of the roadway. Thayne gave Robert further details about the incident saying he "knifed Jeff in the wood shed". Thayne told Robert he went back into the residence and Jason and Jesse were sitting on the couch. Thayne told Robert that Jason ran outside and Thayne chased after him and "knifed him". Thayne told Robert he punched Jason and "knifed him again then drug his body to the brook". Thayne told Robert that he went back inside and Jesse was running around. Thayne told Robert that he "knifed Jesse in the back bedroom".
At the time of preparing this affidavit Det. Dale Keegan is currently interviewing Thayne Ormsby at the police department in Dover New Hampshire. Thus far Thayne told Det. Keegan that he killed Jeffrey Ryan in the wood shed at the Jeff Ryan residence because Jeff Ryan is a drug dealer. The last information relayed to us is that Thayne told Detective Keegan he burned the bloody clothing he was wearing in a furnace at the at the 214 Springer Rd Weston residence owned by Tamara Strout. Thayne also told Det. Keegan that he in fact did kill Jason DeHahn and Jesse Ryan by stabbing them to death. Thayne told Detective Keegan that when he first arrived back at the Robert Strout residence in Orient after the killings, Robert Stout told him not to come any closer. After he told Robert Strout what had happened at the Jeff Ryan residence, Robert Strout told Thayne he needed to get out of state. Thayne told Det. Keegan that he never threatened Robert Strout or any member of the Strout family. Thayne said he burned his face and hair while lighting the truck on fire and, once he arrived in Dover, NH, Robert (Bobby) Strout II's boyfriend gave him a haircut.
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