Daughter identifies Greenville homicide victim, says family feared tragedy involving son
Robert Ryan, 70, is remembered as a giving father who never gave up on his son as State Police search for 32-year-old Thomas David Ryan.
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The daughter of a 70-year-old man killed in a homicide in Greenville is identifying her father and sharing new details about her family’s decadeslong struggle to get mental health help for her brother — the man State Police are now searching for in connection with the killing.
Stephanie Coiro tells News 12 the victim was her father, Robert Ryan, and the suspect, 32-year-old Thomas David Ryan, is her brother.
Coiro says her brother has a history of severe mental illness, including schizoaffective and borderline personality disorders, and that her family had struggled for decades to get him help. She says he had been homeless and living in shelters in New York City before recently obtaining affordable housing in the Brooklyn area.
“My dad was never going to give up on his son,” Coiro said. “We were all afraid of this happening one day and unfortunately it happened.”
State Police say Thomas Ryan is wanted in connection with the homicide Thursday night on Greenville Turnpike. The investigation began after a fire at the home.
Coiro says her brother had previously served time at Rikers Island.
She says her father lived alone at the Greenville home following a divorce after 30 years of marriage. His girlfriend lives on Long Island.
Before retiring from the state, Robert Ryan worked at Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center and Kings Park Psychiatric Center, according to his daughter. She says he spent his career working as a superintendent of maintenance.
“Dad was an incredible person and didn’t deserve this,” Coiro said. “He was so giving.”
News 12 also spoke exclusively with a neighbor who says he called 911 after seeing the fire and rushed into the burning home in an attempt to help, but was forced back by the heavy smoke and flames.
"I rushed over and went inside the house. The kitchen was in flames," says Dylan Acevedo. "I tried to call out, but no one answered and I had to get out of there and then the whole house lit on fire."
Neighbors provided News 12 with surveillance video, shared with the family’s permission, that appears to show Thomas Ryan carrying chopped wood toward the home in a garbage can before the fire and running away from the property after the fire was ignited.
Neighbors also shared exclusive images showing the fire and police investigating the property.
So far it's not clear if the victim died in the fire.
State Police say Thomas Ryan is believed to be armed and dangerous. Police say he was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a black T-shirt and may be driving a gray 2016 Toyota Prius with New York license plate HNH-7671.
Anyone who sees Ryan is urged not to approach him and to call 911. State Police have also asked anyone with information to contact State Police Middletown BCI at 845-344-5300.
