7/12/2010

According to WAGM News Source 8, Robert Strout told the Associated Press that Ormsby said he killed Ryan over a $10,000.00 drug debt that Ryan supposedly owed to Ormsby's father.

Ormsby had been staying at the Robert Strout's Route One residence on the Orient/Amity townline and returned there after killing 55 year old Jeffery Ryan, Ryan's 10 year old son Jesse, and Jason DeHahn, a long time friend of Ryan's and an Amity native. In earlier reports, Robert Strout stated that Ormsby said he had killed Ryan because Ryan was drug dealer. He gave no motive for killing 10 year old Jesse and 30 year old Jason DeHahn.

Robert Strout is said to have taken Ormsby to Tamara Strout's house in Weston to clean up after the murders and burn his bloody clothes.Tamara Strout had told police that she and Ryan had rekindled their relationship recently and he had asked her to marry him. A statement that Ryan's 35 year old son, Shannon Ryan of Texas, was quick to dismiss.

Ormsby claimed he planned to fix up Tamara Strout's home and live there with Ryan's 16 year old daughter Mariah and her mother Tamara Strout. Tamara Strout has been described as a long time friend of Ormsby's mother Maria Ormsby. Ormsby's father has not stepped forward in any way.

Strout returned to Weston and picked up Ormsby at his daughter Tamara's house; then followed Ormsby to the Cifelli lot in Weston where Ormsby burned Ryan's pickup. Ormsby had stolen the pickup at the time of the murders.

Two days later, Strout drove Ormsby to Robert Strout II's apartment in Dover N.H. where Strout II's boyfriend gave Ormsby a haircut to hide his burned hair. Ormsby was found at Strout II's and called in for questioning.

Robert Strout claims Ormsby had threatened his family if he did not help him cover up the crime and escape.

Ormsby was returned to Houlton today where he will remain in the Aroostook County Jail. Ormsby's next court appearance will be Wednesday, July 21, in Houlton where he will be appointed an attorney.

7/13/2010

Today's Bangor Daily News lists the elder Robert Strout's lengthy criminal background which goes all the way back to 1966. While the two of the murder victims had minor brushes with the law, 10 year old Jesse Ryan was an innocent.

Strout's early convictions include a felony for taking a motor vehicle without consent and served three months in prison in Windham. Misdemeanors for interferring with an officer and disorderly conduct. These offenses occurred in the Ellsworth and Bar Harbor area.

His criminal record with the Department of Inland fisheries and Wildlife is much more extensive. Strout was convicted of trespass, criminal treapass, discharging a firearm near a dwelling, hunting from a public way, shooting from a motor vehicle or boat, reckless hunting, illegal possession of deer, and even littering. While Strout was mostly fined for his criminal activities in the Ellsworth and Aurora areas; he did have to serve some time in jail in 1986 for illegally possesing deer.

Although first reports listed Tamara Strout as residing in Addison, local residents say she has been living at the Weston residence.

The Lewiston Sun Journal reported that Ormsby told Strout he went to the Ryan home to collect a $10,000 drug debt owed to his father. Ormsby first claimed he killed Ryan because he was a drug dealer. Neither Ormsby's mother or father have stepped forward with any comment on their son's crimes.

It appears many charges could apply to the Strout's for their assistance in covering up this vicious crime.

As the saying goes, "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive" seems to apply perfectly to the Strout famly's situation.

Ormsby's first court appearance will be July 21 at 1 pm at the Aroostook County Courthouse in Houlton. He will be appointed a lawyer at that time.

7/14/2010

Thayne Ormsby made his first appearance in Aroostook County Superior Court before Justice E. Allen Hunter via closed circuit video according to the Bangor Daily News.

Ormsby stated he had no money for a lawyer and Justice Hunter ordered he be held without bail until next week when a hearing will be set. Attorney Jeff Pickering was appointed to represent Ormsby for Tuesday's hearing only. Justice Hunter said a bail hearing will be held within 5 days. District Attorney Neale Adams, who watched the proceedings from Caribou, said that it would be likely that Ormsby's court appointed attorney will ask for a continuance on the bail hearing. Ormsby had already filled out the necessary paperwork for a court appointed attorney.

p>A major change in the case was noted that the victims were murdered on the 22nd of July not the 23rd as first thought. All three victims were last seen alive about 6 pm on the 22nd. A neighbor reported he saw Ryan's truck in the driveway at 7:30 am on the 23rd. When he returned at 10 am the truck was gone.

Despite so many conflicting stories, which change which ever way the wind blows, police are still working very hard to put all the pieces of this puzzle together to get a complete picture of the tragedy.

Ormsby will be arrainged on July 21st at 1 pm.

7/15/2010

Shannon Ryan, son of murder victim Jeff Ryan, said in an interview with the Bangor Daily News that he still does not believe Ormsby acted alone.This echoes the sentiments of the DeHahn family who also believe that one person could not have overpowered their son, Jason DeHahn, let alone both men together.

Ryan, who visited his father's home to gather some personal items and mementos, noted signs of a struggle in the home. He staunchly denies that his father was a drug dealer as first claimed by Ormsby and Robert Strout and hearing these accusations about his father from a murderer have been especially hard.

Ryan's father took Vicodin for years for his medical condition, but did not sell drugs. A background check on the elder Ryan showed absolutely no history of any drug related offenses. Robert Strout later claimed that Ormsby committed the murders because Ryan owed a $10,000 drug related debt to a third party. One report claimed that the debt was owed to Ormsby's father.

Shannon Ryan firmly believes that his father would have never let anyone harm Jesse with out a fight. Ryan says that while there were pictures of him and Mariah in the home, anyone could tell that raising Jesse was Jeff's life. He also questions how Jesse was killed. He wonders if Jesse was asleep when the incident began, that would explain why the child did not escape out the back door.

While in Amity, Ryan walked his father's property and remarked that things just don't add up. He cannot understand why his father was in a woodshed that contained old tools and unusable junk.

Jamie Merrill, mother of 10 year old Jesse Ryan, has also been to the Route One home to collect some of her son's things.

Shannon Ryan grew up mostly in Massachusetts, but came to Maine to spend summers with his father and lived in Weston and attended East Grand High School for two years. He does not plan to attend Ormsby's hearing on the 21st, but believes family members will be there. He may come to Maine to attend future court hearings as the case progresses.

7/20/2010

Many people wish they were as close to their grown children as Robert and Vicki DeHahn were.

Their children and grandchildren lived near enough to them to be daily visitors. Bobby and his two sons worked and traveled together hanging sheetrock. They exemplified the family that worked together and played together. Until that fateful day in June when stranger ripped a hole in the fabric of their family. A hole that can never be mended, made whole, or forgotten.

Three small children, Skyler, Jake, and Isabella no longer have their loving and doting father. A devoted wife, Crystal, lost her hard working life partner, and a loving father and mother, Bobby and Vicki, lost their son in what amounted to the blink of an eye.

What Jason DeHahn learned from his parents about working hard and having a happy family he was passing on to his children. The DeHahn family were outdoor enthusiasts who hunted, fished, and rode snowmobiles and ATVs together. Jason was passing his passion for the outdoors on to his children as it was passed down to him. Jason loved his family and friends.

Today's Bangor Daily News has an interview with Peggy Thiboutot, Jason's aunt. She still finds it hard to believe her nephew was murdered and cannot express how it has affected their family.

Thiboutot is thankful that Jason did not take his 9 year old daughter, Skyler, with him that fateful day. Skyler and 10 year old Jesse Ryan, who was murdered with his father Jeff Ryan and Jason DeHahn, were good friends and frequently played together since they were so close in age.

Thiboutot can no longer look at Amity as the peacful, quiet little town where people did not even bother to lock their doors. Even life long residents are wondering what has happened to their town where the biggest crime in ages was the former town manager getting caught stealing town funds. No one could imagine such violence as the senseless murder of two men and a small boy could ever happen here.

Tomorrow, July 21st, the monster who has admitted to killing the three Amity residents will be arraigned at 1 pm. Many residents have expressed their desire to be in the cortroom to show their support for the DeHahn family and hope justice does not take two years as it did in Darrell William's theft of town funds case.

7/21/2010

Ormsby sat quietly in Houlton Court this afternoon flanked by seven deputies and court officers. He turned and stared as the family and friends of the victims filed into the courtroom. He stared placidly at the crowd as anxious court officials prowled the room looking for cell phones or pagers.

Ormsby, sporting several days growth of beard, kept looking at the courtroom full of supporters and blinking as if not believing so many people would care. He carefully looked away from the crowd of cameras and reporters that were lined up across the room from him.

Ormsby was represented by two lawyers, Dunleavy and LeClaire, both of Presque Isle.When asked if Ormsby understood the charges against him, Dunleavy responded that Ormsby did.

Ormsby only spoke when Justice E. Allen Hunter asked for his plea on all counts. Ormsby leaned forward to the microphone and softly said, "Not Guilty". A slight gasp of disbelief from the crowd caused court officials to stand up and take notice.