Statewide Search Intensifies for Man Accused of Killing His Father and Burning the Home

The Thomas Ryan manhunt stretched into the weekend as New York State Police pursued a 32-year-old suspect accused of killing his father and setting the family home on fire in an apparent attempt to hide the crime.

Investigators say Ryan is known to spend time around Plattsburgh in Clinton County, roughly 300 miles north of where the killing occurred. He is considered armed and dangerous.

What Happened in Greenville

The case began Thursday when firefighters and investigators responded to a blaze at a residence on Greenville Turnpike in Greenville, Orange County.

Once the flames were knocked down, crews searching the property found the body of a man inside.

A preliminary examination determined the fire had been set deliberately. State Police are treating the death as a homicide.

The victim was identified as 70-year-old Robert Ryan, the suspect’s father. According to law enforcement sources, he had retired to Orange County, while the rest of the family remained on Long Island.

A Suspect With No Local Ties

One detail has shaped the search considerably: Thomas Ryan had no apparent connection to the area where the crime occurred.

State Police said Saturday that he was not living with his father at the time and has no other known current ties to the Greenville community. That absence of local roots means investigators cannot rely on the usual assumption that a suspect will return to familiar ground nearby.

Instead, they are working with a far wider map.

Investigators determined that Ryan has led a transient lifestyle, moving between numerous shelters across New York State. Officers have followed up at those locations and say they continue to pursue every tip and reported sighting as it arrives.

Investigators are also examining Ryan’s mental health history, according to law enforcement sources.

Piecing Together His Movements

Much of the current effort centers on reconstructing where the suspect went after the fire.

Investigators are conducting an extensive video canvass, working outward from the crime scene and collecting footage from surrounding properties and businesses to build a timeline.

Ring doorbell video obtained by ABC News appears to capture Ryan running away from the burning house.

Extra State Police patrols have been assigned to Greenville and neighboring communities, both to reassure residents and to increase the chance of an encounter if he returns to the area.

A Family in Grief

Behind the search is a family absorbing an almost unimaginable loss.

Stephanie Coiro, the victim’s daughter, spoke to ABC News about her father in terms that made clear how much he meant to those around him.

She described him as a pillar of both their family and every community he belonged to, someone who made people feel welcome and offered help whenever it was needed, often going beyond what was asked. She said he had more character in his pinky than most people carry in their whole bodies, and that he did not deserve what happened to him.

What Police Want the Public to Know

Authorities have released a detailed description in hopes that someone recognizes him.

Ryan stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He was last seen near Greenville Turnpike wearing black sweatpants and a black t-shirt.

Investigators believe he may be driving a 2016 gray Toyota Prius bearing New York license plate HNH-7671.

He is also known to travel by train, and police are coordinating with rail transportation partners to monitor that possibility. That detail widens the search area substantially, since rail access connects Orange County to much of the state and beyond.

A Direct Appeal to Greenville Residents

State Police have made a specific request of people living near the scene.

Residents are asked to review any home surveillance footage recorded from approximately 6 p.m. Thursday through the overnight hours that followed. Even brief clips capturing a vehicle or a figure passing by could help investigators fill gaps in the timeline.

Anyone who spots something unusual in their footage is urged to contact State Police right away rather than assuming someone else has already reported it.

How to Report Information

Police have been emphatic on one point: do not approach him.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact New York State Police Troop F Communications at (845) 344-5300, or call 911 in an emergency.

Tips can also be submitted by email to FBCICrimeTips@troopers.ny.gov.

Why Public Tips Matter in Cases Like This

Manhunts involving transient suspects depend heavily on ordinary people noticing ordinary things.

Someone without a fixed address leaves a different kind of trail than someone with a home, a job, and a routine. Shelter check-ins, gas station stops, parked vehicles in unusual places, and passing faces on station platforms become the primary evidence.

That is why the vehicle description and license plate have been circulated so widely, and why police are asking residents across multiple regions to stay alert rather than focusing attention on Greenville alone.

Where Things Stand

As of the latest update, Ryan remains at large. Patrols continue, the video canvass is expanding, and coordination with rail partners is ongoing.

For the family of Robert Ryan, the wait continues alongside their grief. For communities across upstate New York, the request is straightforward: stay aware, check your cameras, and pick up the phone if something looks wrong.