A dayslong search for an “armed and dangerous” New York fugitive came to an end Sunday after authorities captured a man accused of killing his 70-year-old father and then setting fire to the family’s home, according to state police.
Thomas David Ryan, 32, was arrested in the Gilboa area of Schoharie County, New York State Police said. Investigators had been looking for him since Thursday evening, when his father, Robert Ryan, was discovered dead inside a burning home in Greenville. Authorities said the blaze was intentionally set.
Officials have not yet explained how Ryan was located or shared specifics about the circumstances of his arrest. Police said additional details are expected to be released at a later time.
Thomas David Ryan, 32, was taken into custody in the Gilboa area of Schoharie County, New York State Police said. (New York State Police)
The investigation began around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, when troopers responded to reports of a house fire on Greenville Turnpike in Orange County.
Once firefighters brought the flames under control, crews found a man dead inside the residence. Police later confirmed the victim was 70-year-old Robert Ryan.
As investigators examined the scene, they concluded the fire had been deliberately ignited and began handling Robert Ryan’s death as a homicide. The search for his son soon followed, drawing support from the FBI and law enforcement agencies across New York.
Firefighters battled a blaze at this home on Greenville Turnpike in Greenville, N.Y. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (FOX5 New York)
Ryan did not live with his father and had no other known ties to the Greenville area at the time, according to State Police.
Investigators believed Ryan left in his father’s gray 2016 Toyota Prius. As the search widened, police repeatedly described him as “armed and dangerous” and urged anyone who spotted him to call 911 rather than approach him.
Police combed through surveillance video from homes and businesses, trying to trace Ryan’s movements after the killing. Residents in Greenville and nearby communities were asked to check footage recorded from about 6 p.m. Thursday through the overnight hours.
Police have not disclosed a possible motive or what charges Thomas Ryan faces. (New York State Police)
Police said Ryan had stayed at shelters across New York and was known to frequent the Plattsburgh area, more than 200 miles north of Greenville. Investigators checked places where he had previously stayed and worked with rail operators because Ryan was known to travel by train.
The investigation eventually involved the FBI, NYPD, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Middletown and Port Jervis, along with several State Police investigative units and other state and county agencies.
Police have not disclosed a possible motive, how Robert Ryan died or what charges Thomas Ryan faces.
