A Triple Murder in Maine
For this case, I watched an episode of Signs of a Psychopath. It’s season 1 episode 4, titled ‘Where Evil Grows.’
Three people are found dead in a small town in Maine.
The Crime
This case takes place in the small town of Amity, Maine, which in 2010, had a population of 238.
On July 2, 2010, a 20-year-old suspect named Thayne Ormsby, was found in Dover, New Hampshire, and brought into the police station. The police told him that he wasn't under arrest. Thayne truly thought he was there to help with the investigation, however, he their only suspect.
Thayne was suspected of murdering three people on July 22, 2010. The victims found were 55-year-old Jeffrey Ryan, his 10-year-old son Jesse, and Jeffrey’s friend and neighbor, 30-year-old Jason Dehahn.
The three victims were found stabbed to death in or near Jeffrey’s trailer. They had been discovered on July 23, when Jason’s brother called 911. He had gone to the home, when Jason didn’t return home from the previous day.
Jeffrey Ryan, Jesse, and Jason Dehahn
Jeffrey and Jesse
Jeffrey’s trailer
The Psychopath
Thayne Ormsby had been living with Jeffrey’s friends, Bob and Joy Strout. It’s believed that there was some abuse throughout Thayne’s life. He was also a high school dropout.
Jeffrey knew them because he had once been in a relationship with their daughter. (Some reports say that Jeffrey and the Strout’s were friends, some say there was animosity between them).
Thayne met Jeffrey shortly before the murders, and told the police that the two of them got along really well.
On the day of the murders, Thayne said he went over to Jeffrey’s. Jeffrey was out mowing the lawn, but stopped, and invited him inside for a beer.
Thayne initially told the police that he had never been at Jeffrey’s house before, but later said, he had been there maybe a week or two before the murders.
Thayne tried to change the story multiple times during the interview, even talking about Tolkien, and The Hobbit. The police kept bringing the murders back up, and eventually asked Thayne if he had ever met Jason. Thayne said no. That was when the police told Thayne that his DNA and fingerprints were on a beer bottle in the trailer.
Thayne knew that he was caught, and decided to tell the police the “truth.”
Thayne’s Story
Thayne said he “obviously wasn’t planning on getting caught.” He said he had planned the murders, because of what Jeffrey did to other people.
Thayne claimed that Jeffrey was a drug dealer. Thayne said he smoked weed, but didn’t believe in drugs. The police have never found any evidence that back up Thayne’s claims about Jeffrey.
Thayne said he planned to kill only Jeffrey, but “unfortunately, Jason and Jesse were there.”
Thayne told Jeffrey that he planned to camp out for the winter in the forest. Jeffrey said he had some nails that Thayne could use. They walked out to the shed, Jeffrey bent over to show him the nails, and that is when Thayne stabbed him.
Thayne then went back into the home, stabbed Jason, and left him to die on the couch. Jesse had been playing video games, and ran to the back room. Thayne chased him, and stabbed Jesse five times.
Thayne walked back into the living room, but Jason was gone. Jason was able to escape, and run down the road, to try to get help. Thayne caught up to him, and slashed his throat, two or three times.
Thayne then took Jeffrey’s 1989 Ford F-150 truck, which he later set on fire. He also tossed the murder weapon into a bog, in the nearby town of Orient, which police later recovered.
Thayne said he had planned to kill Jeffery several days before he actually did it, and that he was feeling courageous that day.
When the police told Thayne that he was being charged, Thayne asked if he could finish his coffee and cigarette first. They obviously said no.
Thayne Ormsby’s mugshot from his initial arrest
The Conviction
Thayne pleaded not guilty, and later pleaded not guilty due to insanity.
In April 2012, Thayne was convicted of three counts of murder and arson. He was sentenced to life plus 15 years for arson.
There is no parole in Maine, so Thayne Ormsby will spent the rest of his life behind bars.
Other
Robert ‘Bob’ Strout was arrested for hindering apprehension and arson. He admitted to helping Thayne set Jeffrey’s car on fire. He said Thayne had threatened to hurt him and his family, if he didn’t help. Robert was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Robert Strout
Thayne has tried to overturn his conviction. The petition stated that he was not given a lawyer, even after he asked the police for one. Thayne’s conviction was upheld by the United States District Court.
All three appeals have been denied.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This case is just awful. Truly, three innocent people’s lives were taken that day. There has never been any evidence that Jeffrey was a drug dealer. He had just wanted to spend time with his friend and his son. Thayne thought that he was doing the world a favor by being a vigilante of some sort. When in reality, he’s an awful human being, who is right where he belongs: rotting in a jail cell.
He didn’t show much emotion in the interrogation room or at his sentencing, and he probably isn’t showing much emotion in prison either.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amity,_Maine
https://thecinemaholic.com/jeffrey-ryan-murder-where-is-thayne-ormsby-now/
https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-worst-murder-case-in-the-history-of-maine-506b583daed2
https://www.wabi.tv/2020/09/29/convicted-murderer-appeals-to-states-high-court-for-third-time/
https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/thayne-ormsby-1
http://www.townofamity.org/amity-triple-murder
http://murderpedia.org/male.O/o/ormsby-thayne.htm
