What do you see? Greedy, heartless. A big waste. Four lives were destroyed and many more lives in a sort of ripple effect beyond them damaged forever. It could still be used for good purposes. Cuz I know a lot I know a lot about the state. I know how I can help. Tell me the technique you used to stab. Was there anything significant the way you stabbed them? Self-knowledge. It was just mental focus. On June 23rd, 2010, Jason DeHaan's brother was about to make a horrifying discovery that would change the entire town of Amity. He went to Jeffrey Ryan's house trying to find his brother who had not returned home the previous night. But what started as a routine search quickly took a terrifying turn. On his third visit, he shined a flashlight into Ryan's trailer only to see an alarming amount of blood. He immediately called his father. When they entered the trailer together, the father stumbled upon a horrifying scene. 10-year-old Jesse Ryan's body inside the trailer. His father, Jeffrey Ryan, had been found outside in a shed. And Jason DeHaan was in the bushes on the Ryan property. When the cops arrived at the scene, they couldn't believe their eyes. They described the crime as so shocking in its violence and brutality that it almost takes your breath away. Thing that you worry about in a case like this is this is so horrific. Is the jury thinking like I must be nuts. Like I must be crazy. Like I must be insane. The investigators quickly zeroed in on an outsider in this happy little town of Amity. 20-year-old Thayne Ormsby. We have a chalkboard here, so if we need to draw anything out, you can help us out and and things like that cuz you know the family better than anybody, right? I'll do my best I can. I don't know that I know him better than anybody, but him better than I do. That's what I mean. Perhaps. You know, you know, so You know, we talked to a lot of people, you know, we talked to uh uh Tamara obviously and Mariah and all the detectives. Who? Tamara. Yeah, I guess it was like criminal trespass or something. She was mouthing off I guess. She's like that. Yeah, I talked to Tonya. Tonya? And I didn't know she had a twin sister until Tonya told me. The funniest part is I'm going across there and I said, "Well, go talk to Tonya." I asked you that. And I look at her and here she comes. And I go, "Hey, how you doing?" She goes, "Hi, I'm Tonya, I'm the twin sister." And I'm like, "I didn't know you had a twin sister." So, that was pretty comical. So, uh So, we got to talking to her and she's she's a piece of work. You know. Oh, yeah. She thinks you're gorgeous by the way. I know. Oh, really? She thinks And she hasn't changed at all since I was young. I can remember her when I was young and she's just the same as she was. Really? Very fiery, very Yeah. you know, energetic usually. Yeah, she was really on spin drive, you know. But she tells me that she either is or wasn't a cop. I got a little vague there. It could be like a cop. And I would drink for a while and she was really on spin drive, you know. Right. But I said, "Well, tell me about babe." This is before I met you, you know. "Oh, he's gorgeous." He's She says, "Gorgeous." I got this zit right here. Oh, I guess I popped it. Uh-huh. Yeah, and I'm trying to get a job. Yeah, really? That's always fun. You know, you get a big zit. Yeah, I'm still dealing with acne, right? Yeah. Well, it was And it's just typical, you know, like when it's yours or me or something like that. It's It's really I guess it's huge, but it's not, you know. You think it's huge, you know. So, it's uh It's interesting, you know. And you know, you make me Guys like you make me feel old because I've been in the this criminal division here for 20 years. And you're 20. Oh, what? You don't want to mix these up. You've been working this Huh? I hope I didn't mix these up. Yeah, you'll know where yours is. No, no, I'll find I'll find me out. I'll be going to bathroom in like 2 minutes. Yeah, no, this is right. Is it? Good. Good. I'll just run and get you a towel to show you yourself. Get my best guess. Yeah, yeah, I should have warned you about that. That machine is pretty hot. Yeah, they can adjust the temperature on that thing. They got it cranked right up, so. So, he's Dale Keegan and you're Adam Stotlemeyer. Adam Stotlemeyer. Yeah. And you're from New Hampshire. Kittery. Kittery. Yeah, practically New Hampshire. Actually, you say that, I was born at the hospital in Portsmouth, so. Okay. So, my first few days of my life, yeah, I was New Hampshire. Yeah. I told one of my one of the detectives I used to work with who had since retired and I told him I had always told him I was originally from Kittery, I don't kid everybody, and I said, "You know, but I was actually born at the hospital in Portsmouth." And he said, "Oh, you lied to me all these years. So, you're not a Mainer." I was like, "Oh, it's a few days, come on." Cut me some slack, you know. You know, so, anyway. Yeah. How you like the rough uh carpentry, you know, the framing and stuff like that? It's I do like it. I do like it. I helped put up the ridge pole and put up the rafters and yeah. we did all that, the sheathing and the roofing. I was a big part of the roof. It's interesting to see it as it develops now as it goes up. Ever heard of a man named David Lee? He's famous for his work. Oh, really? And he's built 26 of these houses that are castles, but they're made with oak and shingles. He hand makes them. And uh I guess he tests them with a .45 caliber pistol. Oh, really? And it they don't go through. Yeah. So, it's a castle. Yeah. It's bizarre to see Thayne talking to the detectives like they're close friends, especially since he's a suspect in a triple homicide. The investigation has moved past the who did it phase. It's now about understanding three main things. His motive, personality, and the contrast. Despite what you've watched so far, you should get a sense of Thayne's true personality directly through him. This case here was told to us at the beginning here. What type of person you think would do this? No, I haven't given that much thought. But, I mean, cold. Someone would have to be cold. Someone would have to be uh greedy mainly? I don't know. Someone would have to be just heartless. I mean, I never met uh his son Mhm. or Mariah's little brother, but who could do that? Who could kill Well, you never know. We never Biggest thing is we don't understand his reasons. I mean, there's a reason for everything, you know? And mistakes happen. That's the why even a computer has a delete key, you know? Mistakes happen, wrong place, wrong time, uh panic, self-defense, who knows? You're well aware of the Constitution and all that stuff, right? Well aware of the Constitution. You're well aware of the Constitution, your rights, and all that stuff. Do you understand you're not under arrest? Yes, I understand. If you ever want to leave, you just tell me. You can leave. All I ask is, you know, don't be rude about it. Just say, "I want to leave now." But, one of the things I'd be a little bit shocked if I were under arrest, to tell you the truth. Yeah, I know. So would I, but So, uh And I'm here to cooperate. Well, that's right. That's right. But, one of I appreciate I know you know your rights and all that stuff. One of the formalities that we have to do is to tell me your rights. Okay. You can probably be cited better than I can, but I actually I I don't know that I can recite it, but Right. But, you understand it, though. Uh I'm a law enforcement officer. We are I want to ask him some questions. Before I do so, I want to explain your rights. Okay. And we do this routinely to everybody, okay? Just so you understand. Uh you have the absolute right to remain silent. Do you understand that? What's that mean to you? It means plead the fifth. There's no other way to explain that, but it means I don't have to say anything to you if I don't want to. I can just close my mouth. There you go. You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to, right? Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand that? What's that mean? It means anything I do or say here is if brought to court can be used against me. I have a right to repeat anything you say. anything I say. You have the absolute right to a voice of a lawyer before any questioning and a presence of a lawyer here with you during questioning. Do you understand that? Basically, this means that if you want to talk to a lawyer or anything like that, let me know. Do I need to talk to a lawyer? Let me know. I'll talk to you. Yeah. I don't I don't want to just talk to you about the family, you know? Uh if you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be furnished you free before any questioning if you so desire. Do you understand that? Yes, sir. Now, there's not many people that can afford lawyers. I can't afford a lawyer. Yeah. I can't either. But don't let that hold you back, okay? If you think you want to talk to one, you let us know. If you decide to answering questions now with or without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering at any time. Stop answering anytime until you talk to a lawyer. Do you understand that? Yes, sir. If you don't like the way things are going here, you say, you know, let me stop this, talk to a lawyer, we'll talk some more. But okay, do you understand that? Yes, sir. Okay, now, having all these rights I've just explained to you in mind, do you wish to answer questions at this time? Yes, sir. Good. Formalities, right? Right. So, uh where were we? He's my note taker here. It's all right. Uh we're going to talk about what type of person would do this? You said they're cold, greedy, heartless. Someone just with no love for life. No love for things that grow. And I mean, what we know about Tolkien and Tolkien's writing, you seem like you know a little bit more about Tolkien. It's uh you know, his main themes are hope and hopelessness and a love for things that grow. He was very much against the uh Industrial Revolution and stuff like that. Anything that took away from nature. Took away from life. And you said your Hobbit is like your favorite show. Book. Book. Book. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Sure. Yeah, I see. Um What should happen to the person when we find them? What should happen? find the bad guy, what should happen? Well, I imagine you're going to read him his rights. Formality. Right. And lock him away. You think he could should go to jail? Of course. Yeah. Well, unless Unless there's a good reason. Can't think of any good reason something like this could happen. A good reason? Yeah. Can you think of any reason? I mean, again, we don't understand reasons. You know, just because he did something like this doesn't mean he got to go to jail for all his life, you know? But just Can you think of any good reason for something like this to happen? Any good reason for something like this to happen? You know? I cannot think of any good reason something like that could happen. Thane's call to lock away the perpetrator is telling, especially considering that might soon be his own reality. His impressive knowledge of books, artists, and legal principles paints a picture of someone intelligent enough to use these topics to conceal his guilt or divert attention. Thane was one of three assistants who lived and worked with Republican candidate John Frary, a former professor from Farmington. He described Thane as very smart and well-read, saying he was smarter than most people his age. Of course, in a campaign, you have to be sort of a chameleon because you'll be talking to a person and you have to be able to smile and make them feel you care. Uh Thane was good at that. So, what really went wrong? What really went wrong is I I got engaged. That's what went wrong. Uh-huh. Who'd you get engaged to? Cindy Carrier and she left me for my best friend. Two weeks before the wedding. Was she from that area? Was she from that area? And you share a marriage? She's from Gilford, Garland, Cambridge originally. That area. And when you lose track of somebody, that often times is when all of a sudden you find yourself attracted to something else that can be good or or can be bad. So the Carrier is a I'm trying to think if I was fairly, you know, Yeah, it's a popular name, yeah. Yeah. Her one of Well, she's got a couple of grandfathers. One of her grandfather runs a pharmacy in Oakland, which is weird cuz why I lived in Oakland. I was on the same street just down the road. Yeah. Which made things weird. Yeah. When were you engaged to this girl? I guess I missed that. I missed this whole story here. Well, you didn't That was just about it. So far. Yeah, it was 09. It wasn't that long ago. We we broke up. It would have been last Thanksgiving. This past one. And Thanksgiving was ironically both of our favorite holidays and it was our it was halfway through our anniversary. It was 6 months for us on Thanksgiving. So it was like an important thing and that was the day And left you for your best friend, you said? Yep. That sucks. Yeah. How are you and that guy friendship now? How's that working out? We don't talk. We just don't associate anymore. Better just to let it be. Yeah. Yeah. Are they still And no hard feelings. I mean And me and him had been through a lot before that anyway. What's his name? Michael Boucher. And his twin brother is running for state rep in the Hancock area. And they're they're federalists. They're interested in keeping people down. I've heard him say it. His own words. So it's like Well, they're Well, What was his argument? What what person in your life do you think you most respect? Person in my life? Living person? Yeah, whatever. It doesn't matter. I most respect I respect my uncle. That's deep. guy. Yeah, I respect my uncle Steve. Thane's uncle Steven made sure he was fed and clothed well and really made sure that he grew up to be a, you know, a decent individual. I think that was probably his single most positive influence in his life. Your mother is Maria. Maria. Maria. And Maria and Tamara were good friends forever. Is that how I remember that? Yes, but I hadn't seen Tamara in years. Uh-huh, okay. Why is that? Why is that? Well, I'd been away for a couple years and they had stopped talking because of my mother's girlfriend and I can't blame her Get along. because my mother's wife Mhm, yeah. is obnoxious, bipolar, unhelpful, spiteful, Wow. just not a nice person. I mean, she's a lesbian. I really don't know. I don't understand why. I don't. That's something I have never understood why. You never Because they've had a mutual friend for years. Are you and your mom close? Not really. In fact, I don't even really know her anymore. Really? Okay. It seems like over the last years, she just sits almost like she's not home anymore. She's not there. I didn't know that. What What happened there? It was getting ridiculous by by that point and I had found a job and and found work, found a girlfriend, lost my virginity. I waited till I was 17 and I was one of those kids who who really wanted to wait for marriage. And I'd gone to church a lot. Yeah. So, your early senior year you lost your virginity? Would have been Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, early senior year. Did that Did that bother you at that time? You seem bothered by that now. Did that bother you at that time? No. Not that night, obviously. No, no, no. A couple days later you go The next morning. I mean, looking back I, you know, there have been moments where maybe I was like, "I probably shouldn't have done that." But that's just joking. I'm just kidding. Cuz really it just it doesn't matter. Once it's done, it's done. Yeah, you can't change it. I can't change it. And in some ways I'm I'm glad I did it because I learned more about myself. What did you learn? I'm pretty good. You might think you already reached the point of no return in getting to know him, but there is so much more to his story. Now, you're probably curious about Thane's relationship with the victims. Here's a brief overview. Thane knew Jeff Rhine's ex, Tamara Stout, and had even had a fling with their daughter, Mariah. In fact, Tamara was a close friend of Thane's mother, Maria Ormsby. Thane had recently moved in with Tamara's parents, Robert and Joyce Stout, a living arrangement where Thane got a place to stay and the Stouts received help around the house. I recently released another highly intense video on my Patreon, an explosive altercation between two cops where tension escalated so quickly, resulting in a drawn gun and a devastating gunshot. In a mere 26 seconds, witness the events unfold as two officers engage in a fight that turns deadly. Watch this video and more at patreon.com/strangerstoriesplus. Steve, you were with Uncle Steve and through the high school years? That's right. Okay. So, obviously things were not going good with your mom during this time. Age 12 up to age 17. You lived with Uncle Steve. Okay. Anything significant happened at age 12 to make you want to move out from mom to go with Uncle Steve? Well, Anything significant? It wasn't my choice. It was a matter of DHHS or DHS, Department of Health and Human Services. It was a case of abuse and violence and alcohol and all that other stuff. Not to get personal about that time in your life, but what type of was it? Not to get personal. Was it physical abuse, mental abuse, or what what did you feel was the most? Physical, mental, and they were abusive. Drugs and alcohol doer. Yeah. Any substance going on back then? No, no, no, no, no. That's good. A lot of that going on these days, you know. It's sad. So, you're you're there. So, back in high school now, you said you said you had 20 credits going on and you could have got done in like a year or Could have Could have got done, but didn't. And I was just too stubborn, I guess. You know, it'd be a beautiful day and I'd be driving to school and then a nice song would come on the radio and I'd just make my way down to the Pier in Bar Harbor. Looking at the birds. Yeah, yeah, look at the birds, look at the ships. I was just I was so tired of being there and I wasn't a popular kid by any He wasn't. And I wasn't that I've never even really been that social. Yeah. I mean, You like to kind of stay by yourself more than hang out with all the the jocks and all that. I was picked on a lot at school. Well, yeah, that's what it was is that I was picked on. And not necessarily so much by my peers. And the deal with that is the school system, you know, raises students as raises all those children. And what it really how it works out is they're raised by their peers. Uh-huh. Children grow up in groups of their peers. And that's different from other societies in the past and it has effects. Mhm. So, you know, where was I? Sitting on the deck in Bar Harbor. Sitting on the deck in Bar Harbor watching the birds. Yeah, so I blew off a lot of school time. And and then up, you know, I started partying. That was my whole party phase. It pretty much started and ended at 17, really. I met a guy named Dustin Ballinger. He was no good. And what happened is I took him in to my uncle's home. I took him into my home. He was more homeless than homeless. The homeless shelter had kicked him out. And I felt bad for him. Yeah, I just met him and he seemed nice. Yeah. And he was into drugs and he was into alcohol and he liked robbing cars. Huh. Not something I was into. Yeah. But uh we did some stupid stuff. What was the stupidest thing you ever did? Stupidest Anything that you didn't get caught is stupid. Oh, no. I I got caught. Um and I always get caught. Um you always get caught? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I It's It's the weirdest thing. Anything I ever do, there's always someone looking, you know. Nowadays, there's cameras everywhere. And it's it's just like why do anything wrong? Yeah. Little did Thane know, this time was no different. Cameron needed a place to stay. Cameron needed a place to stay. I guess he didn't like it at Jeff's. You must got a girlfriend at this point. Same one. Same one. She's been your sister for quite a while. Yeah. And uh Almost 10 years. Okay. And uh mom's significant other, is she evil at this stage? She Was she Has she always been nasty? Has she She's always been kind of nasty. And it's one of And it's the worst kind of nasty cuz she can be so nice. She can act so nice and suddenly out of nowhere. Makes you wonder what's really her, the nice one or the bad one. Right. Yeah. I have a nice wife like that. And it's not like it's not like I mean, we had a decent relationship. We We get along. And I mean, while I was there, I mean, here in these later parts of my life, there was no except for that night where they decided to drink. Whenever they decide to drink, it's a bad decision. They're not supposed to drink. They're not supposed to drink. In fact, it's illegal for them to drink because they have children that they're responsible for. And it's it's state sanctioned. Really? Yeah. But I didn't call the police. And I probably should have, but you know. You know, you just figured that's your problem. Well, she's your mother. You know, I mean, my dad doesn't like policemen. So, you can imagine my dilemma, right? Your dad, what are you going to do, right? Okay, so Tamara's come back in and so is this the first time you've seen Tamara in quite a while? I've seen Tamara in years. Seven years anyway. And how did you and Tamara hit it off? Good. Yeah. We were just, you know, we were friends, just like always. Yeah. And this is your house. to me and I was nice to her and and you know, I Mariah got to come over and I got to see Mariah. She did stay for a couple weeks. Mhm. And I packed them out. And we're talking now after April at this point. April, May. Cuz you said you moved in just before your birthday. She Mariah shows up probably 2 days before my birthday, maybe a day before my birthday, stays for a couple weeks. And uh so she moves in and you kind of take a liking to her. Yeah. Yeah. We, you know, we hang out and Not like you got married, but she like you. I said, "Yeah, I like her." Yeah. And she like you? She's not pregnant at this point. Or is she pregnant at this point? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure she's on birth control and like I said, we only slept together one night. She has a baby. Yep. She had the baby, so I fell in love with the baby, of course. Babies are cute. Babies are cute. So, you take a liking to to uh Mariah. Mhm. And does Mariah have a boyfriend at this time staying with her? Are any guys staying there? She's with Matt. She breaks up with Matt, she's with me for maybe a day and then goes back to Matt. That's as simple as that. She's kind of bouncing back and She's immature, she's immature, she's too young, she just had a baby, her hormones are off the rocker. Right. It's nothing you can do. Yeah. She kind of plays you a little bit too, I'm sure. She's playing the other guys, yeah. Yeah, she played me. What did she do to play you? Well, I mean seduced me, really. Yeah. I wasn't going to pursue her that way. Right. So much. She was She was more coming on to me than I vice versa. And you said the other day you had One night. One night. And uh I I don't know how to ask that. Was it okay? I mean What did It was in the shower, it was short, and I never even finished. So, really, you could You almost could say we never had sex. So, she seduced you though at this point. I mean, did you Did you like it like now this is my girlfriend? I mean, was it Was it We had For some reason, we never officialized anything. Nothing like that ever got got talked about. Everything was just peaceful and relaxed, and we were just enjoying each other's company. We went for walks and runs and And you had this event. Did she kind of play like now we're dating? Did she try to do that thing to you? No. No. But these seemingly innocent ties were about to be thrust into the center of chilling investigation. So, I ended up staying at Bob and Jules. Just waiting for them to to get up. Okay. To get up there. Right. And and Tamara did not stay there. Tamara Tamara kept going back down to Addison, would come up for maybe a day or two. Back down. Back down, back up, back down. Tamara's always She's kind of bouncing, yeah. So, who was staying at Bob and Jules? Just the three of you? And Tamara comes and goes. And Tamara and Elwood comes and goes sometimes. A variety of combos to stay time. And then talk about how you met Jeff. He came over to Bob and Joy's. Okay, do you remember when that was? Early when I got there, a couple days after I got there. Okay. And at that point Craig was there, his his girlfriend uh Okay, now you're talking you talked about earlier how you went up there and you stayed for There was just a couple weeks. You came back. Are you talking to Jeff during that time? No. Okay. No, I had never met Jeff. when you're coming up. This time I met him when I was up there to stay, while I was staying there. Okay. He came over a couple days after I got there. Okay. And tell me about that conversation, how that go? We didn't really have a conversation. I mean, he came in and he talked to Bob and Joy and I was there and they introduced me. They said, "Oh yeah, this is Dane." Was the little boy not there? No, not at this point. No, no. He was with his mother. At some point Jeff like a half hour or so Jeff leaves? Yeah, Jeff leaves. Okay. And you stay at the house? I had gone up there. That same day? Or when when we I'm still confused about when you went. Because you said before that he you asked him to try to get you a job and stuff. I asked him about work. Work. Right. I asked him if he could find me any work and I went back up to check and see if he had any work, if he had heard anything. that day, right? Yeah. And then you at some point you went back though and that's when he told you that I'm having a hard time trying to find you a job. I'm having a hard time getting where you went there more than once. he didn't have he didn't know of anything. Mhm. That was the second visit, a third visit you were back there? To Jeff. I got to think about this. Um Cuz you said before that you asked him to get you a job and stuff. And then later in our last interview was he at I asked him Did he see any jobs of that kind, any jobs? if he knew of any work. Right. And then in his last interview we he had said to me that you and I have been talking to him and he couldn't find you anything and you had the beer and all that stuff. So, tell me tell me about that. Okay. So, I go up to talk to him. How long ago after the first visit were you up there? A week. About a week later? About a week later. Okay. And what's going on when you are up there this week later? It's just Jeff. Jeff's alone drinking a beer mowing his lawn. Uh-huh. Outside? Outside. Uh-huh. And how was Jeff doing? Jeff was doing good. Uh-huh. Jeff was talking about his son. Saying he was going to be back. Okay. So, Jeff's son was not there at this point. Okay. So, this was about a a week before this happened. Cuz you only you only lived up there 3 weeks, you said, right? Yeah, it's it's all Yeah, it's all such a short proximity. Right. So, you were there, you met him, and then about a week later you go up. So, that would have been a week before this whole thing happened. You were there. The detective knows exactly what he's suggesting. After recounting his first encounter with Jeff, Thane is about to discuss their second meeting, one that will likely invite more direct questions and stir up some serious suspicion. How did you get there? How did I get there? I walked up. You walked up? Yes, short distance. Did you take a bike? No. Okay. Uh okay, do you mind I'm not I'm a visual guy. Can you draw the trailer for me and say where you went in that trailer cuz it's important to see where you went and all that. Can you do that for me? He showed me around. Showed me everything. The interior of the trailer? Yeah. Or any Does the whole life everything. Here we have kitchen bar. And there's your refrigerator where I got the beer. Here's the door to the house. Here's the porch. Here's the shadow. This is the living space here. How does this work? This is a treehouse. Where was I? I came up the front lawn. And we told me to come on in, grab a beer, and then he's got chairs here. We sat down here. It was a hot day. We came back outside, sat down here. That was it. And he had already showed you around the place before this, you said. He showed me his house, yeah. Yeah, before this visit? Before this visit? No, this is the visit. There were There were only all right. There was at least two visits, as you said. The first time, the very first time you met him, you went down and had a beer. Then you said, I asked you if it was the second or third visit that this happened, and you said it was the second visit. I'll be I'll be I'll be straightforward, cuz there's no reason I can't. I appreciate that. I do have a bicycle. I know this much. Okay. And I've Is it a 10-speed with the handlebars coming down around? No. So, you had a bike, right? Okay, tell me about that. I appreciate you being honest. Well, cuz it just Okay. All right. There are only two occasions I've met Jeff. Uh-huh. The one where he comes down to the house, Right. and I combine those two occasions as one. Okay. later, I come back. And you're on your bike this time? And I'm on my bike this time. Uh-huh. And I ride my bike, but I ride my bike on the road. Right. And I ride it on the road. Okay. And I park it right here somewhere. Okay. I come in and I have a beer with him. And he shows me around the house. During that visit? Yeah. It was during that visit. And that's the only visit, though, that I made to Jeff. Well, no. You said the first time He visited me, and I visited him. The same occasion. You said the very first time he met you, you asked him to get a job at stop. He said come on different occasions. I combined the two in one just to be simple. No, each time you were here, how many times you were at this house? Once. Once? I've only been there once. I've been in his house once and it was just And this time here he showed you around. And he showed me around. The first round of the confrontation is underway with initial questions and statements setting the tone for what promises to be a revealing and intense conversation. So the first time you said you went there after you had that very first time you met him. I said but really that was the week later. Just to be simple. Why why would you do that? Why would you confuse me like that? I I confused you because because it's irrelevant. Because it's Well, it's not really irrelevant because you got three people dead. So that's why it makes it very relevant. Especially when people are not telling the truth. I understand but I mean I had nothing to do with it. Okay. The driveway you're going in. Yes. Tell me about that. Um I was riding my bike one day getting bottles. bottling and no one was home. I rode by. I rode by twice. Okay. That's when you went up the driveway? Yeah, I rode by. I rode in. I don't know. How do you know nobody was home? No vehicles. Okay. When was the bike riding when you were up the driveway? Cuz we found bike bike prints up there. That's why when I asked you the other day if you had a bike you said no. Today I asked you if you had a bike you said no. Now I'm confused why didn't you tell me you had a bike when I asked you that? Because There was all bike prints there. I I I heard stories about biker gangs and I didn't want to be confused with No, I asked you the other day if you had a pedal bike. Yeah, pedal bike. Okay, pedal bike. I have a pedal bike. Right, but the other day you said you didn't. So, I'm just confused on why you did not why you would admitted that from me. That's all I'm asking. Because I didn't want to Okay, now you're inside the house here and it was just you and Jeff in that house? Cuz you said you never met Jason. I've never met Jason. Okay, have you ever heard of Jason? I've never Jason. I heard of him I've heard of him through Craig. He's he's Craig's friend and again I haven't seen Craig in years and he was up there when I was there. But I didn't know Jason. Jason? No. Craig talked about Jason? Other people. How do you know he's Jason's friend? Craig's friend? I think I overheard someone just saying Well, who would who would talk to you about that? Craig. So, Craig talked to you about some random guy named Jason? Me and Craig were riding the Holden. And you went by here obviously. Yeah. Okay. And he honked. At Jason's house or Jeff's house? Both. Okay, so you know where Jason lives. Um I You must know. You just said he honked at the house on the way by. I think so. I think that's his house. Well, I assume that he honked the horn and you probably said who's that and that's my friend Jason. Yeah. How else would he talk about Jason unless he That's where Jason lives, right? Cuz I'm confused cuz the other day you said you didn't know where Jason lives, you don't know anything about Jason. I So, now you're now you're saying I don't know anything about Jason. Where he lives. I think I know where he lives. Craig just honked the horn at his house on the way by. You just said that. Honked the horn at his friend's house. I asked someone else about it. He didn't say oh, that's my friend Jason. He didn't say that's his house. Well, no. I'm trying to understand. You're trying talking in circles, okay? I'm trying to see who told you about Jason. Come back to Holden. Who told me about Jason? I don't know who told me about Jason. I think Barbara Joy or Okay. or Craig or Mariah. This is the first clear instance of contrast in his personality. Previously confident and sharp, Thane is now at a loss for words. The accusations are piling up with the detectives calling him out for inconsistencies about the bike and his story regarding Jason. The inconsistencies in Thane's account are becoming increasingly apparent. The detectives' suspicion is fueled by the fact that DNA from a beer bottle and a cigarette found at the crime scene matches Thane's DNA, which he had previously supplied. So, you went up that road one only up that road on your bike one time. One time. Okay. Why are we finding a couple different trips up through there and another trip through the woods on a bike and footprints going through the woods and stuff coming out in front of the Bobby's house? Why are we finding that? Are you confused and maybe you forgot a time you were there with the bike and coming out through the woods in front of Bobby's house cuz we got your path there and the canine and all that stuff. And is there anything Did you forget that? It's okay if you did. I'm just trying to see when you passed these woods here and coming out in front of the You forget that? No, no, no. That was just uh I just gone over to check out the junkyard. Mhm. Where is the junkyard? It's right beside Bob and Joyce. Okay, across the street. No. I don't know where it is cuz we have we have canines and stuff, dogs. Yeah. And and uh and the tracks to the people uh he said it would have been earlier, probably Wednesday morning or something where somebody went through the woods and stuff, bikes and all that stuff. But the punchline is across the road from Bob and Joy. Someone came out right there. Someone came out. Bob and Joy, right? Yes. Across from Bob and Joy, someone came out of the woods right in that area. No, I haven't been And probably a bike. That's why that's why we got bike tracks again. get we get bikers up and down Pedal bikes. Pedal bikes. Okay. Pedal bikes. So, that's not you No. wasn't me. Okay. Now, when you're in that wood in the in the house there you said you had And that's why I don't want to be confused cuz there are other bikers. Okay. That's why I need to hear it from you exactly what happened. Okay. You're in that house. I'm going to tell you there are other bikers. I understand. That's right. We talked to several of them. Okay. Now, you only had one beer in that house you said. One beer. And it was a Budweiser bottle. Budweiser bottle. And you said to me the other day you drank it all. Yeah. Okay. What happened then after you drank that beer? I told you I left it on the counter in the sink. I don't recall. You left it in the counter or in the sink? On the counter or in the sink. On the counter or in the sink? Okay. All right. I know you told me that, but is that what you really did? Yes. Okay. Um You smoke. Do you have any smokes in the house? Smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes. What kind of cigarettes in the house? In his house? Yeah. Just his. I smoked one of his cigarettes. What type of cigarette was it? cigarette. Do you know what brand it was? I don't know. What type of tobacco or what was it? no filter. What type of filter was it? Was it brown filter or white filter? It must have been a brown filter. Okay. If I told you it was white, would that screw you up? Yeah. I don't know. Okay. You said you didn't say you never met the little boy. Never met the little Okay. Did he want you to meet the little boy? He never Like I can't wait for you to come out. I want you to Yeah, he was he was he was that's what he was telling me when we were talking on the porch. He was saying I hope I'm going to go get him. You know, I think he'll be back for the summer. Mhm. And I'm just going to say you never ever been back here. You know what's back here? No. The tree house here there's some trees here. Is that Have you ever Have you ever been back in this area at all? No. No, I haven't even been to the tree house. I've been past the pool. What did you ever Did you ever play horseshoes down in this area? Nope. The horseshoe pits are right here, right? Remember that? I didn't even see the horseshoe pits. You didn't see the horseshoe pits? Okay. I noticed the pool and I noticed the tree house and I said, you know, good work. You told me about all the lumber and Where where are Dale's written the black lines up here where you were in the kitchen area? Had When you say he showed you the house, did you go through the house? Did he take you room by room or did he just say all Did you go down in here? No. No. How do you know there was a bathroom there? You drew that. I knew there was a bathroom because I asked. You asked Jeff? I asked him where the bathroom was. Yeah. Did you go to the bathroom? No. Why not? I didn't have to go to the bathroom. Why did you ask where the bathroom was? In case I needed to go to the bathroom. Are you kidding me? You said No, I Well, I asked him where the bathroom was. He said, "The bathroom's down the hall." And you said, "Well, where's the bathroom?" You mean you and I been together now for You only knew him for 10 minutes, you said. Why would you ask him in 10 minutes, "Hey, where's the bathroom?" "Down the hall." You know, you've been with us now for over a couple hours, you never once asked that question. Our conversations wandered. Yeah. You're there for 10 minutes, you ask where the bathroom is, he told you and you didn't go. I mean, how is this Okay. So, you've never ever been down that hallway. So, there's no way in hell that your DNA is going to be down in this area anywhere. Yeah. Is what you're telling me. Yes. That's what I'm saying. All right. And there's no way in hell that your DNA is going to be back in here anywhere. Mhm. And you had a cigarette. What happened to the cigarette? You smoked it, you said. I smoked it. I might have put the butt in my back pocket or thrown it out. But you said you're kind of not worried about leaving butts around. You told me that in the car the other day, right? But you actually smoked the cigarette. Okay. And you Have you ever been on these streets up in this area? Nope. Only the one time on the bike back and forth here. Yes. All right. So, this event here where you were inside was about a week before this murder happened. Maybe two. Maybe two weeks. Never met Jason? Never met Jason. Well, now we have a problem. Why? All right. Inside of that trailer, there's a bottle sitting there. Three bottles. And then in that trailer also, we have your DNA and fingerprints on one of the bottles. So, maybe you're mistaken about why that happened. But I want you to straighten it out now. Okay. Uh see this picture? Yes. Three bottles, right? Mhm. This one's yours. Mhm. One One of these is Jason and one of these is Jeff. I'm confused right now which one's which, okay? This one's yours. Notice how clean the place is. On Monday before the murder, there was a party. They're playing Quirkle shoes. People are in and out of there. People clean after the party cuz I talked to the ones who did it. Those bottles were not there. Monday night? Tuesday. Monday night. Your bottle's there. Your fingerprints on that that matches with the fingerprint I got the other day. Your DNA is in that bottle. Explain that to me. That doesn't mean I did anything wrong. No, I mean but I'm saying why is it that I put I I set I set my bottle either here or here in the sink. But you see my problem. This bottle here belongs to Jason who you never met. Who I've never met. The beer's half full. The beer's half full. The beer's half full. I thought I finished my beer. But it couldn't have been. Even if you did finish the beer, let's say the bottle's empty. They cleaned the house after the party on Monday. That bottle would have been moved. From your vision? Two weeks previous. It would have been moved. That bottle would not be sitting there. Jason's bottle wouldn't be sitting there because you got a 10-year-old kid that's there. He's people off and around stuff. For him to earn money for chores, he helps clean. So, they move all the stuff and put it to the redemption bottle container, right? No way in hell that bottle sat there for 2 weeks. If anything, it sat there for a couple hours. So, we have a problem with that. I need you to explain to me the why it is that beer bottle is there a couple hours or at the time of the murder. So, if you have a logical explanation, now's the time to spit it out. All right? It doesn't mean you did anything wrong, but we need to know why that bottle was there, why you were in that house a couple hours before the murder. Just tell me how this all happened. I don't know. That's not the Well, that's not No, you know. You just don't want to tell me. And it doesn't mean you killed them, all right? But it means We'll one step at a time. What How was that How was that bottle there? Is it possible you went there and don't remember, hypothetically, that you were there, that this whole thing here happened on a Wednesday morning? Or late Tuesday night, when you went down there on your bike, had a beer, and all this stuff. And Jason was there. Maybe you're just afraid cuz you thought it was irrelevant. That yeah, I met Jason that night right here, but if I tell you I met him the only night and he's dead the same night, you're going to think I did it, you know? And that's not necessarily true, but I want to make sure that if there's something over here. Well, I'm just telling you what the the evidence people are telling me. That's Jason's bottle. And now remember, that is Jason, the one you said you never met. That is uh Jess's bottle. This is your bottle. All three bottles are half full. Your fingerprint from your left index finger is on that bottle. And your DNA is in that liquid right there. As is the other two people. So, tell me about how you were there Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Tuesday night or Wednesday morning? Yep. Wednesday night is when we found the bodies, all right? So, Tuesday night We know they were alive Tuesday night. They talked on the cell phone. We were pinging cell phones all the time. I can tell you every phone call that was ever made from Bob and Joyce, and from Tamara, and from Mariah. That's what we do. And we ping in towers all the time. Even though the phone was turned off, we know that Tamara was downstairs. All right? We also know that phone calls were made from this place to Bob's house. Okay? Right around that same time as the homicide. Okay? We also know that I don't You know this or not, but as we're talking to you right now, we're talking to the big Bob up in uh Amity, Bob Joyce. All right? Bob is telling us uh what he remembers. And he's telling us about bringing you down here and stuff. All right? But I want you to tell me how that bottle He says that you were up there Wednesday morning, Bob. Bob says that. Tell me about that bottle, how that bottle went and up there. You said you were a guy before that likes to You know, you get You always get caught. You say And every time you ever get in trouble, you say, "Hey, walk into the police station. Here I am. This is it." That shows me you're a man of integrity. You're a man You're a very intelligent man. And you're And the politics and all this stuff. You seem like a type of guy that's very right straightforward. And I just lay it all out there. It is what it is. You know? It is what it is. You were there just before the murder. Or when this accident happened. All right? Tell me about that. How was your bottle there? Tell me how that bottle went and up there. No. You have my DNA now. They know it's okay. You have my DNA now. Yes. Yes, but can you explain how Yeah, tell me about what you did while you were there. Well, I drank half a beer. Right. Tell me about a Jason. You met him. This is his ball. That's his ball. Right. Did you only meet him the one time? Honestly? Yeah. I want the truth. Straightforward. Straightforward. During this event? Okay. What night was that? Or what day was that? Tuesday evening. Tuesday evening? Okay, tell me what happened Tuesday evening there. How'd you get there? My bicycle. Okay. And those are the tracks. Yep. Right up the driveway. Yep. Where was Jeff when you got there? Inside. Okay. What time of day was it? Was it Was it evening? I mean, was it dark? Was it Not dark. Not dark. Not dark. Okay. Uh Jeff was inside. Was Jason inside? Inside. Jason was inside. Was the little boy inside? Had the Connor having a beer inside playing a game. You didn't know the boy was there, did you? The boy was on a bed playing Nintendo or something. You didn't see You didn't know he was there when you first got there. Okay. So, you didn't know the boy was there. So, three of you are sitting there having a beer. Right? And those are just The four Was the four-wheeler there? Yes. Okay. So, show me where the the truck and the four-wheeler and the car was sitting. We just want the truck. That'll be okay. All right. You know that's the truck. You know that's the car. And I think that's the four-wheeler. Four-wheeler was right there. Yep. Okay. Okay. All right. Now, you pedal up here the bike. Where do you park your bike? Right against the car. Right there. Okay, that's good. That explains the little scratches down there. Okay. So, you go inside. You're sitting at the bar with the Jason and I'm sitting at the table. I'm sorry. They're sitting at the bar. I'm sitting at the table. Table's here. I'm sitting in this chair right Okay. And uh they're sitting at the bar. When you walk in, they go, "Hey, come on in." Or life is good at this point, right? When you walked in, were they okay to see you? Yeah. I'm asking. Yeah. Okay. And they offer you a beer. Yeah. You go to the refrigerator and get the beer. Yeah. Because you had one before. You don't want the beer to get You said it's a gravy beer, right? You stop. You sit at the table. You're sitting here and you're having a smoke. At this point, you have a smoke. Right? Yeah, I smoked cigarettes. Yeah. You had at least at least two cigarettes. That's right. I was smoking Black Hawks that night. Yeah. With the white box. You know more than I do. With the I know everything. I know. You know more. And soon you're going to know that I know that you know that I know, right? Okay. Follow that? Okay. It's a little dance we're doing, but you know that I know. So, you have a smoke. Something goes terribly wrong. Jeff comes outside, everything Something happened right down in this area. Outside. We went outside and came over here by the garden. I smoked a joint. Down here by the garden area? I'm sorry. And I smoked a joint with Jason. And you smoked a joint with Jason. Okay. And Jeff didn't smoke. Mhm. And he smoked. Still don't know the boys there yet. Yeah. Okay. So, you smoke a joint down in this area. I'm just going to write joint there. With Jason. Like I said, I asked Jeff about work. Mhm. And he uh And we were talking about carpentry and all sorts of different things and he'd said he had some nails for me and that's why you have my prints towards the shed. I got my hand towards the shed. He was trying to wanted to show me some Where's the sheds? Where are the sheds? Here. Okay. He wanted to show you some nails that are up there. Was that why? I I missed what you said. There were some nails up there. show me some nails. When were you up there by the sheds? That That night. Tuesday night and then Wednesday morning. Tuesday. It was It was Tuesday night. Yeah. I was home shortly thereafter. Damn. That's truth. I know you want the truth, okay? But I'm going to have to plead the fifth. That's okay. Does that mean you want to stop talking or For a minute. I'm going to get another coffee. Okay. Well, who are Who do then? I'm going to take a cigarette. If you could bring me a joint, maybe. I want you to We'll get you a cup of coffee. We'll give you a piss break. If you want some food, we can make that happen. I'm hungry, too. I cannot get you a joint. They kind of frown on that. Yeah. Okay. And I cannot get you a beer. Trust me, I want to. I don't want a beer. I do. I do want a joint. Yeah. If I could give you a joint, I would. All right. Here's the deal. I'm going to make all that happen for you. All right? You know that I know the truth. And I want you to know that we're doing a search warrant right now up at Bob's and Joyce's. We got full statements from both of them. That's not consistent with you up to this point. And we're talking to Bob Jr. down here. We're doing a search at his place right now. And that's not fair to Bob Jr. He had nothing to do with this. So, you're bringing him into something that's a guilt screw. All right? None of them had anything to None of them did, but you did. You know, I would like to know what happened for the truth. You've always been a man of integrity. You know in your heart what happened. We know what happened by all the evidence, or we wouldn't be sitting here talking to you again. It doesn't make you a bad guy. Something went terribly wrong. The detectives have used several tactics to break Thayne's resolve, including offering food, coffee, and cigarettes, emphasizing witness testimony, and presenting crime scene evidence. Now, they will focus on the usual strategies, suggesting that accidents happen, and stressing that the family deserves to know the truth. There was an accident, I think. I have theories about what happened. But, the family our heads. The family deserves the truth. Yeah. And you deserve the truth to get this weight off your shoulders. Right? You have a lot of weight on you right now, don't you? Yeah. Yeah. See, yeah. And it will kill you. It will keep you up like a cancer. You're not the first person I've talked to who's done something like this. It eats them up. And believe it or not, people have told me that after they finally spit it out, they feel so much better. I don't want a media mess. I don't either. And we're going to keep it as low-key as we I don't want my name in the paper. Mhm. I don't And I'm I don't know who you sign for that cuz I know this makes it to the news. Yeah. We can keep this quiet as we can. I will tell you that. I will say also this is a public we can. And uh no one knows we're down here talking to you. But the biggest thing, how we can keep things as calm as possible is if we know the truth. I don't think you're a cold-blooded killer that just goes out killing people. You know, I don't think you woke up in the morning and said, "Oh, let me go kill three people." It's not you. Is it? It's not you, is it? But one of the hurdles we need to get over with is first of all is honesty. Honesty of that that you're responsible for these deaths. That's the first step. I would like to know why. The curiosity is killing me. And maybe you don't even know why. You know, but something went terribly wrong. And I would like to know that. But one hurdle we need to get over is that you're responsible for this cuz we want You know what else too? The panic that's going on up there is horrendous. People are not letting their kids out. People are This is summertime. Kids want to go out and play. People are thinking, "Oh my god, there's a killer out there." So we got to lock our doors with a People are locking So if one of us went to the door, they'd open it with a shotgun. That's how scared they are out there. And they're keeping their kids inside. Kids want to go out to play and they don't dare. But we need to make sure that the public knows we got the person responsible for this. You can let your kids out and play right now. And you're sorry. And we can make it organized press release or something. released. Okay. Okay. One step at a time. You're responsible for this, right? I won't say. Okay. Why don't you go have some We'll get a cigarette break. We'll talk some more. It's possible. Everything's going to be okay. All right. You're doing the right thing. You're a good boy. You're a good man. You know. You're not a boy, you're a man. And No, don't call me that. You don't think you're a man? Not anymore. I don't deserve it. Well, mistakes happen. Like I said earlier, my dad always told me that's why they put erasers on pencils. That's why they put delete keys on computer. See this board right here? I'm giving you an eraser to erase some of the mistakes that happened that night. There's a train leaving town as soon as you tell don't want to lie at this point, so I'd be willing to tell you everything you want to know. I'm sorry, what was that? Perhaps I do need a lawyer now. Okay. Go have a smoke, we'll come back and we'll finish this up. He's literally smoking a cigarette, but he's he's shaking, his his breathing is shaking. He's close enough I can notice that his eyelashes have been burned on the ends and they were curled up. Thane, I said, "I know you burned the pickup truck cuz your eyelashes are all curled up." I said, "Thane, you had interest in going to the Marine Corps. Obviously, you've got some sense of duty inside of you." The big reveal was just moments away from happening. Did he bring you a coffee? When he gets back in here, I'll go get you one, all right? Do you want Do you actually want a coffee though? Yes, sir. Okay, I'll get you one in a minute. I'll get you one when he gets back in here. This is the first time I've cried. Yeah. I don't know. Don't want to absorb it, buddy. Don't want to process. I'm going to go get him his coffee. Okay. Since you're going to get him a I didn't I didn't know I had a good one. Well, what the hell, I'll take one, too. All right. Give me one. All right. You all right? Am I all right? I'm sorry. Good if you can, be. You know? Hey, buddy. Huh? Hey, I want you to know that I'm here for you the best I can be. I cannot make you any promises about the media. I can't make you any promises about that. That's way over my head. I will go to bat for you. I will go to bat and talk about this conversation. Okay. I will go to bat for you. I will to bat. I mean, I will stand up for you about what you tell me in here. And and about how you're cooperating and stuff like that. Yes, sir. Uh I cannot I will not be doing any press releases cuz I don't do that. That's up to my commander that does new stuff. I cannot control them. I mean, obviously Where this goes from here. Okay. Other people How much I understand I can't control that. That's my promise to you. You can't promise me anything. All right. I understand. But if I were you, I would I would give you Okay. Can I just uh You just said out of free will I'll give you what you want, okay? One of the things we have to do is read you your rights again. Okay. You know how the system works, right? I'm under arrest. No, you're not under arrest. You're not under arrest. All right? I want you I do have to read you your rights again. Only reason being cuz you said, "Well, maybe I should talk to a lawyer. I think I will invoke my fifth." You know one of those deals, right? But I want to make sure now you said you wanted to talk to me. I want to make sure you know that I didn't beat the hell out of you outside of here. I wasn't afraid of that, honestly. And you You were afraid of what? You scared me that night that day you left. You were afraid of what? I was afraid of what? I knew you were on to me, but yeah, I was afraid you were the bad cop and you were going to beat me up and beat it out of you. This is as excited as I get. But But what I told you that day if you did it, I'm going to get you. You know? What did I tell you? Do you remember? Huh? What did I tell you? Do you remember? You said I didn't do it. I said I know. Oh, that's right. This is the second instance of contrast between Thayne's initial confidence, intellectual demeanor as a grown man, and his current state where he is reduced to tears like a young boy. I'm a law enforcement officer and I want to ask you some questions. Before I do so, I want to explain your rights. You have the absolute right to remain silent. Do you understand that? Yes. You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to. Yes. What happened? Everything was going fine, to tell you the truth. And I did see Jesse. And Jesse was in the living room. He was He was playing video games. We just mildly introduced. And we had a beer and everything like I said. Uh I think we should start with why. Okay. I know you want the hard details. Why is good to know. I mean Jeff Ryan. Jeff Ryan? And I never got this far. Alvin Silsby. And I've never met him either. Alvin Silsby? Yes, sir. And he probably has nothing to do with this case and has nothing to do with this situation. Right. But back in the day, there were three people the biggest drug dealers. I won't mention one. But the other two were Jeff Ryan and Alvin Silsby. Okay. And you wanted to rid the world of them. Yes. Just like your Facebook says. My Facebook says that? I'm going to rise like the What's your favorite movie? Boom doctor boom something. Oh. You're talking about my my Facebook. Facebook photos rise from ashes like a phoenix. That's just talking about starting my life over. Nothing on my Facebook has anything to do Do with this? Okay. So So you hated Jeff because he was a drug dealer? Because of the things he's done to other people. Uh-huh. Because of what he is was. Right. Okay. We've reached the third and final aspect, motive. Thane claims that he killed Jeff unprompted because of Jeff's history as a drug dealer. However, there is no evidence to corroborate this. Yeah, but I don't believe in drugs like they are. So drugs are a big part of your cannabis past with your mom and It seems like every everyone I know Right. has been hurt by It's So you said when you got there It's I'm sorry. It's cancerous. Yeah. Drugs are cancer. So you said when you got there everyone's in the house in the kitchen area and the little boy's playing Nintendo or something on the computer. Whatever he's playing. Whatever he's doing. On the TV. You said you just kind of like introduced him passing. Yeah, we just introduced and talked and went outside to smoke the joint. Blah blah blah. Jeff was abnormally nice to me. Abnormally nice? He was He was nice to me. Which makes it strange. Right. But I did have it up for him. You did? Yes. When did it turn from everything going fine to not so much? Did he say something to you that you I No. No. Did he Did he have to? No. No. Where did you find him? Where you found my prints? My DNA in the shed where he was showing me nails. He was out there to show you some nails or something. And he bent over to get you the nails. What happened? I think you know what happened. I'd like to hear from you. I have theories, but I like to hear your side of the thing. I know what happened. I want to see if you can tell me what happened. If I can tell you what happened. Jerry. I killed him. You killed Jeff. And how did you do that? With a knife. So, he was bent over. And No. No. Back to you. He was back He was back to you. Yeah. And you stabbed him in the back? I'm asking. Yeah. Okay. And then where did you get the knife? It was mine. Could That was a bayonet type knife? Large. Large knife. And that's the one you keep sharpening all the time. Right? That was your head You brought that with you because you always wear it. I didn't know you knew that much. Yeah. So, How did I know that? He's outside. Okay, he's out there by the shed. And Jason's in the house. Jason and the boy are in the house. Jeff Yeah, Jason and Jessie are in the house. Jason sat down next to Jessie on the couch. Right. And you guys are outside. And you're thinking now's time. He never said anything to you? No. He was just trying to help me. Okay. Despite Jeff's attempts to assist Thane, Thane ultimately ended up killing him. While this seems cruel enough, he's yet to reveal some most disturbing parts of this case. times did you stab him, do you think? Those are questions I don't know the answer to. them. Okay. Are you saying one or a hundred? I mean, the Multiple. Multiple times? Okay. Okay. Obviously, more than one. Okay. So, you stabbed him. Does he fight you back? Momentarily. But, I I didn't want it to be a prolonged thing. I wanted it to be as quick as possible. And unfortunately, I mean, it wasn't long, but It's not like television. It's different from what you expect. That's right. Yeah. And I'm not even much of a TV watcher. And obviously, I have enough intellect to know that it wouldn't be like television. Yeah. So, does he say anything to you after you first stabbed him? He didn't understand. Why Why would you do this? You know, what the He asked you, what the [ __ ] are you doing? What the Stop. Holy [ __ ] Jesus Christ. Those type of words. Did you say anything to him? No. Never said a word to him. So, finally he drops. Okay. What happens? What's the next thing you do? Well, in my mind, I knew that I couldn't just leave him there with two people who just saw me. Is it daylight at this point? Or getting dark? Or Obviously, this is premeditated murder is the term you use for it. I don't know. Yes, it is. It is. It is. You You Did you go there planning to kill him? Yes. You did. Okay. All right. How long before this were you planning this? It was really kind of a new revelation. Were you planning it like for days, weeks? I mean, When When did you start planning this? Maybe days. You planned it for days. Okay. Thought about it. Thought about it. Considered it. Considered. All right. So, when it come time that day, when you were driving I want to go back to explaining Okay. Sure. what my plan was. What is your plan? My plan was to kill Jeff Ryan. Yeah. Take his vehicle. And to kill all of those people. Uh-huh. And leave no witnesses and no evidence. Okay. Right. Unfortunately, Jason was there. Unfortunately, Jason and Jesse were there. Right. So, you you you kill him outside. Do you hide him at this point? Or you go take care of the other two? I go. Okay. What happens then? You have a lot of blood running at this point. Okay. And then you what do you do? You come around up the stairs in the house? This point, I'm I'm in a mode. I'm scared and I I have to finish what I started. Mhm. In my mind, Mhm. it was a job. It wasn't like a hit to me. Mhm. And they were on the couch. I started with Jason, but Jesse ran to the back room. Okay. Now, Jesse, was he sitting on the couch the first time you you stabbed him, I'm assuming? I'm I'm asking. Yes. You stabbed him? Yes. And does he stand up? Does he just He ran. I stabbed Jason. They were sitting side by side. Jesse ran to the back room. It's I I I thought Jason was done. Or You thought Jason I didn't think he was going anywhere. Yeah. Yeah. They both all of them talked. What did Jason say? Um he I'll explain. Sure. I mean, how detailed do you want to be? As much as you can. It's what would you swap for me a memory like that? What do you mean? Walk me through it. Yeah. I'm already guilty. I might as well. Right. I stabbed Jason and Jesse ran to the back room. So, I chased Jesse. And he was the quickest. He just said he was scared. The family does not need to know that. No, we do. Jason wasn't done. He wasn't down. He got up and he ran outside and he ran down the road and I chased him down the road and that's why he was in the ditch. Okay. And he I did pull him into the ditch cuz I wasn't going to leave him in the road. He went outside? You pulled him into the ditch? Yes, I did. Okay. And does he say anything to you as he's trying to get away from you? Does he Yeah, he didn't understand because obviously I just met him and there was no reason to him. You really only met him that very first time? really the first time I met him. Yeah. And you're stabbing him. I mean, he didn't understand. And did you do something else besides that then? I cut his throat. You cut his throat? How many times did you cut his throat? Two, maybe three slashes. Two, maybe three slashes? And it's obviously something I'd never done before. It was just What did you do from there? I uh I was I I made my round wasting time in front of this. I ran around the back of the building, in front of the building. I went inside. You know, I Where's the ice chest? I took a look and picked up whatever I had dropped. I lost a bracelet in the struggle. Did you find it? I found it and I had lost a hat and I found it. I knew I had the beer bottle and I thought I took the beer bottle, to be honest with you. I thought I put it in the back of the truck. If you look where you found the truck, you'll find the beer bottle, I thought. It's not. You grabbed Jess by mistake. That's why we couldn't understand how the Jess model get up the scene? You grabbed Jess by mistake. Okay. I think I think that model was already in the back of the truck. Okay. Okay. I threw my bike in the back of the truck. I went around and tried to wipe off any evidence. Yeah. You wiped up the scene. I found that washcloth that you found on the table. And I Yeah, I washed off in the sink. The rest of the scene. Yeah. Something like that. Now, where's Jess at this point? I'm sorry to go back there. Cuz you said that Jess went up and went running. You went back there. He went to the He ran straight to his back bedroom, and this is why I know where the bathroom was. Right. Yeah. And this is the occasion where I asked about the bathroom, and I did ask about the bathroom. He said be inside because Not that that's relevant. So, he goes to that back bedroom. What happens to Jason or Jess? Jess is the one who runs to the Yeah. Right. I got the names mixed up. The little boy, he runs to the back. Jason runs outside. Right. And he runs down to the end of the road. And that's where you stabbed Jess or him. That's where I chased him down. Did you go back in the trailer then to take care of the little boy or was he already dead at that point? Okay. So, you stabbed him on the couch. You stabbed Jason the couch, Jess in the bedroom. They What What happened to the little boy? You said you went back there. Any conversations with the little boy? No, he just said he was scared. He said he was scared. Okay. And how many times do you think you stabbed him? Well, I heard on the news five, so I'm assuming. Well, you know how the news is. I don't know. You don't know. Is it possible you stabbed him five five times? It's possible. Where Where on his body did you stab him? Front and back. How was he positioned? Do you remember the little boy? Yeah. He was He was behind his door. He's behind his door. Is he laying on his back or his stomach? on his stomach. He's laying on his stomach. Up on his knees. Up on his knees. Yeah. Okay. His hands are kind of like this. Detectives often gauge a suspect's remorse, and in Thayne's case, the answer is a big and clear no. Thayne's obsession with proving his intellect and capabilities is likely to be the very detail that contributes to his downfall in court. Part of me really wanted to talk about it because it would be exciting and something he was proud about. You want to stab him at one one at this point inside the trailer? How many times did you stab him inside the trailer when you stabbed him? Well, three or four anyway. Okay. I don't know. And you thought he was dead at this point? I thought he wasn't making it out of the house. Because that that's when you you cut you said you cut his throat twice at least. Once I pulled him into the ditch. You pulled him in the ditch first? I pulled him down into the ditch. Okay. I brought him down, put him to the ditch. I know I hit him in the head once and that was that shot. I was I was nervous. I was probably going to die. So, what did you do with Jeff? Did you leave him there or did you hide him or what? That's right where he landed. Cuz he was like in the shed he was found in the chicken coop on his back underneath the thing. I know it seems like a weird spot, but that's how he was. Did you drag him in there? No. Or did he like try to get away from you? He tried to get away from me inside. And you and you went in you like on your knees stabbing. Yeah. There's a there is a blue hood hood to a lawnmower there. Did you move that? Did you put that hood up against him one way or another? There's a blue hood to a lawnmower in the chicken coop also. No. No. No. I never looked back around. I never did that. I was What's that? I was tired. I felt exhausted. I felt I I didn't know how I felt. Thayne is struggling to make sense of his emotions after the crime, but he wasn't the only one involved. Bob Sr., Tamara's father, played a significant role as well. Jeff Ryan's 1989 Ford F-150 pickup truck that was missing from his house was later set on fire by Thayne with the help of Bob. They waited to cover up the evidence. Following this, Bob Sr. even transported Thayne to New Hampshire to stay with his son, Robert Strout the second. some point you come back and get Bob Sr. to help you burn the truck. That's what Bob's saying. He says he sees you he sees you covered in blood and and he says to you what the hell happened and you told him everything that happened. And I know you don't want to get Bob involved but Bob's already told us. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So tell us about that. He just Did he drive you down there to uh Tamara's that night? Tuesday night? Or was it Wednesday morning when you first saw Bob? What night? It was dark. You just killed him. Did you tell Bob right then? Or did you tell him Wednesday daytime? I told him right after I did it. You told him right after you did it, right? What? He was shocked? What did he say to you? Not much. I just asked him to bring me some coffee. He told me to stay away from the house cuz I was covered. Yeah. Cuz Bob even talks about how he went down there and and helped you burn the truck. When you burned the truck, did he give you a ride back after that? So He gave me a ride. Mhm. Obviously I drove the truck. Obviously my hair was burned. Actually it blew me up. It did? Knocked my ass to the Did you cut your hair since then? Yes, sir. And shaved and my face is already healed. No No cuts on you. You never cut your hands at all? No cuts. I was wearing a glove on this hand. You were wearing a glove on that hand? For the truck. For the truck. When you stabbed him? No. No gloves. So, you think you planned this for a couple days to kill Jeff? What should happen? What should we do? What do you mean? What should we do now? We as police, what should we do? You need to arrest me. For starters. What should you do? What were you thinking the last couple days? Since we came here the other day and I told that to you, I'm going to get you, you said I know. What's going on in your head? What are you thinking? The blood, the fingerprints, the blood. You wanted to know what we had. I could tell you knew. Yeah. And you could tell I knew you knew. Yeah. Why didn't you run? The things are saying. Because it It's not in me. Where would I go? Run from what? We were kind of thinking that on the way down you were going to be here. We thought you would be. Where are you going to go? I thought you weren't there. I mean, I had it in my mind. I'm like, yeah, I could slip out the back door and live in the woods, but For how long? For how long? Now the detectives are going to play a strategic game, complimenting Thane on his skills and professionalism. Their praise would seem genuine, but it'll be a calculated move to keep him engaged and potentially reveal more. And one of the reasons I asked you, you're very proficient in what you did. Where did you learn this? That's just it. It is That's another thing that we're curious about. Did Did how to do this from any military training, martial arts training, TV, movies, videos, video games? The way you stabbed it was very proficient. Self knowledge. I mean, it was my first time I first stabbing anybody really. I've never even shot a deer. I've never even shot a deer. I mean, I've cleaned a deer. I've cleaned a skunk. I really barely hunted. But, it was just mental focus. And I I've studied things that I shouldn't have studied and know things that I shouldn't have studied. So, you you you read a lot of literature on assassins? I mean, I I we're back to the original question is then where did you learn to stab like that? I didn't. Tell Tell me the technique you used to stab. Was there anything significant the way you stabbed them? Not really, overhand. It wasn't like a stab in and out. Was there anything significant that you did when you went in and out? With the knife? I didn't try and turn it or anything. I didn't try to be fancy. I just tried to be quick. And I wanted to be quick cuz I didn't want them to suffer. Yeah. It was It was quick. It was calculated what the stab was. We interview people, right? What the evidence people are telling us is it was a quick, confident, cool, and very unique that it was a stab, twist, out every one of them was almost military. They said whoever did this is either trained or done training on it or military person, assassin, like a like a seal, Navy SEAL type of thing. So, really I guess somewhere in the subconscious of my mind I've developed myself as just that, an assassin. And I with no with no training. Okay. Have you ever practiced stabbing? Sheer mental imagination. Just Have you ever read literature on stab, how to stab? No. No. No. No. No. Never read literature on how to stab. I mean, I've heard I've heard different things from from different people, but nothing like that. Okay. Okay, as soon as you did it, how were you feeling then? Were you feeling After Jeff or after the whole thing? All three. After Okay, let's start with Jeff. As soon as you killed Jeff, what were you thinking? How did you feel? What is it? Mission accomplished or No, beyond the brink. Okay. Too far. And if I wanted to get away with it, it wasn't done. So, I I went in and I I killed those two other people. After you killed them, how did you feel? Now there are no more witnesses. Uncertain. I wasn't sure if I left fingerprints. Obviously, I didn't. I didn't wear gloves. Were you trying to cover your tracks? I wouldn't have killed those other two people if I wasn't trying to cover my tracks. And reflecting, I wouldn't have taken the truck only I had it in mind that I was going to go see Alvin, so but by the time I got to the dump after the truck honked at me, I I was just too shook up. Do you still think you did the right thing? Do I think I've done the right thing? No. Cuz you went there saying you rid society of the evils, right? Do you feel that you've done that? Do you feel you've done the right thing or what are you feeling right now? Jeff fact you just confessed to us, but how are you feeling? Jeff Ryan was a bad man. Yes. It just go back to how you said he affected your life. The other two people were perfectly innocent. And I mean I didn't know anything about them. Back to Jeff, do you still feel you did the right thing? I'm trying to pick your brain. Do you How do you feel right now? Do you feel you did the right thing by killing Jeff? Well, here I am ready to go to prison. That's a hard question to answer. Do I feel like the world's a better place without Jeff Riot? Yeah. I'm uncertain. It's yet to be seen. Thayne's motive for killing a man who was trying to help him, a person he had only recently met, and a defenseless child is so unusual that they are investing additional time to analyze not only his motive, but also his overall personality. How you feeling right now ready to go to I mean, partly disappointed. I mean, I got caught and there was a lot of weight behind that. Absolutely. And I wouldn't have done had I known it was going to be that way, I could have not Oh, it's all How are we treating you right now? You guys have been gentle. Are we treating you okay? You've been gentle. Yeah. And you understand that you didn't have to talk to us, right? I understand that. Okay. I could have not said anything. I could have asked for a lawyer. I didn't have to tell you [ __ ] I want to It's very important to me that I'm treating you okay. Understand? Do you want some Do you want something to eat? If you're hungry, we can make that happen. I mean, I can get you immediately I mean, I'm not hungry, too. I don't know McDonald's or I don't know what else is around here, but the people tell me if you guys are hungry, we'll get food for you. All right. We have granola bars or something to get you by. Murder doesn't make you hungry. You did the right thing by telling us. By telling you. Of all the people in the world that do drugs, there was some very bad people there. Why did you pick Jeff to ready to kill? Yeah, he You said he does drugs, he's a very bad person. It wasn't that he does drugs, it's that the drugs he sold and the things he did to some other people. He used to He's responsible for Mariah going to foster care. He's He used to treat Craig very poorly. You know, just make him stand certain ways and kick him over. I I've heard terrible things. Mhm. So, you didn't like him? Dog fight [ __ ] like that. Weird [ __ ] He would call him that? You're saying? He was. He was what? Dog He was a dog Jeff was? Yes. And how do you know that? Here's say. Okay. But there wasn't a doubt in my mind and I don't think there is a doubt in my mind. That he was a I mean Alvin was the real target. Alvin made more sense. Alvin was currently still a bad drug dealer. Mhm. And I'd heard numerous bad stories about him as well. Just about character. Stories about shooting at people from a lake. Different stuff like that. This is unreal. Yeah. That's what they're all going to say. I'm sorry? That's what they're all going to say. That this is unreal. In my mind, they were the team. Nothing like this was anticipated. Right. Okay. From both From anyone that I was with me. Solely me. And I committed the crime and I'll take the responsibility. Yeah. And and you're you're you're you're going to want to. Uh one of the things I have to ask, too, is and there's no other better way of saying it. Jason was found very unique. Jason was the one that you said you you would cut his throat. And uh I already mentioned earlier, uh, it is impressive the way you did it. In a morbid type of way, it's impressive your technique. Unless you're telling me there's some sort of program for people like me where I could do some good, then that's hardly a compliment, but Well, I say I I don't mean it to be a compliment, but what they're telling me is that the way it was done it was it was it was professional. It was like a professional killer. Because I'm a professional type of person, and You're going to do it in a no way. It's like the German army and general staff. And the reason the German troops were more efficient than any other troops were wasn't because they were a militaristic people, it was because they were a professional people. Yeah. They weren't They weren't these warmongers, they were simply professionals. And even though they voted for Hitler's policies, I mean And so And you're a professional. And so I guess I guess I don't mean I don't want to mean it to be a compliment or whatever, but I was trying to be professional about it. Yes. And you did. One of the things about the way the body was is is kind of unique also is that Jason's underwear, his pants and underwear. Did anything happen there as far as his pants and underwear go? I grabbed his pants to try to get You did. Was his pants pulled down at any point? Not by me. Well, by him? Was his underwear at any particular part His pants were very tight. And there was something very very unique about his underwear. Really? Yeah. And I'm wondering was that something that you did or he did or I don't know anything about his underwear. I think he had white underwear. I don't And how do you know he had white underwear against his Cuz you could see the line. You could see the line. You could see the top of it, but Could you see the top of it in the front here? Or in the back? Both. In both? Yeah. I think his arm was sticking out a little bit. And I did grab him by the pants and pull him in. Though you didn't beat me up, but I'm almost ready to ask you to shoot me. I'm serious. See, I'm doing good. My internal voice has stopped it. Why should we shoot you? My son might told these youth falsely no gift is like to liberty than never live in slavery. What do you think? I'm your slave at this point. I'm a slave of the government of Maine. Federal government depends on where I go. How do you feel about that? What what's going through your head right now? I'd rather die. Honestly, to spend the entire life in prison. I mean, obviously, the families need to know what happened. They deserve an apology. It won't be much. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. What should we tell the family? What do you want us to tell the family? What do you want us to tell the little boy's mother? That it wasn't personal. That it wasn't to hurt her. That I'm sorry. What can you tell her honestly? I don't know. I can't bring it back from the dead. You can't send me to Hades. No. But you put him there. You killed the son. What do you want us to say to the mother? Or what do you want us to say to uh Jason's wife and three little kids? He has three kids, what, one, two, and ten or something? Anything you want us to tell those kids? Other than the fact you're just trying to see if you're proficient, you know? I'm asking how long. But I'll tell you anything you want. I'll tell you anything you want. Tell them that he died bravely. It's the best thing you could tell. Did he die bravely? Or did you just want us to tell them that? Not really. He didn't die bravely? No. You mentioned he was talking to you. He came back out of the woods, you said. He He was trying to Trying to get away from you. Jason. Jason talked to you. And he came back out. Yeah. What did he say when he came out of the woods? He just didn't understand, and I wouldn't expect him to. Did you say anything to him? No. I told you I didn't talk. I know, but refresh your memory, you know. Did you say you're sorry? No. Subconsciously, yes. Yeah, but out loud? Out loud, no. No way to know what the boy You never said anything to him. All right. We're going to go talk to our people, see what's next. It's clear that if he were even slightly smart, he would have secured a lawyer. Though given the evidence, it might not have made much difference in his case. I know sorry is not good enough. No, I know. I know. But you can throw it out there. Right. Maybe not to her but about her. I miss her. Maybe that's not the right thing to say. Yeah. I'm more of curious about anything than that will lead me to all these more gifts. What would happen if you got away with this? We didn't catch you. Would you have continued? You think you would have done this again? No. Would you have gone found that other guy that you had on your list? Yeah. Not anytime this decade. No. I was completely ready to settle. You know, best possible outcome. Okay. Honestly. Yeah. That good things could grow where evil was destroyed. You might not see it like that, but it's quite possible that these families will now become closer or stronger where they weren't. That maybe those children might be better growing up without their father. From what I understand, he wasn't necessarily their biological father and wasn't necessarily a good man. As for the boy, he was so young. Too young. But from what I understand, he too was well on his way to Thomas E. Warten Yeah. Here I am ready to go to prison. But as for me I have a feeling what's going to happen is this I'm either going to die in prison or be committed to a death sentence. The best possible outcome I still have a lot of good nature to me. And I could still be used for good purposes. Gardening or otherwise. I still have a love for things that grow. I still have dreams. What do you see? I see a young, smart guy. With tremendous ability for a a variety of things. A big waste. Those other people will carry the memories. Shakespeare. A crown, a cottage, or a grave. It's a trick. The cottage is a grave. There's only one way to go. It's for the crown. I wanted to be governor of this state. Why? Cuz I know a lot I know a lot about this state. I know how I can help. But all that's power and authority. What I know about authority is that authority was taken at a point, a sword, or a gun. Okay. I guess we're ready. It's as illegal as anything else. We'll take your coffee, but um you're going to arrest you for being a fugitive from justice. Okay. You're going to be charged with three counts of murder uh from the state of Maine. All right. Um Can I maybe finish my coffee here? No, it's hot. Okay. Okay. Good luck to you. May God have mercy on your soul. Thayne's emphasis on his intellect and his failure to show true remorse may suggest narcissistic traits where self-image and validation are prioritized over the welfare of others. Finally, Thayne was arrested for his crimes. In June 2012, Superior Court Justice E. Allen Hunter sentenced 22-year-old Thayne Ormsby to three consecutive life terms in prison for the murders. After reaching a plea deal with the state, 64-year-old Robert Strout was sentenced to 4 years in prison for charges related to hindering apprehension and arson. Although Thayne was finally put behind bars, the family of the victims will never truly find justice. His arrest may have silenced him, but it can never heal the deep wounds or bring back the lives he so senselessly took. Thanks again for tuning in. Drop a like if you like this video, and check out my Patreon page if you want to support the channel even more. Stay safe, and I'll see you in the next one.