A tree trimmer based in a rural area of northern California, was accused of committing serial murders with throat cuts that left at least three people dead, the prosecutors who are hearing the case announced Thursday.
Ryan Scott Blinston , by year old, from the small town of Oroville , was charged Wednesday with murder, attempted murder and arson. The allegations include the request for special sentences because Blinston used a deadly weapon, attacked an elderly victim, and committed multiple murders.
1) TCDA and Butte County DA announce the joint prosecution of Ryan Scott Blinston, 37, of Oroville for the murder of Loreen Severs & attempted murder of Homer Severs, both of Los Molinos. Blinston is also charged with two separate murders and an attempted murder in Butte County.
– Tehama County District Attorney (@TehamaCountyDA) May 13, 2021
Blinston was indicted on the charges Thursday and could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Blinston had been in jail since he was arrested last year and charged with another neck-cutting homicide, authorities said.
It was not immediately known if the defendant has an attorney representing him.
Blinston was working for a tree trimming service in Butte and Tehama counties, north of Sacramento, this past May and June, when he returned to several clients’ homes after his work was completed and residents beheaded, according to prosecutors .
Loreen Severs, 88, de Los Molinos died and her husband, Homer Severs, 91, survived but died in December of an unrelated illness, authorities said.
Blinston is also accused of killing Sandra George , of 82 years, already an acquaintance, Vicky Cline, of 57, both from Oroville. He is also accused of setting Cline’s car on fire, reported KTVL.com
Following a multi-agency investigation, 37 – year-old Ryan Scott Blinston of Oroville was charged with three murders and attempted murder, while in jail for attempted murder. https: / /t.co/LMz2CjK5vt
– News 10 (@KTVL) May 13, 2021
“The blood and DNA evidence outside and inside Blinston’s car was compared by a coroner to that of Cline. His body was later discovered by a fisherman on the Feather River near Belden, ”the Butte and Tehama County District Attorneys’ offices, which filed the charges in the County Superior Court, said in a joint statement. Butte.
An arrest that saved a life
Blinston was arrested before dawn on 14 June, about a week after Cline’s disappearance, by a Butte County Sheriff’s SWAT team that had tracked him to a mobile home in Berry Creek, a densely wooded and isolated area, where authorities planned to arrest him on suspicion of burning. Cline’s car, prosecutors said.
“As the team approached the motorhome, they heard the muffled screams of a man inside and loud knocks outside the motorhome. The blows turned out to be caused by Blinston trying to enter the motorhome with an ax, ”says the statement from the district attorneys.
Blinston ran into the woods, refused to drop the ax and was captured after a short fight and the use of a stun gun and pepper spray, authorities said.
Blinston had met the owner of the motorhome before and then stayed because he told the man that he was afraid to leave after dark due to the bears, the resident told authorities.
The man said he was sleeping when he woke up and found Blinsto n attacking him with a knife Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey said.
Blinston cut his throat, but the man said he was able to kick him out of the motorhome and shut him down the door, Ramsey said.
A medic treated the seriously injured man and he was transported in plane to a hospital.
The SWAT team may have saved the man’s life, Ramsey said, because the isolated area had no cell phone service and it was unlikely anyone would have heard the victim’s cries for help.
Blinston pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in that case last year.
Blinston had previous arrests, including in 2013 for allegedly driving a stolen Lexus and possessing three weapons taken in robberies.
However, none of his previous arrests involved the level of violence seen in these attacks, Ramsey said.