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{{short description|American murderer (1948–2015)}}
{{for|the English spree killer|Hungerford massacre}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2015}}
'''Michael Wayne Ryan''' (August 3, 1948 – May 24, 2015) was an American convicted murderer, [[Christian Identity]] [[cult leader]], and [[white supremacist]].
 
==Criminal careerCrimes==
Ryan was the leader of a small, racist, anti-government group that occupied a compound near [[ThayerRulo, MissouriNebraska]], in the early 1980s. He and hisThe group of followers had loose ties to the [[Posse Comitatus (U.S. movement)|Posse Comitatus]], andwith links to the [[Christian Identity]] movement. HisSome of the main teachings includedwithin the group revolved around [[White supremacy|supremacy of the white race]], [[antisemitism]], [[homophobia]], the downfall and hatred of "[[race traitors]]", [[drug addiction|drug addicts]] and non-European-descended American citizens, and a general distrust of all established earthly authority, includingespecially governments. He and hislaw followersenforcement. carriedOne outof monthsthe ofgroup's burglarycore undermessages thewas, covermore ofor night.less, Resellingthat the itemswhite obtainedrace was "chosen" by theftGod and all other human beings supportedare the activitieschildren of Satan, via the groupso-called financially“[[serpent andseed]]” builttheory. upMany weaponsof andthe suppliesrecruited theyfollowers believed wouldwere bedisillusioned neededfarmers forfrom the imminentlocal battlearea ofwith [[Armageddon]]seemingly nothing to lose, whichwho theywere assumedeasily wouldinfluenced occurafter inhaving thehad formlost ofmoney aor raceproperty war.<refdue name="Wickstrom"/>to economic strains at the time.
 
For months, he and his followers committed burglaries under the cover of night reselling the items to financially support the group. They stockpiled weapons and supplies believing they would be needed during an imminent battle of [[Armageddon]], assumed to occur in the form of a [[Ethnic conflict|race war]].<ref name="Wickstrom"/>
Ryan was arrested in 1984 after reports and a criminal investigation indicated that he had abused and killed five-year-old Luke Stice and later killed fellow member James Thimm after he had tortured the latter for several days, beating him, whipping him, forcing him to have sex with a goat, then shooting off his fingertips, skinning him alive, breaking his legs, and raping him with a shovel before finally stomping him to death.<ref name="Wickstrom">{{cite web|url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2004/winter/return-of-the-pastor?page=0,2|title=James Wickstrom Faces Attacks, Continues to Preach Christian Identity Doctrine|work=splcenter.org|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
 
Ryan was tried,arrested convictedin and1985 [[capitalafter punishment|sentencedreports toand death]]a oncriminal Septemberinvestigation 12,indicated 1985.that Ryanhe had claimedabused toand havekilled beenfive-year-old inLuke directStice contactand withlater Godkilled andfellow vowedgroup tomember spendJames hisThimm days(age in25) prisonafter rewritinghe had tortured the Biblelatter for several days, butbeating sincehim, recantedwhipping onhim, both.then Heshooting diedoff ofhis naturalfingertips, causesskinning athim thealive, [[Tecumsehbreaking Statehis Correctionallegs, Institution]]and onraping [[deathhim row]]with ona Mayshovel 24,and 2015pickaxe before finally stomping him to death.<ref name="Wickstrom">{{cite web|url=http://www.omahasplcenter.comorg/newsget-informed/nebraskaintelligence-report/nebraskabrowse-deathall-row-inmate-michael-ryan-diesissues/2004/winter/article_f35c008creturn-02e4of-11e5the-a86b-b7ba1e438c2c.htmlpastor?page=0,2|title=CultJames leaderWickstrom MichaelFaces RyanAttacks, diesContinues onto NebraskaPreach deathChristian Identity rowDoctrine|work=Omahasplcenter.comorg|accessdate=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
 
Ryan was tried to a jury in Omaha, Nebraska after a change of venue. The jury convicted him of [[first degree murder]] and the court [[capital punishment|sentenced Ryan to death]] on April 10, 1986, and October 16, 1986, respectively. He claimed to be in direct contact with [[God]] and vowed to spend his days in prison rewriting the [[Bible]], but he later recanted both statements.
 
==Sources==
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*{{cite web |url=http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/464317.html |title=Judge Lifts Killer's Stay Of Execution |publisher=wowt.com |date=September 12, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2004/10/30/nebraska/doc41831c8b3de9e890549651.txt |title=Circuit court rejects appeal by cult leader on death row |work=[[Lincoln Journal Star]] |date=October 30, 2004}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.religionnewsblog.com/4395/judge-lifts-ryans-stay-of-execution |title=Judge lifts Ryan’sRyan's stay of execution |work=Religion News Blog |date=September 13, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/04/26/news/local/doc462fd822df307970162874.txt |title=Ryan to make execution protocol argument |work=[[Lincoln Journal Star]] |date=April 26, 2007 }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.nadp.net/deathrow.htm |title=Currently on Death Row |publisher=Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty |access-date=June 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525043621/http://www.nadp.net/deathrow.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2007 |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=757 |title=Identity Crisis |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center |pages=3}}
*{{cite book|author=Rod Colvin|title=Evil harvest: The shocking true story of cult murder in the American heartland|publisher=Bantam|year=1992|isbn=0-553-29868-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/evilharvesttrues00colv}}
*{{cite web |url=http://ne.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.%2FSAC%2FNE%2F1995%2F19950721_0004.NE.htm/qx |title=07/21/95 STATEState NEBRASKAof Nebraska v. MICHAELMichael W. RYANRyan |publisher=© 1997 VersusLaw Inc. |access-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009020955/http://ne.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.%2FSAC%2FNE%2F1995%2F19950721_0004.NE.htm/qx |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
== External links ==
 
*{{findagrave|38171908|Luke Stice}}
* [https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska/supreme-court/1989/946-0.html ''State v. Ryan'', Supreme Court of Nebraska, 1989]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/26/us/man-on-nebraskas-death-row-since-1985-dies-in-prison.html ''The New York Times'', Man on Nebraska’s Death Row Since 1985 Dies in Prison]
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Michael W.}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:American white supremacistsrapists]]▼
[[Category:American murderers of children]]
[[Category:American people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:American people convicted of torture]]
[[Category:PrisonersAmerican people who died in Americanprison detentioncustody]]▼
[[Category:American prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:American white supremacists]]
[[Category:People convicted of murder by Nebraska]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by Nebraska]]
[[Category:American peoplePrisoners who died in prisonNebraska custodydetention]]
▲[[Category:Prisoners who died in American detention]]
▲[[Category:American white supremacists]]
[[Category:Christian Identity]]
[[Category:Cult leaders]]
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