fed: former wyoming state trooper planned murder

[Syncrosonix]

Bern Neary
2009 May 20
CHEYENNE, Wyo. Federal authorities say a former Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a Wal-Mart truck in January and took the driver into custody as part of an aborted plan to kill him and crash the truck into his patrol car to collect damages from the company.

Franklin Ryle, 41, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges alleging he violated the driver's civil rights by kidnapping him, carried a firearm in the process of committing a crime and tried to persuade another trooper to help him.

Ryle is no longer working as a state trooper. His attorney, David Weiss, declined to comment after the hearing.

In a previously sealed affidavit, FBI agent Richard P. Fanelli said Ryle stopped a Wal-Mart truck on Jan. 8 near Douglas, handcuffed the driver and told him he was under arrest on a Colorado warrant of failing to appear in court. Douglas is 115 miles northwest of Cheyenne.

According to Fanelli, the driver told investigators Ryle drove him to Douglas, parked the patrol car outside a house and left him locked in the back seat. Ryle then took the driver back to his truck and released him.

The affidavit said Ryle told investigators that he had driven to his home with the truck driver because he had a sick child. Ryle said he released the driver after checking with dispatchers a second time about any outstanding warrants and learning that there was none.

However, the affidavit stated that investigators checked national computer records and found that there never had been an initial report of a warrant against the driver that evening to justify his arrest.

The affidavit also stated that Ryle later told Trooper Devan Jarred Henderson that he couldn't target a Wal-Mart truck because they're equipped with GPS. Such systems would record that the truck had been stationary for a period of time.

Ryle had discussed his plan earlier with Henderson, the affidavit said. It alleged that among ideas, Ryle had suggested Henderson might drive the truck into his patrol car so that Ryle could be injured and sue Wal-Mart. Henderson was not at the scene when Ryle stopped the truck.

Authorities began investigating on Jan. 14 after Ryle's wife told her brother, a member of the Casper Police Department, about the alleged scheme.

Andrea Ryle told investigators that her husband told her he planned to smash the truck driver's head against the windshield, "to make it appear he died from injuries from the crash." She said he then intended to drive the truck down the road and smash it into his patrol car.

"She said her husband told her that if she helped him stage the accident, he `would not ever have to work again,'" the affidavit stated.

Col. Sam Powell, highway patrol administrator, said Ryle was no longer employed as of Tuesday. He declined to say if Ryle was fired or resigned.

An attempt to reach Henderson at the Highway Patrol office was not successful Tuesday. Powell said Henderson has been on administrative leave since


Copyright Associated Press.

posted on lawofficer.com 5/21/09

avc, so much for *experienced* truckers likely being insane killers, eh, amirite?

[Orangetxguy]

Just goes to show.

I remember back in the early 80's, there was a pair of California Highway Patrol Officer's, that worked I-15 and I-40 out of the Barstow office, whom were kidnapping young women whom they had pulled over on a speeding beef, holding them for days on end while raping them, then dumping their bodies out in the Utah, Arizona and Nevada deserts.

It isn't just "truckers' out there killing. Ted Bundy was no trucker, and he managed to kill quite a few women, all across the country.

[Syncrosonix]

i wonder if the walmart truck driver was c.r. england wally world dedicated or if it was one of wally world's drivers.

[avc]

Now you guys see why GPS is good in this day and age, so are cameras on the dash board that hook up to real time servers.

Outlaws are outlaws no matter what uniform they wear !!!

[Creek Jackson]

Let's not forget Gary Ridgway. Convicted of 48 murders, confessed to 71, believed to have killed 90. Most all the victims were prostitutes picked up on the road in the east metro Seattle area. Their bodies were dumped near the Green River Washington area..
Ridgway painted trucks at the Kenworth plant in Renton for thirty years . He is now 60 years old serving time at Walla Walla.

[GMAN]

I find it interesting that when someone commits a crime they rarely list much about what he does for a living unless it is a truck driver. When a driver is involved then they seem to want to blame the entire profession or industry rather than the individual.

[golfhobo]

Let's not forget Gary Ridgway. Convicted of 48 murders, confessed to 71, believed to have killed 90. Most all the victims were prostitutes picked up on the road in the east metro Seattle area. Their bodies were dumped near the Green River Washington area..
Ridgway painted trucks at the Kenworth plant in Renton for thirty years . He is now 60 years old serving time at Walla Walla.

I don't know, Creek.... sounds more like he might have been an OTR driver for some coolie outfit! You know....

Worked 90...logged 71...paid for only 48!

Oh look.... Hobo made a funny!

[Creek Jackson]

I don't know, Creek.... sounds more like he might have been an OTR driver for some coolie outfit! You know....

Worked 90...logged 71...paid for only 48!

Oh look.... Hobo made a funny!

Well, you certainly elicited a chuckle out of me!

Now where is Belpre?

[GMAN]

Maybe these are local drivers who are blaming or pretending to be otr drivers.

[Creek Jackson]

I find it interesting that when someone commits a crime they rarely list much about what he does for a living unless it is a truck driver. When a driver is involved then they seem to want to blame the entire profession or industry rather than the individual.

I think it may be due to the relative anonymity of the profession. Much less chance of libel or slander if it can be said or written that the individual is a truck driver, but not have to give other details.

[Orangetxguy]

Let's not forget Gary Ridgway. Convicted of 48 murders, confessed to 71, believed to have killed 90. Most all the victims were prostitutes picked up on the road in the east metro Seattle area. Their bodies were dumped near the Green River Washington area..
Ridgway painted trucks at the Kenworth plant in Renton for thirty years . He is now 60 years old serving time at Walla Walla.

LOL...Gary limited his "Kill Zone" to the Greater Puget Sound region!

The Green River is not a city, but an actual water way, thet stretch's from the Cascade Mtns, down to Elliot Bay, in downtown Seattle.


He also dumped bodies along I-90, Hiway18 in the Auburn area, US2 between Everett and Stevens Pass, and along Hiway 410, between Enumclaw and Mount Rainer National Park.

Her was very proud of the paint jobs he laid, on KW trucks.

Maybe he is a CAD reader! You never know.....He might get out on parole and get a job as a "Local" driver making $85,000 a year!

[Creek Jackson]

LOL...Gary limited his "Kill Zone" to the Greater Puget Sound region!

The Green River is not a city, but an actual water way, thet stretch's from the Cascade Mtns, down to Elliot Bay, in downtown Seattle.


He also dumped bodies along I-90, Hiway18 in the Auburn area, US2 between Everett and Stevens Pass, and along Hiway 410, between Enumclaw and Mount Rainer National Park.

Her was very proud of the paint jobs he laid, on KW trucks.

Maybe he is a CAD reader! You never know.....He might get out on parole and get a job as a "Local" driver making $85,000 a year!

Thanks for the corrections. I knew Green River was not a city, just did not clarify that well enough I guess.

Most of his victims were picked up along Washington State Highway 99.

During his confession he did state that all his victims were killed within King County, Washington.

[golfhobo]

Well, you certainly elicited a chuckle out of me!

Now where is Belpre?

Belpre SHOULD be at the Indianapolis Speedway right now... drinking a beer that should be MINE! Another missed opportunity I may regret forever! Hopefully, we will still be friends next year, and he will make the offer again!

I just hope he doesn't claim to have beaten my time with Danica!

[Orangetxguy]

Thanks for the corrections. I knew Green River was not a city, just did not clarify that well enough I guess.

Most of his victims were picked up along Washington State Highway 99.

During his confession he did state that all his victims were killed within King County, Washington.

Yeah... I saw his "Kill Van" sitting on the flatbed tow truck that hauled it from Federal Way, where Gary lived, to the King County impound lot in Seattle.

At one time I lived less than 3 blocks from that piece of work. That was when I had an apartment in Federal Way.

I remember that just before they picked up Ridgway, they also caught a serial killer that lived in Spokane, and was an Army Reserve helicopter pilot. That piece of work killed women nationwide, while he was on "duty postings" and training exercises at various Army Bases.

That guy had a wife and 4 kids as I remember the news stories. 3 girls and a boy. I would not want to be in their shoes. What an ordeal to have to life through.

I wonder...does that make every man in the military a potential "Serial Killer"??

How about that AVC?

[golfhobo]

Now you guys see why GPS is good in this day and age, so are cameras on the dash board that hook up to real time servers.

Outlaws are outlaws no matter what uniform they wear !!!

NO.... I DON'T. GPS, unless it is the driver's choice, is an infringement of my 4th Ammendment rights. Same with dash cams. I DO believe that they should be mandatory for cops and many other public servants (who give UP certain rights with the job.) WE the people, should have a right to protection from those we entrust with GUNS and our safety. But, I want nothing to do with the Orwellian age!

Ever see the movie "Minority Report?"

Just for your consideration.... who said the "killer" truck driver (referenced in this or other threads) was an "outlaw" trucker? He might have had the tightest logs in the business! It is not necessary to cheat your logs in order to commit a crime. In fact, the BEST alibi such a killer could HAVE would be tracking devices and EOBR's.

I DO agree that the officer's knowledge of the GPS system might have had SOME deterrent affect in this situation, but I believe it had MORE to do with the rational objections of his wife and fellow officer.

But, it would not have stopped him from perpetrating the crime on an O/O or smaller company driver. His mistake was in thinking only of the deep pockets of WalMart, rather than the smaller company who couldn't afford to "lawyer up" to fight him.

You call them "outlaws" here, but in another thread you called them the criminally insane. And it is true that the uniform doesn't matter. Witness, the soldier in Iraq who last week killed 5 or so of his comrades in arms in a stress clinic, or that Vietnam vet stationed in NC years ago.... can't remember his name.

No.... uniforms don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Education doesn't matter. Technology probably won't matter in MOST cases. The criminal mind is often "genius" by nature, relative to the technology of the day. What matters is the technology, training and "experience" of those who strive to solve these crimes.... not a government who would try to preclude them by abrogating our civil rights.

I am not willing to give up my PERSONAL rights in the "hope" that it will preclude the criminal mind from taking a life. "I" am responsible for making sure that life is not MINE.

[Orangetxguy]

NO.... I DON'T. GPS, unless it is the driver's choice, is an infringement of my 4th Ammendment rights. Same with dash cams. I DO believe that they should be mandatory for cops and many other public servants (who give UP certain rights with the job.) WE the people, should have a right to protection from those we entrust with GUNS and our safety. But, I want nothing to do with the Orwellian age!

Ever see the movie "Minority Report?"

Just for your consideration.... who said the "killer" truck driver (referenced in this or other threads) was an "outlaw" trucker? He might have had the tightest logs in the business! It is not necessary to cheat your logs in order to commit a crime. In fact, the BEST alibi such a killer could HAVE would be tracking devices and EOBR's.

I DO agree that the officer's knowledge of the GPS system might have had SOME deterrent affect in this situation, but I believe it had MORE to do with the rational objections of his wife and fellow officer.

But, it would not have stopped him from perpetrating the crime on an O/O or smaller company driver. His mistake was in thinking only of the deep pockets of WalMart, rather than the smaller company who couldn't afford to "lawyer up" to fight him.

You call them "outlaws" here, but in another thread you called them the criminally insane. And it is true that the uniform doesn't matter. Witness, the soldier in Iraq who last week killed 5 or so of his comrades in arms in a stress clinic, or that Vietnam vet stationed in NC years ago.... can't remember his name.

No.... uniforms don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Education doesn't matter. Technology probably won't matter in MOST cases. The criminal mind is often "genius" by nature, relative to the technology of the day. What matters is the technology, training and "experience" of those who strive to solve these crimes.... not a government who would try to preclude them by abrogating our civil rights.

I am not willing to give up my PERSONAL rights in the "hope" that it will preclude the criminal mind from taking a life. "I" am responsible for making sure that life is not MINE.

Now...YOU stop that! Your making just far to much sense!

[golfhobo]

Now...YOU stop that! Your making just far to much sense!

Sorry! I'm having a "Conservative" moment!

Besides.... the Rev apparently has the weekend off, so I am free to play!

Hope you're having a great Memorial Day weekend there, Stan! You guys got all the trees turned right side up yet?

[Orangetxguy]

Sorry! I'm having a "Conservative" moment!

Besides.... the Rev apparently has the weekend off, so I am free to play!

Hope you're having a great Memorial Day weekend there, Stan! You guys got all the trees turned right side up yet?

Oh yeah. Most of them "downers" were turned into cardboard boxes month's ago!!

Having a pleasant MD weekend and hope you are too!

[Windwalker]

NO.... I DON'T. GPS, unless it is the driver's choice, is an infringement of my 4th Ammendment rights. Same with dash cams. I DO believe that they should be mandatory for cops and many other public servants (who give UP certain rights with the job.) WE the people, should have a right to protection from those we entrust with GUNS and our safety. But, I want nothing to do with the Orwellian age!

Ever see the movie "Minority Report?"

Just for your consideration.... who said the "killer" truck driver (referenced in this or other threads) was an "outlaw" trucker? He might have had the tightest logs in the business! It is not necessary to cheat your logs in order to commit a crime. In fact, the BEST alibi such a killer could HAVE would be tracking devices and EOBR's.

I DO agree that the officer's knowledge of the GPS system might have had SOME deterrent affect in this situation, but I believe it had MORE to do with the rational objections of his wife and fellow officer.

But, it would not have stopped him from perpetrating the crime on an O/O or smaller company driver. His mistake was in thinking only of the deep pockets of WalMart, rather than the smaller company who couldn't afford to "lawyer up" to fight him.

You call them "outlaws" here, but in another thread you called them the criminally insane. And it is true that the uniform doesn't matter. Witness, the soldier in Iraq who last week killed 5 or so of his comrades in arms in a stress clinic, or that Vietnam vet stationed in NC years ago.... can't remember his name.

No.... uniforms don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Education doesn't matter. Technology probably won't matter in MOST cases. The criminal mind is often "genius" by nature, relative to the technology of the day. What matters is the technology, training and "experience" of those who strive to solve these crimes.... not a government who would try to preclude them by abrogating our civil rights.

I am not willing to give up my PERSONAL rights in the "hope" that it will preclude the criminal mind from taking a life. "I" am responsible for making sure that life is not MINE.

Seems to me like you, and the rest of us, gave up a few of our rights when we decided to climb into a truck. We're subject to tighter regs than the 4-wheelers, and tighter enforcement. The GPS and camera are a double-edged sword when it comes to things like this, or a rogue driver.

[avc]

Great post golfhobo, very thought provoking indeed.

I see no problem at all with a dash camera, in fact I love to film my trips when I travel and would love to get a professionally installed dash cam where I could film on demand.

If I was a pro like you guys I would also want a camera on the rear end too !!

I think that GPS is great for many reasons, just like a Lojack device is, because if someone hijacks your truck and kidnaps you to rob your freight, you have a hell of a lot better chance to catch the bastards or it could save you from certain death.