New York State Police hunt homicide suspect amid string of tragedies across the state
New York State Police are searching for an armed and dangerous homicide suspect while also handling the death of a 9-year-old girl, two water fatalities and a Thruway bus crash.
New York State Police are searching for Thomas Ryan, 32, wanted in connection with a homicide and house fire in the Town of Greenville. Police say he is believed to be armed and dangerous, is known to frequent the Plattsburgh area, and ask the public to report any sightings.
New York State Police are searching for a 32-year-old man, Thomas Ryan, who is wanted in connection with a homicide and a house fire in the Town of Greenville, and have asked the public to report any sightings of him. The manhunt comes during a grim stretch for the agency. On a Saturday, an Amber Alert was issued for 9-year-old Melina Frattolin after her father reported she had been abducted from Exit 22 in Lake George. The following day, State Police reported that the girl had been found dead. Separately, according to reports, a 21-year-old man from West Seneca was found dead at Buffalo Harbor State Park after being reported missing while swimming, and 11 people were injured when a passenger bus rolled over on the New York State Thruway in the Ulster County town of Plattekill. State Police have described Ryan as believed to be armed and dangerous, according to reports, making the search an urgent public safety matter. The force, part of the New York State Executive Department, fields more than 5,000 sworn troopers and 711 non-sworn personnel statewide.
Manhunt for Thomas Ryan after Greenville homicide and house fire
New York State Police are searching for Thomas Ryan, 32, who is wanted in connection with a homicide and house fire in the Town of Greenville. According to State Police, a manhunt is under way for Ryan, who is accused of killing his father in Orange County and setting a home on fire.
State Police described Ryan as believed to be armed and dangerous, and warned the public accordingly. Investigators said he is known to frequent the Plattsburgh area in Clinton County, in the far north of the state near the Canadian border.
State Police asked members of the public to report any sightings of Ryan. Given the warning that he may be armed, the appeal is for information rather than intervention.
The dates of the Greenville homicide and fire, and the point at which the manhunt began, have not been confirmed in the available reports. Nor is it yet known whether Ryan has been located or arrested, or what the current status of the search is. Authorities have not released further detail about the victim beyond the police account that the suspect's father was killed.
Amber Alert for Melina Frattolin ends with girl found dead
An Amber Alert issued on a Saturday for 9-year-old Melina Frattolin ended the following day with New York State Police reporting that she had been found dead.
The alert was activated after her father told authorities she had been abducted from Exit 22 in Lake George. State Police asked for the public's help as the search got under way. On Sunday, the agency reported that the girl had been found dead.
Authorities have not disclosed the circumstances or cause of her death, and it is not known whether anyone has been charged in connection with the case.
The case drew wide attention across New York, in part because Amber Alerts are reserved for the most serious child abduction cases, where police believe a child faces imminent danger. The Lake George area, a busy tourist destination in the Adirondacks, became the focus of the initial search after the father's report placed the abduction at the Exit 22 interchange.
An Amber Alert was issued for 9-year-old Melina Frattolin after her father reported she was abducted from Exit 22 in Lake George.
New York State Police reported that Melina Frattolin was found dead.
Water deaths and Thruway bus crash add to a busy stretch for troopers
According to New York State Police, a body recovered from the Buffalo Outer Harbor was identified as 21-year-old Kenyan Potter of West Seneca. He had been reported missing while swimming in the outer harbor and was found at Buffalo Harbor State Park after a search involving multiple agencies, State Police reports said.
In a separate incident, a 58-year-old man died at a New York state park after his 16-foot Boston Whaler struck docks repeatedly and capsized while he was attempting to launch it, according to State Police.
Troopers also responded when a passenger bus rolled over on the New York State Thruway in the Ulster County town of Plattekill. Eleven people were injured, according to State Police reports. Authorities have not said what caused the crash, and the severity of the injuries has not been disclosed.
The agency behind the alerts
The New York State Police is the state police force of New York, operating as part of the New York State Executive Department. It employs more than 5,000 sworn troopers along with 711 non-sworn personnel, giving it a presence across the state that stretches from the Adirondacks to the Hudson Valley.
The agency's work extends beyond criminal investigations and emergency response. According to reports, it recently issued an alert aimed particularly at older adults, warning of a growing scam involving cryptocurrency and the purchase of gold bars, part of its broader public information role.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Thomas Ryan, the man wanted by New York State Police?
New York State Police are searching for 32-year-old Thomas Ryan, who is wanted in connection with a homicide and house fire in the Town of Greenville. According to police, a manhunt is under way for Ryan, who is accused of killing his father in Orange County and setting a home on fire. Police say he is believed to be armed and dangerous and is known to frequent the Plattsburgh area in Clinton County.
What happened to Melina Frattolin in the Lake George Amber Alert case?
An Amber Alert was issued for 9-year-old Melina Frattolin after her father said she was abducted from Exit 22 in Lake George on a Saturday. New York State Police reported that she was found dead on Sunday. The circumstances and cause of her death have not been confirmed, and it is not yet known whether anyone has been charged in connection with the case.
Is Thomas Ryan armed, and what should you do if you see him?
Police say Thomas Ryan is believed to be armed and dangerous. New York State Police have asked the public to report any sightings of him rather than approaching him. According to police, he is known to frequent the Plattsburgh area in Clinton County. Anyone who sees him should contact State Police immediately with the location and details of the sighting.
Who was the swimmer found dead at Buffalo Harbor State Park?
According to reports, a 21-year-old man from West Seneca was found dead at Buffalo Harbor State Park after being reported missing while swimming in the outer harbor. New York State Police identified the body recovered from the Buffalo Outer Harbor as 21-year-old Kenyan Potter of West Seneca. Multiple agencies took part in the search for the missing swimmer, according to the reports.
What is the New York State Police and how many troopers does it have?
The New York State Police is the state police force of New York and operates as part of the New York State Executive Department. It employs more than 5,000 sworn troopers along with 711 non-sworn personnel. Its recent work has included a homicide manhunt, an Amber Alert investigation, water search and recovery operations, and public warnings about a cryptocurrency and gold bar scam targeting older adults.
Compiled from reporting by 7 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
