Chapter 15 - RYAN’S TRIAL
Ryan looked almost unchanged.
That angered me.
No scar visible enough to satisfy morality.
No cinematic deterioration.
He wore a suit.
Listened.
His charges:
Kidnapping.
Aggravated assault.
Unlawful restraint.
Attempted murder of Elias Warren.
Obstruction.
Evidence destruction.
Financial fraud related to reserve transfers.
Conspiracy.
His defense:
Charles controlled plan.
Ryan believed Daniel would be released after board vote.
Elias coffin was panic, not attempted murder.
Panic.
That word again.
Elias testified.
Ryan struck him.
Bound him.
He woke in coffin.
No water.
No air access beyond imperfect seal.
Did Ryan know burial schedule?
Yes.
Ryan helped coordinate family mausoleum transport.
Funeral director records.
Did he expect Elias to be found?
No evidence.
Did he leave any way out?
No.
Phone placed beneath Elias.
Defense argued that meant Ryan might have intended phone ringing to expose him.
Interesting.
Why bury evidence if you want exposure?
Ryan claimed:
“I put the phone there so somebody would hear it.”
First time.
No prior statement.
Prosecution attacked.
“You knew Daniel’s phone had scheduled calls?”
“No.”
“Then why expect ringing?”
Ryan had no answer.
The phone was intended to disappear.
Elias was intended to disappear.
Whether Ryan thought he would suffocate before burial?
Jury inference.
Then Daniel.
Ryan had assaulted him repeatedly.
Not torture fantasy.
Punches.
Restraints.
Threats.
At hydro station, Ryan told him:
“If Dad loses everything, so do you.”
Daniel:
“You mean you.”
Ryan hit him.
Audio partially captured.
Then financial motive.
Ryan had personally approved $6.8 million in transfers across four years.
Not all unauthorized.
Of that, about $2.1 million involved serious nondisclosure/conflict issues attributable directly to his approvals.
He faced separate financial counts.
Then Ryan testified.
He blamed fear.
“Daniel was going to send Dad to prison.”
“Was that Daniel’s decision?”
“No.”
“He was going to report.”
“Yes.”
“Was reporting fraud a crime?”
“No.”
“Did you believe Daniel would forgive you?”
“No.”
“So you helped hold him.”
“Yes.”
The defense conceded kidnapping hoping to defeat attempted murder.
On Elias:
“I didn’t think he would die.”
“Where did you think he would go?”
Ryan stared.
“Into the mausoleum.”
Alive?
No answer.
“Did you provide water?”
“No.”
“Air?”
“The coffin wasn’t airtight.”
“Did you tell anyone he was inside?”
“No.”
“Did you intend to retrieve him?”
Ryan hesitated.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After service.”
“What evidence?”
None.
The jury deliberated one day.
Guilty kidnapping.
Aggravated assault.
Obstruction.
Financial fraud counts.
Attempted murder of Elias?
Guilty of attempted second-degree murder under state law requiring intent inferred from knowingly confining him in circumstances creating a plan to cause death? Attempt crimes usually require intent. The jury found intent to cause death based on intended burial. Fine.
One broader torture count acquitted due no proof specific intent.
Ryan closed his eyes.
Elias did not react.
Afterward Emma asked:
“Is Uncle Ryan going to jail?”
“Yes.”
“Grandpa?”
“Yes.”
“Grandma?”
“Probably for some time.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
She looked at Daniel.
“Do you still have family?”
Daniel answered:
“You.”
Then looked at me.
I did not know whether to accept being included.
Emma included me anyway.
“And Mom.”
Daniel smiled.
May you like
“Yes.”
Children sometimes decide relational facts before adults finish renegotiating them.
