An Oroville tree-trimmer has been charged with a serial killing that left three people dead. According to the authorities, an 88-year-old woman, an 82-year-old woman and a 57-year-old woman did not make it through the merciless throat-slashings.
The prosecutors have announced that Ryan Scott Blinston, 37, already behind bars for attempted murder has been charged with multiple murders and will be considered an alleged “serial killer.”
The tree-trimmer living in the small city of Oroville is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and arson. There were also allegations that Blinston used a deadly weapon, attacked an elderly victim and committed multiple killings, as Fox News reports.
The suspect was already in jail since last year, when he had been charged with a different neck-cutting.
According to the Associated Press, Blinston was employed by a tree trimming service in northern California in May and June of 2020. Officials believe that Blinston returned to the homes of his clients once his work was done and slashed their throats.
Given that the investigation was a multi-agency effort and that the suspect is tied to several killings, The Butte County District Attorney's office referred to Blinston as an “alleged serial killer.”
Who were the victims?
The suspects’ first victims were Loreen Severs, 88, and her husband Homer Severs, 91. Their throats were slashed on May 23 in their home. It happened only a few days after hiring Blinston for the tree service. Loreen died right after the attack, while Homer survived it only to die of an illness a little while later.
Sandra George, 82, was another tree service client who died with her throat slashed after Blinston reportedly came back to her home when the job was done and the whole crew was gone.
Vicky Cline, 57, an acquaintance of Blinston's who was last seen with him on June 6, is another victim of the serial killings. That night her car was destroyed in a fire. Authorities say it was arson and that DNA evidence connects Blinston to the vehicle. Her body was found a few weeks later with her throat slashed, floating on the river.
When did it all stop?
On June 14, the Butte County Sheriff’s SWAT came at the home of a 50-year-old man whose identity was not released.
“As the team approached the motorhome, they heard the muffled screams of a man inside and loud banging on the outside of the motorhome. The banging turned out to be Blinston attempting to get into the motorhome with a hatchet. The motorhome resident later told officers he was asleep in his bed when Blinston suddenly attacked him and cut his throat. The resident was able to kick Blinston out of the motorhome and lock the door, but Blinston was attempting to get back in the motorhome when the SWAT team coincidently arrived,” Butte County District Attorney's office stated about what the SWAT team witnessed.
The 50-year-old man was immediately taken to hospital in a helicopter and survived the brutal attack.
Blinston was charged on Thursday. If he is found guilty, the Oroville man risks life sentence without parole.