UNSOLVED HOMICIDE / WRONGFUL CONVICTION: FATHER RYAN PATRICK / JAMES HARRY REYOS

July 14, 2020

james harry reyos, texas, unsolved homicide, wrongful conviction

10/4/2023 UPDATE: Tremendous progress has finally been made on this case. Following the testing of long-neglected evidence, the real suspects in the murder of Father Patrick Ryan have been identified. Thanks to this development and the hard work of the Texas Innocence Project, James Harry Reyos has finally been declared legally innocent, after serving decades in prison and on probation for a crime he never committed. An update episode on these long-awaited developments is forthcoming.

When a brutally murdered John Doe turns out to be a Catholic priest leading a double life, blame falls upon a young man who was in a different state at the time of the murder. A wrongful conviction, mysterious pattern of priestly killings and an anonymous suicide at the confessional paint a twisted picture in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

James Harry Reyos was convicted of the murder of Father Patrick Ryan despite documented proof that he was in another state when the murder occured.

James Harry Reyos–still a wrongfully convicted murderer–pictured after he was released from prison early for good behavior.

James Harry Reyos sits in his small room in Austin, TX after his release from prison. He was confined to the room during nights and weekends, and monitored with an ankle monitor.

Father Patrick Ryan was murdered in an Odessa, TX motel room he’d checked into under a false name.

A timeline of Father Ryan’s murder and James’s whereabouts shows that it would’ve been physically impossible for James to commit the crime.

Sources:

Who Killed Father Ryan? (Austin Chronicle)

The Unholy Mystery of the Murdered Priests (Inside Hook)

Where’s Your Evidence? (IAPE)

Rev. Patrick Ryan: A Case Study of Sexual Abuse and Murder (Crossland Foundation / Leon J. Podles)

Also check out:
Innocence Project of Texas

Know Something? Say something!
If you know anything about the murder of Father Ryan, please contact Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-8477, or submit a tip online at odessacrimestoppers.org.

4 responses to “UNSOLVED HOMICIDE / WRONGFUL CONVICTION: FATHER RYAN PATRICK / JAMES HARRY REYOS”

James Harry Reyos

October 6, 2020 at 2:54 am

In Reference to the “Unsolved” case of Father Patrick Joseph Ryan, who was brutally murdered in Odessa< TX, on Monday, December 21, 1981: I to this day STILL powerfully assert my Complete Innocence in the murder. The Ryan murder will be have its anniversary this coming December 2020 — 39 years ago Father Ryan was viciously murder in the Sand and Sage Motel, Odessa, Texas. I still believe that the Boise John Doe was involved in the murder. I know in my heart: I DID NOT MURDER FATHER PATRICK RYAN!! I AM TRULY AND ACTUALLY INNOCENT OF HIS MURDER!!!! —James Harry Reyos, Monday, October 05, 2020, Austin, Texas.

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1. Leah O
  
  October 9, 2020 at 10:56 pm
  
  Hi Mr Reyos,
  
  It’s very apparent (to anyone who looks even briefly into the case, I think) that you’re innocent of the crime of which you were accused. I’m so sorry for the pain and suffering you endured because of a flawed investigation and wrongful conviction.
  
  Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment.
  
  Wishing you all the best,
  
  Leah
  
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2. James Harry Reyos
  
  November 14, 2020 at 5:41 am
  
  Y’all talked about the type of socks Father was wearing. The type was a White Tube Sock, as seen in the Odessa Police investigation photo taken at the crime scene. The sock was not a nylon dress sock — it was a White Tube Sock. I just wanted to mention this fact (from the OPD Investigation Photo) In four days, Wednesday, November 18, 2020, will mark 38 (thirty-eight) years ago that I was arrested in Albuquerque, NM. After the WRONGFUL CONVICTION, I still proclaim my complete and actual innocence in Father Ryan’s murder. That proclamation will stand in perpetuity. –JAMES HARRY REYOS Saturday, November 14, 2020, 04:39 a.m.
  
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Leah O

November 14, 2020 at 7:51 am

That’s very helpful to know–thank you (I don’t think I’ve seen that photo). We did a little experiment and found that, unlike tube socks, dress socks don’t hold up to much resistance, so this makes a lot of sense.

Thank you again for stopping by to share your insight. We’re certain of your innocence, and I hope you feel that the episode we’ve put together makes that abundantly clear.

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