Man Guilty In 30-Year-Old Cold Case Murder: Loudoun Jury

LEESBURG, VA—A 30-year-old murder case wrapped up Thursday when a West Virginia man was found guilty by a Loudoun County jury of killing 29-year-old Henry (Ricky) Ryan, whose body was found six months later in a shallow grave off Route 9.

Timothy W. Warnick, 59, was found guilty of first-degree murder, with the jury recommending a life sentence plus five years. Ryan's death wound up being a so-called cold case for years before the investigation was re-opened and intensified at the direction of LCSO sheriff Mike Chapman. Warnick was indicted by a Loudoun County Grand Jury in June 2016.

"Justice has finally been served due to the dedicated efforts of our detectives and the prosecutorial team involved in this case," Chapman said. "Members of the Cold Case Unit continue to work to solve cases, such as Ricky’s, through advances in technology and investigative techniques."

Here's a rundown on how the case unfolded:

Ryan was last seen Sept. 30 in 1988. According to friends and witnesses, he left a roadside pullover area to go on a beer run with Warnick along the Shenandoah River on Bloomery Road in West Virginia. He never returned. His body was found more than six months later in the shallow grave in Loudoun County.

In 2012, the sheriff's office implemented a Cold Case unit to take a second look at unsolved cases such as this one. Detectives had repeated interviews with family members, friends and witnesses. A timeline was established for a "person of interest," namely Warnick, that revealed enough about his actions and involvement to his being indicted.

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