When Ryan Scott Blinston was arrested last year, authorities say he was trying to smash in a door with a hatchet to finish killing a man whose throat he had slashed
Northern California tree trimmer charged in deadly throat slashings
By ROBERT JABLON
Ryan Scott Blinston, 37, of Oroville (Photo: Butte County District Attorney).
OROVILLE, Calif. - When Ryan Scott Blinston was arrested last year, authorities say he was trying to smash in a door with a hatchet to finish killing a man whose throat he had slashed.
That man would have become the fourth victim of Blinston, according to officials who call the Northern California tree trimmer a serial killer. Officials say before a SWAT team arrived to arrest him, he had left a bloody trail in an area where violence is usually about drugs, gangs and domestic disputes.
Tree trimmer charged in California throat-slashing serial killing
14 May, 2021 04:44 AM
4 minutes to read
Ryan Scott Blinston, of Oroville, California. Photo / AP
AP
A tree trimmer in rural Northern California has been charged in throat-slashing serial killings that left three people dead, prosecutors announced on Thursday.
Ryan Scott Blinston, 37, of the small city of Oroville, was charged on Wednesday with murder, attempted murder and arson. The charges included special sentencing allegations that Blinston used a deadly weapon, attacked an elderly victim and committed multiple killings.
Blinston didn t enter a plea during his arraignment on Thursday. He was appointed a public defender and ordered held without bail pending a May 19 court hearing.
Ryan Scott Blinston Oroville California tree trimmer id as serial killer who slashed the throats of five, killing three individuals. Image via police bookings.
Ryan Scott Blinston Oroville California tree trimmer id as serial killer who slashed the throats of five, killing three individuals. Image via police bookings.
Ryan Scott Blinston Oroville California tree trimmer id as serial killer who slashed the throat of five defenseless victims, killing three during spree last year.
A Northern
California man working as a tree trimmer has been identified as the individual who went on a serial killing spree, slitting the throats of five people and killing three of his victims in the past year.
First Posted: May 14, 2021 03:23 AM EDT
Photo : Larry W. Smith/Getty Images
A tree trimmer from Butte County, California was charged with murder after police reported that the suspect slashed the throats of his victims.
The heinous crime prompted a multi-agency investigation between the Butte County Sheriff s Office and Tehama County Sheriff s Office.
The new charges were filed in Butte County Superior Court on Thursday by Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsay and Tehama County District Attorney Matte Rogers.
READ NEXT:
California Tree Timmer Faces Additional Charges
Authorities identified the suspect as Ryan Scott Blinston, 37, of Butte County. Blinston was charged for the murders of Loreen Severs, Sandra George, and Vicky Cline.