SC Officer shot 4 times in the back and killed - investigation continuing

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One thing is certain: Rye will not be tried anywhere near where the alleged murder occured. With statements like the following in the media, how could he?

"We're here in support of our fallen deputy," said Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner after the service.

"Although he didn't die in the line of duty - he was murdered - he was a deputy and it means a lot to (these deputies) to pay last respects to a fellow officer and a comrade."

http://www.lowcountrynow.com/stories/082004/LOCdeputyfuneral.shtml
 
I emailed Ms. Ingersoll to get her take on it:

Hi Ms. Ingersoll,

Several of us have been following your articles about the death of Deputy Rob Odam, and discussing it on the web forum www.thehighroad.org. Of course, we all agree that a dedicated lawman being killed is a tragedy.

We're very puzzled because of the lack of details. The only concrete info we have is: 1. Deputy Odam was trespassing on Mr. Rye's property; and 2. Mr. Rye shot and killed Odam.

Why would an off-duty officer be trespassing on someone else's property AND doing target practice with an assault rifle?? That would certainly scare most landowners and would be very illegal.

It seems that the Sheriff's department has already decided that Odam was doing nothing wrong and Rye murdered him in cold blood and deserves the chair. We haven't seen any info that proves this. If Rye did murder Odam without reason, then he should certainly be punished according to the law. On the other hand, if Odam was doing something illegal and Rye was acting in self defense, it would be wrong for him to be railroaded into the electric chair because the Sheriff's department is out for revenge.

Can you shed any light on the discussion?

Thanks and we look forward to reading more of your stories.

Vince.
 
Ok, I'll add my speculations at some possible scenarios.

The property owner dose not live on the land but keeps cats at a shed on the property. The cats reproduce and wreak havoc on local wildlife and mother-in-laws flower garden.

Dutiful son in-law decides to earn some brownie points (and have some fun) and starts sniping cats, in a further attempt to rid the world of semi feral cats, the son-in-law attempts to gain access to the shed the cats have retreated into. The irresponsible cat owner, who keeps the cats to kill mice in his feed shed, discovers the shooting of said cats and calls the law. Property owner then confronts the shooters who makes a threatening motion, by pointing his hand-gun while standing sideways, the land owner shoots the deputy in the side and the deputy turns away and towards his AK, property owner perceives this as a new threat and fires until the threat is on the ground.
 
Ms. Ingersoll has replied to my email:

Vince,
I wish I had more information to share, but right now, I just don't. I also have many unanswered questions. The shooting happened outside of our coverage area (Eastover is 145 miles away). I'm hoping to learn more soon.
Thanks for reading,
Stephanie
 
I'd imagine the people who were tresspassing with Odom are being advised by their attorneys not to say anything, lest they become implicated in the shooting somehow.
 
Once again the Thin Blue Line rallies around itself. Cop killed? Must be murder, plain and simple. Perhaps Sheriff Tanner can save the good citizens of Beaufort Co. the time and expense of a trial and just kill Mr. Rye. Afterall, ther's no need to present any facts. :(
 
Ok here's what I could get

I know we all see that the thin blue line gets to be the thin blue circle real quick. Separating us from them...

I spoke to one of my good friends who is in one of said departments and the guy charged has lived in that county as a long time resident. The man has numerous complaints about property damage and his animals being shot etc., on file with the Sherriffs dept. This has been going on for quite a bit more than one isolated incident. All the details could not be disclosed but the statement from him was that this was a real unfortunate incident. He also didn't join the thin blue circle as I would've expected, but stated that this was a series of tragic events. I think that if he is reseving judgement (he states this will all come out in court) I think we who are nowhere near as close, should also reserve judgement. Me included.
-But it is nice to see where the divides between us lie, here on this board.
 
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Let's try to keep this thread above the "cops think they're above us" stereotype. We need facts, not anti-cop rhetoric.

Yes, the Sheriff's office, imho, should not be proclaiming this homicide a murder until it's proven in a court of law. However, we see the same behavior from any close association of people which loses a member to violence.

Bond hearing tomorrow. Otherwise, a rehash of what's already been said:

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2208485&nav=0RaPQ8z0
 
I agree. Let's keep this to a disucssion of this case and not make generalizations about other departments. If this Sheriff's department is behaving poorly, let's blast them for it.

If what Trey's friend said is accurate, then that would give some weight to the "Rye is seen as a cantakerous old man who complains a lot and feuds with his neighbors" theory. Odam and his buddies decide to go poke him with a stick and get him riled up. Unfortunately, this time they go with guns. The horsing around gets out of hand and somehow Rye shoots Odam. That would be another example of stupid people doing stupid stuff and this time it got them killed.
 
Call it my sense of Texas justice

but if they came on HIS property, ARMED with rifles and talked s@%t to the old feller they deserved killing.
We used to HANG folks for stealing horses here. Feel free to make your statement about "you shouldn't kill people over stealing property" and go back to reading the New York Times.....
CT
 
In theory, I agree with you CT. Just like Will Smith said in "Men in Black":


"You don't come round here startin' nothin', and there won't be nothin'."


Hell, I don't even like walking through someone's yard without permission. And going on their property for target practice with an assault rifle without permission? Forget about it.

Being a gambling man (hence the user name), if I was forced to bet on this case from the info we've heard, I'd bet that Odam and his buddies were trying to mess with the old man and it got out of hand. There's just no logical reason for him to be trespassing on Rye's land with an assault rifle, and I haven't heard any good explanation for it. I hope I'm wrong, cause if I'm right that shows very poor judgement on Odam's part.

I am waiting anxiously for the arraignement. Maybe we'll get more pieces to this puzzle.
 
too frelling bad.
Click to expand...

Obviously a Farscape fan and probably a fellow Sci-Fi fan.
Just something I noticed reading this thread.


Obviously, we just aren't getting the whole story. I can see this incident going down several ways; everything from cold blooded murder to a tragic misunderstanding. I will be very curious to hear what the brother in law's story is or this "group of buddies." Does anyone know if this will come out at the bond hearing or the grand jury inquiry? Or will we have to wait for the trial?
 
Or will we have to wait for the trial?
Click to expand...

Oh Lawdy, I hopes not!! ;)


But Wednesday is just the bond hearing, at which I assume the judge will decide to grant him bond. If he's a flight risk or considered a threat, the judge will deny it.

Here's a snippet from another shooting:

"Prosecutors are reviewing whether a 28-year-old Hardeeville man was justified for shooting someone who appeared to be breaking into his home.

Jasper County Sheriff's Deputies say the man shot the intruder early Monday morning shortly after his security alarm sounded and someone kicked in the door.

Authorities say 32-year-old Michael Jenkins was shot in the leg and face and died about four hours later.

Legal experts doubt the man will face any charges in the shooting because South Carolina's self-defense laws are more lenient than other states."

I wonder if that last paragraph will help Rye.
 
UPDATE

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2219193&nav=0RaMQEct

Bond set at $500,000 for man accused of killing Beaufort Co. Sheriff's Deputy


(Richland County) Aug. 25, 2004 - A man charged in the shooting death of a Beaufort County Sheriff's Deputy appeared before a judge in a bond hearing Wednesday.

Thomas Grover Rye is charged with the murder of Deputy Robert Odam, Junior. A judge set his bond at $500,000

Odam died after he was shot four times on August 21st near his mother-in-law's home in Eastover. Rye, 58, who owns neighboring property, says he shot in self defense.

Investigators say Odam's gun was never fired. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says Odam had been shot four times, including twice in the back.

His family says the 22-year-old Odam was off duty and had gone into some woods for an afternoon of target practice.

Richland County Sheriff's spokesman Joseph Pellicci says Rye had called 911 earlier Saturday to report that someone had tried to break into a shed on his Eastover property and killed one of his cats.

A deputy was sent out to investigate, but before the deputy arrived investigators say Rye called a second time to say he confronted, shot and killed an armed suspect on his property. In July Rye told deputies someone came on his property and killed some of his cats.

Rye is being held in Richland County's Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

A memorial fund has been established for Deputy Odam. Donations may be made to the Deputy Robert T. Odam Memorial Fund at any Carolina First Bank location.
 
Great. Still no new info. All the investigators say is: "Investigators say Odam's gun was never fired." Well you don't have to fire an assault rifle to threaten someone with it.

Seems like a pretty high bond as well. I wonder what the argument was for setting it so high.
 
Something's really bothering me about this story. What happened to the Brother in law? Was he with Odam when the shooting occured? If the BIL was there, why wasn't he shot as well? It doesn't make sense that someone would commit "cold blooded murder" and then leave the only eye witness alive. If the BIL was there but wasn't perceived as a threat and then not shot, it gives some credence to the self defense argument of shooting until the perceived threat is stopped.
 
I agree with you ExtremeDooty. The "buddies" that were supposedly with Odam have pretty much vanished. We ain't heard a peep from them.

The deafening silence is leading me to believe that maybe Odam was in the wrong, but regardless of that the sheriff's department wants payback and the judge is on their side. So far it really doesn't look good.
 
Richland County) Aug. 25, 2004 - A man charged in the shooting death of a Beaufort County Sheriff's Deputy appeared before a judge in a bond hearing Wednesday.

Thomas Grover Rye is charged with the murder of Deputy Robert Odam, Junior. A judge set his bond at $500,000

Odam died after he was shot four times on August 21st near his mother-in-law's home in Eastover. Rye, 58, who owns neighboring property, says he shot in self defense.

Investigators say Odam's gun was never fired. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says Odam had been shot four times, including twice in the back.

His family says the 22-year-old Odam was off duty and had gone into some woods for an afternoon of target practice.

Richland County Sheriff's spokesman Joseph Pellicci says Rye had called 911 earlier Saturday to report that someone had tried to break into a shed on his Eastover property and killed one of his cats.

A deputy was sent out to investigate, but before the deputy arrived investigators say Rye called a second time to say he confronted, shot and killed an armed suspect on his property. In July Rye told deputies someone came on his property and killed some of his cats.

Rye is being held in Richland County's Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

A memorial fund has been established for Deputy Odam. Donations may be made to the Deputy Robert T. Odam Memorial Fund at any Carolina First Bank location.
Click to expand...
From the informaiton presented in that story, If Odam was not a police officer but we had the same exact situation then Rye wouldn't be in jail right now.
 
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Update: Rye posts bond...is released.

Link: http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/briefs/story/3762796p-3369707c.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Man charged in deputy's death posts bond, released from jail
Published Thu, Aug 26, 2004

COLUMBIA -- A Columbia man charged with murdering an off-duty Beaufort County Sheriff's deputy earlier this month left a Richland County jail on Wednesday after posting bond, according to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

A judge set a $500,000 surety bond for Thomas G. Rye, 58, at a hearing at the Richland County courthouse Wednesday, said Babs Lindsay, spokeswoman for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Robert T. "Robb" Odam, 22, was shot four times with an M1 Carbine .30-caliber semiautomatic rifle around 4 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Eastover community. Odam had worked with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office for about a year.

Rye is accused of shooting Odam after making a 911 call to report that someone in Odam's group shot his cat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comment: Will be interesting to see if Rye releases his version of events, to counter the damning press releases from police spokesman, the day after the confrontation. BTW, I was under the impression that bail wasn't normally granted in murder cases. Perhaps some THR tilecrawlers can comment on this aspect?
 
I hope he does get some public support going his way (if he's innocent). He's going to need it to counter the Sheriff department's posse that's out to hang him.

someone in Odam's group
Click to expand...


So first it was his BIL. Then it was his buddies. Now it's become a group. How many people constitutes a group?

Sounds to me like maybe Rye was faced with overwhelming odds and perhaps did have to shoot in self defense. Especeially since some of the "group" were armed with assault rifles and all he had was an M1 carbine.
 
Breaking into a shed is an act of violence. Shooting a cat is an act of violence...

You come home and find two acts of violence perpetrated on your property. Is it reasonable to assume that if whoever committed these acts of violence (if perp still there) will continue to be violent if they're found and confronted? Call police and arm yourself, oh, he did. Reasonable response.

So he goes out to see if anyone is tresspassing on his property. May or may not be the most strategic thing to do but he's certainly within his rights to do so. What's that? At least two and possibly more armed men on his property. Having been violated I doubt he says pretty please sir may I inquire as to the reason for your presense on my property, Probably more along the lines of 'Who the hell are you and what the ???? you doing here?'

The armed men have already demonstrated their propensity to violence, or at least, it's a reasonable assumption that they are the ones who did it and so the potential exists for them to continue to be violent and they have him out numbered and have the means to continue their violence, having rifles.

Youngster Odam could easily have been brash or outright rude at the homeowners rightious indignation. being young, full of testosterone, newish badge of authority, AND armed. His buddy (or party) was likely the same age group and level of maturity PLUS THEY WERE WITH THEIR COP BUDDY! Fueled by this immature group mentality and false security, it is highly likely that insults and rudeness if not outright threats were passed back towards homeowner. Not a good way to act towards a man on his own property who is holding a M1 carbine. One or two furtive movements set the stage and homeowner was on top of the perceived threat and responded quickly and efficiently, so to speak.

I think this is what *probably* happened. I don't think Odam deserved to die and it is a tragedy for the loss of life. Look around you. Do young people (in general) have respect for their elders or anyone? How old was the homeowner? I BET he was an older man. At home. He didn't go looking for trouble, it came to him.

Interesting how the first account placed Odam on the mans property, and follow up accounts placed him merely 'In the woods' :scrutiny:

*Sounds like* Odam was in the wrong that day, based on news accounts and personal experiance with young egotistical individuals with pack mentality.
 
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