Michael Ryan died around 5:45 p.m. Sunday at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institutional in southeast Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in a news release Monday. Tecumseh prison spokeswoman Jessica Houseman did not have a cause of death but said an autopsy would be performed.
Ryan was convicted in the torture and killing of 26-year-old James Thimm at a southeast Nebraska farm near Rulo, where Ryan led a cult, and in the beating death of Luke Stice, the 5-year-old son of a cult member. Ryan has been on death row since Sept. 12, 1985 .
Ryan and about 20 cult members lived on the farm. The group hated Jews and stored weapons in preparation for a final battle between good and evil, authorities have said. Ryan told his followers that he heard the voice of God and Thimm had angered God..
Ryan was last scheduled to be put to death on March 6, 2012, but the state Supreme Court halted his execution. After that, a shortage of sodium thiopental effectively put all death sentences on hold. On May 20, senators voted 32-15 to repeal the death penalty. Michael Ryan would have the chance to escape the punishment. But Justice has long arm, Michael Ryan did die in prison.
