Forensic tests have confirmed that the human remains found in a burned SUV in Washington County belong to 63-year-old Dale Ryerson of Sullivan, according to the Sullivan Police Department.
Ryerson’s niece, Julie Hurst, expressed her grief over the tragic loss.
“It’s hard enough losing a loved one, but to lose someone in such a horrific manner is heartbreaking,” she shared.
Hurst described her uncle as a kind and friendly man who was deeply loved by his family.
The police had issued an endangered person advisory on October 22, reporting that Ryerson had been kidnapped.
Authorities quickly identified 34-year-old Cody Hunt as a person of interest.
According to court documents, witnesses reported hearing an argument between Ryerson and Hunt inside Ryerson’s apartment.
This was reportedly followed by sounds of a physical altercation.
One witness claimed to have seen Hunt “dragging” what looked like an unresponsive body from the apartment into Ryerson’s Jeep Grand Cherokee.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered blood stains and signs of a violent struggle.
Two days after Ryerson was reported missing, Hunt was arrested at a home in Potosi.
He now faces multiple charges in Washington County, including abandonment of a corpse, arson, tampering with physical evidence, tampering with a motor vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
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| Dale Ryerson |
Court records reveal that the day after Ryerson’s disappearance, Hunt reportedly visited a property near Potosi, asking to hunt on the land.
Firefighters were later called to that location to put out a brush fire, where they discovered Ryerson’s burned SUV with human remains inside.
While there have been no murder charges filed yet, authorities have hinted that if they decide to pursue those charges, they will be filed in Franklin County.
First Alert 4 reached out to Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Becker for a comment on whether murder charges are forthcoming, but there has been no response yet.
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| Cody Hunt |
Julie Hurst expressed her frustration with the legal process, saying, “Now that it’s confirmed to be my uncle, we’re expecting murder charges. The delay in bringing those charges only adds to our pain.”
Authorities discovered additional evidence at the home where Hunt was arrested.
A witness claimed Hunt washed his clothes there and admitted to killing “that guy.” Among the items found in Hunt’s possession were a .22 caliber rifle, an axe, hatchet, machete, and a coat with what appeared to be blood stains.
Hunt is currently serving time in Bonne Terre State Prison for violating parole, following a 2021 conviction for first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the community is awaiting further updates on the case involving Dale Ryerson of Sullivan, the man found in a burned car.
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