Tree trimmer scouted homes before slashing victims’ throats, California officials say

A tree trimmer who California officials describe as a serial killer was found guilty of killing three people and trying to kill two others, officials say. Three of the victims — two who were killed, and one who survived — were clients of the company where he worked.

Ryan Scott Blinston, 38, of Oroville, was convicted May 17 by a jury in a string of murders and attempted killings in Butte and Tehama counties, according to a news release from the Butte County District Attorney.

Authorities say the first killing occurred on May 23, 2020. That was five days after Blinston was working at the victim’s home.

Blinston had been working with a tree-trimming crew at the home of 88-year-old Loreen Severs and 91-year-old Homer Severs in Los Molinos on May 18, 2020, according to the news release.

“After the job was over, later cellphone GPS evidence showed, Blinston returned on an apparent ‘scouting trip’ to Severs’ home on the evening of May 22, 2020 before returning to Oroville,” authorities said. “The following morning of May 23, 2020, Blinston went back to Los Molinos, killed Loreen and attempted to kill Homer after a forced entry into their home.”

He cut both of their throats, officials said. Homer died months later of an “unrelated illness.”

A couple weeks later, on June 4, authorities say Blinston was working with a crew trimming trees at the Oroville home of 82-year-old Sandra George. The crew left once the work was complete, but authorities say Blinston returned to her home and slashed her throat while she was inside.

Two days after her death, Blinston was with acquaintance Vicky Cline, 57, in Oroville’s downtown, according to the news release. Her car was destroyed in an arson fire that night, and investigators found her blood and DNA in Blinston’s car.

She was missing until a fisherman found her body in the Feather River on June 21, 2020, according to the district attorney. Her throat had been cut in a similar way.

Before her body was found, authorities went to arrest Blinston with an arson charge on June 14, 2020.

A SWAT team tracked him to a Brush Creek motorhome, KTLA reported in May 2021. The home belonged to a person who allowed Blinston inside when he said “he was afraid of bears.”

“As the team approached the motorhome, they heard the muffled screams of a man inside and loud banging on the outside of the motorhome,” officials said, according to KTLA. They say Blinston was using a hatchet to smash a door after slashing the man’s throat.

When authorities arrived, they say Blinston ran away “but was taken into custody after a brief but violent struggle.” The 50-year-old victim survived the attack.

Blinston faces life in prison without the possibility for parole “because of the multiple murders,” according to the district attorney.

Authorities say the tree-trimming company Blinston had been working for was cooperative in the investigation and prosecution.

Butte and Tehama counties are in northern California.

Man kills wife in Missouri national park during fight over stimulus check, feds say

Woman killed by ‘Happy Face Killer’ 28 years ago is now identified, California cops say

‘Shopping cart’ serial killer may have claimed a fifth victim, Virginia police say