A serial killer who operated in Butte and Tehama Counties was sentenced to three life terms without the possibility of parole for murdering three people plus two more life terms for attempting to murder two others Thursday.
Ryan Scott Blinston, 38, of Oroville, was previously found guilty on May 17, 2022, after a jury trial. Blinston committed the crimes in both Tehama and Butte Counties over about three weeks in May and June 2021.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said he and Tehama County District Attorney Matt Rogers had agreed to combine the Butte and Tehama charges to be heard by a Butte County jury. The trial verdict came after an almost three-week-long trial.
According to Ramsey, Blinston worked for a local tree-trimming service and was part of a work crew at the Los Molinos home of Loreen Severs, 88, and Homer Severs, 91, on May 18, 2020.
Prosecutors say Blinston returned to their home on an apparent “scouting trip” four days later after the work had been completed. The next morning Blinston went back to the home and killed Loreen and severely injured Homer.
Blinston was again part of a tree-trimming work crew that serviced the home of Sandra George, 82, in Oroville on June 4, 2020. The prosecutors proved after the work was completed and the crew left, Blinston returned alone to George’s home and killed her. As with the Severs, her throat was slashed while inside her home.
Prosecutors also say that on June 6, 2020, Vicky Cline, 57, an acquaintance of Blinston, was last seen alive with him in downtown Oroville. An arson fire destroyed Cline’s car later that night. Blood and DNA evidence on and in Blinston’s car was forensically matched back to Cline. Her body was later discovered by a fisherman and his son in the Feather River near Belden on June 21, 2020. Damage to her throat was consistent with the other murder victims.
Blinston was also convicted of attempting to murder a 50-year-old man in the man’s remote and isolated Brush Creek motorhome on June 14, 2020, while a Butte County Sheriff’s SWAT team was approaching to arrest Blinston for the Cline arson. Blinston fled from the team but was taken into custody after a brief but violent struggle.
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At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Homer and Loreen Severs’ nephew, Frank Severs addressed the court through a victim advocate who read his statement to the sentencing Judge Corie Caraway. He described Homer and Loreen Severs’ as being the “friendliest people in the world” and he loved them dearly. He stated he will never understand why Blinston killed his aunt and uncle.
Sandra George’s niece, Trina Knarr-Basse also addressed the court through a written statement read by the victim advocate. Trina wrote that Sandra George “was a fiercely independent person who loved living in her home. What happened to her, should never happen to anyone. How someone could do this is beyond my comprehension.”
Vicky Cline’s next of kin addressed the court by thanking all those involved in helping their family seek justice. Cline’s children, Samantha Clark and Shandella Clark described Cline as a loving mother with whom they were particularly close. Samantha Clark stated Blinston made her realize “evil and monsters actually do exist.” She asked Judge Caraway to assure her and her family that this monster will never have the ability to walk the street as a free man ever again. Shandella said, “While there’s a part of me that wants to deny Ryan the satisfaction of knowing all the pain he’s inflicted, there’s another part of me that needs him to know the magnitude of the suffering he has inflicted on an entire family.” Cline’s sister, Jeanne Rushing, said, “There are no words to explain the pain this evil person has inflicted on my family.”
Robert Smith, the only victim of Blinston to still be alive, addressed the court as well. He described it as a “devastating experience” that has affected him greatly. He asked Judge Caraway to hand the maximum sentence.
Blinston was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.