Inset (left): Ryan Thompson (Facebook). Inset (right): Roy Holliday (James C. Stump Funeral Home). Background: News footage of Lowber Road where Roy Holliday was killed (KDKA).
A Pennsylvania man allegedly ran over his ex-wife's boyfriend in his pickup truck after having an argument on Facebook Messenger.
Ryan Thompson, 47, faces several charges in connection with the death of 53-year-old Roy Holliday, who was killed on July 16 after being struck while riding his motorcycle. Pennsylvania State Police officials said they responded to calls about a crash on Lowber Road in Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania, and found Holliday with a head injury and his demolished motorcycle, according to reporting by local ABC affiliate WTAE. Holliday was taken to a hospital around 7 p.m. He succumbed to his injuries the next day.
According to court documents obtained by local CBS affiliate KDKA, surveillance video captured the crash, which was caused after a pickup truck followed Holliday's motorcycle closely then struck it from behind.
Police said they connected the pickup truck to Thompson's ex-wife, who was also Holliday's girlfriend. She had contacted police to tell them that Thompson had called her the day of the crash to ask about paying some bills. She told police that Holliday asked about the call and became jealous. Later that day, she saw Holliday leave the house on his motorcycle.
The ex-wife said her former husband called her a while later, telling her to take care of their son and dog. Thompson reportedly apologized to her and told her he loved her. According to reporting on the court documents by local news outlet TribLive, Thompson told his ex-wife "that she would not be seeing him again." She told police that they would find the pickup truck at Thompson's home.
When police spoke to Thompson at his home, they allegedly found the pickup truck seen on surveillance video hitting Holliday in his driveway. The truck reportedly had "fresh damage" to the front bumper. According to court documents, Thompson told police that he thought he heard Holliday revving his motorcycle's engine outside his home, so he went after him. After being asked about the fatal crash, Thompson apparently asked for a lawyer.
Police said they later determined through phone records that Thompson and Holliday were at the crash scene at the same time. An investigation of the two men's phones also revealed a "heated exchange" that took place over Facebook Messenger. Thompson reportedly told Holliday that he was at the ex-wife's home with her. It was after reading that message that Holliday left the home he shared with the ex-wife on his motorcycle.
Thompson was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault by vehicle, homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, and reckless driving. He is in custody at the Westmoreland County Jail, where he is being held without bail. His next court date is scheduled for July 27.
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