Dead Man's Family Fights 2006 Suicide Ruling, Wants Case Reopened
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 3, 2012
More than six years after the death of her son, a Sheridan woman is demanding authorities reopen his case. According to records from the sheriff's office, Bradley "Ryan" Hill was found hanging
from a tree in 2006. It was ruled a suicide, but his mother has
continued doing her own digging and insists things just aren't adding
up. Local authorities are standing by their original ruling, suicide.
After years of fighting, Hill's mother says the case is finally drawing national attention.
"Anytime he walked in the room he would light up the room with his smile," said Sabrina Threet.
With a heavy heart Threet speaks fondly of her son. Six and a half years after his death she continues fighting to keep his memory alive and his case in the public eye. Authorities found Hill's body in the Landmark area of Pulaski County with an orange electrical cord wrapped around his neck, his body hanging from a tree.
"Anything I asked, all my questions are just met with 'oh you'll probably never know, you'll probably never know what happened.' Yeah I will, I deserve to I'm his mother," said Threet.
Since then she has hired her own private investigator and forensic scientist, gone back to the scene, and filed lawsuits against the county prosecutor and crime lab.
"His face looked like a mack truck ran over it, he had a broken nose, things were left off the autopsy," she claimed.
But still, the cause of death stands. Threet says there has been a streak of light, a film crew from the Biography Channel has picked up Ryan's story. The attention is giving her the encouragement she needs to keep going.
"I will continue to fight for my son, I will always have his back," she said
Threet says she took a petition to the governor with over 800 signatures, three weeks ago, pushing for the case to be looked at again.
Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley tells KARK his office has not received a file with information that points to a cause of death other than suicide.
After years of fighting, Hill's mother says the case is finally drawing national attention.
"Anytime he walked in the room he would light up the room with his smile," said Sabrina Threet.
With a heavy heart Threet speaks fondly of her son. Six and a half years after his death she continues fighting to keep his memory alive and his case in the public eye. Authorities found Hill's body in the Landmark area of Pulaski County with an orange electrical cord wrapped around his neck, his body hanging from a tree.
"Anything I asked, all my questions are just met with 'oh you'll probably never know, you'll probably never know what happened.' Yeah I will, I deserve to I'm his mother," said Threet.
Since then she has hired her own private investigator and forensic scientist, gone back to the scene, and filed lawsuits against the county prosecutor and crime lab.
"His face looked like a mack truck ran over it, he had a broken nose, things were left off the autopsy," she claimed.
But still, the cause of death stands. Threet says there has been a streak of light, a film crew from the Biography Channel has picked up Ryan's story. The attention is giving her the encouragement she needs to keep going.
"I will continue to fight for my son, I will always have his back," she said
Threet says she took a petition to the governor with over 800 signatures, three weeks ago, pushing for the case to be looked at again.
Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley tells KARK his office has not received a file with information that points to a cause of death other than suicide.
