The Priest Murders: The Murders part 1

Father Patrick Ryan was discovered murdered in a motel room located 90 miles from his residence in Denver City. Upon checking in, he used a false name. Since 1979, Ryan had served as a priest at St. Williams Church in Denver City and was known for his kindness in picking up hitchhikers, which was regarded as a generous act at the time. He frequently offered rides to hitchhikers along the 30-mile route between Denver City and Hobbs, New Mexico.

On December 6, 1981, the 49-year-old priest picked up a hitchhiker named James Ros, who was traveling to Hobbs in search of employment. For reasons unknown, Ryan introduced himself as John. The two drove into town together and spent the evening at a local bar, consuming alcohol. Later that night, Ryan drove Ros back to Denver City, dropping him off outside the St. Williams rectory. It was only after this drop-off that Ros learned John was a priest, and he did not discover Ryan's true identity until he saw news reports about the priest's murder in Odessa.

In the following two weeks, Ryan and Ros met several times to converse and enjoy each other's company. However, on December 20, Ros alleged that Ryan assaulted him in the rectory's living room. According to Ros, Father Ryan grabbed him by the collar and compelled him to engage in oral sex. After the incident, Ros fled the building, leaving behind a backpack that contained several personal items, including a photo album. I will now discuss Ros's activities following this event, which, while detailed, are significant.

The following morning, Ros discovered a check for $750 in his mailbox, representing his share of royalties from mineral rights on his Apache reservation. This financial windfall enabled Ros to reclaim his pickup truck, which he had previously surrendered as collateral to a bail bondsman in Hobbs following a recent arrest for driving without a license. In need of transportation to Hobbs, Ros decided to seek assistance from Father Ryan.

With some apprehension, Ros returned to the rectory, where Ryan greeted him at the door and expressed regret for his behavior the previous night, stating, "I don't know what got into me." Ros brushed off the incident and requested a ride to Hobbs, to which Ryan consented. During their journey, they picked up a middle-aged man who was hitchhiking westward.

The trio arrived at the office of bondsman Charlie Bostic in Hobbs around 11:30 a.m., where Ros entered to arrange for the release of his truck. Although Ros had asked Ryan to wait for him, Ryan departed while Ros was inside speaking with Bostic's daughter, a detail later corroborated in court. According to Ros, this was the last time he saw Father Ryan.

After securing his truck, Ros stopped at Tip's Bar for a beer, where he encountered an old friend named Harold, who accompanied him to a nearby auto parts store. Ros purchased gas and a new gas cap, retaining the time-stamped receipts as he typically did. After dropping Harold off around 1:30 p.m., Ros proceeded north in his truck.

Planning to spend the Christmas holiday with family in Albuquerque, Ros encountered an unexpected situation as he was leaving Hobbs. He came across the same hitchhiker that he and his father had picked up earlier that morning. This unidentified man informed Ros that Ryan had abruptly halted a few blocks from the Bowman's office, dropped him off, and then drove away, which struck Ros as peculiar.

He offered the hitchhiker a ride, and they proceeded to a gas station around 4:30 p.m., where Ros obtained a time-stamped receipt. They arrived in Roswell at approximately 6 p.m., and Ros dropped the hitchhiker off at the bus station. Following this, Ros decided to drive through the campus of Eastern New Mexico University, where he had studied the previous year.

There, he met an old college friend named David Maya. They purchased a case of beer and spent a few hours at Maya's house, enjoying drinks and catching up. Maya later testified that Ros departed around 8:30 p.m., which coincides with the estimated time of Father Ryan's murder. Subsequently, Ros drove about 15 miles southeast to Bottomless Lake State Park before heading east to Tatum, where he stopped for gas once more, retaining another receipt.

Subsequently, he surrendered to the authorities. During his drive, Ros consumed beer until a State Trooper stopped him for speeding at approximately 12:15 a.m., about 15 miles west of Roswell. After receiving a citation, Ros continued driving, but his truck soon ended up in a ditch. A passing motorist offered assistance and noticed that Ros was heavily intoxicated.

The motorist then drove him back to a restaurant in Roswell. Upon arrival, Ros discovered that his truck had a flat tire. He entered the establishment to call for a tow truck, and the wrecker's receipt was later documented as being issued at 4:00 a.m. After being towed to a nearby truck stop and having the tire replaced, Ros fell asleep in his vehicle.

On the morning of December 22nd, around 8:00 a.m., he was seen by several individuals throughout the day and eventually resumed his journey to Albuquerque that evening. This sequence of events provides a comprehensive overview of Ros's activities during the timeframe in which Father Ryan was reportedly murdered.