Former Headteacher found dead at home in Park Hill

A Good Samaritan, who has been described as one of the pillars of the Park Hill community, was strangled to death last Thursday night.{{more}}

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the 67-year-old former schoolteacher and Principal Hynford Ryan, who was found dead in his bed.

Cardinal “Alwyn” Williams, who had been living with Ryan for just about six months, SEARCHLIGHT understands, was at press time assisting police with their investigations.

Ezekiel Williams, who like Ryan is an elder in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, described Ryan’s death as “a sad moment for us all.”

A broken hearted Melvina Grant, who has been Ryan’s helper for some 30-odd years, described Ryan as a kind man who always took in unfortunate needy people, and cared for them as his own.

“He mind my child for me, when his father died,” she said.

Melvina said that Cardinal Williams was a recipient of Ryan’s generosity.

Meanwhile, Ryan’s cousin, Charles Ryan, told SEARCHLIGHT that he can’t believe that anyone would want to hurt his cousin.

“He is not supposed to die like that. I expected him to lay down on his bed and die, not like that,” Charles said.

He said that Williams was being counseled by Ryan.

Williams has a criminal past, including being sentenced to death in 1995 for murder. He is said to have caused the death of his girlfriend Caroline Moses and her two children by slashing their throats in an incident at Evesham on November 16, 1994, following a dispute between Williams and Moses.

William’s murder conviction was later set aside and a conviction of manslaughter substituted through the Appeal Courts. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Glenmore Ryan, Hynford’s nephew, also told SEARCHLIGHT that his uncle was everything to him.

“If I had nothing, he will always reach out to me. I was even considering letting him raise my seven-year-old son,” Glenmore said.