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Commonwealth's Attorney

Posted on: March 12, 2019

Judge Upholds Life Sentence

Warnick. Timothy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 12, 2019

Contact: Heather F. Williamson
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA  20176-2809
(703) 777-0242


JUDGE UPHOLDS JURY SENTENCE

LIFE PLUS FIVE YEARS IMPOSED FOR 1988 MURDER OF HENRY E. “RICKY” RYAN

LEESBURG, Virginia – March 11, 2019.    Timothy William Warnick, 60, appeared before the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, in custody, for sentencing on one count of first degree murder and one count of robbery.  Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. upheld a 2018 jury verdict, which fixed the sentence for Warnick at life in prison plus five years and a $100,000 fine.  Additionally, Fleming imposed a three year period of post-release supervision.

In April 2018, a Loudoun jury found Warnick guilty of first-degree murder and robbery in the 1988 death of Henry E. “Ricky” Ryan.  During the course of the multi-day jury trial Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Faw and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan Perry presented evidence that Warnick was one of the last people seen with Ryan the night of his death.  The two went on a beer run with a third, unknown man, amid a night of partying near the Shenandoah River in West Virginia.  The Commonwealth called Warnick’s son and ex-girlfriend to testify that Warnick had confessed to them.  Prosecutors also pointed to a pill bottle with Warnick’s name on it that was found in Ryan’s hand when his body was recovered by Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputies on March 14, 1989.  The jury deliberated for two days before returning a guilty verdict.

“This case is testament to the unending dedication to justice of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. We are pleased that though hard work and unwavering determination, the victim’s family has closure,” said Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann.

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