AUBURN, Maine — A Lewiston man is expected to plead guilty next month to manslaughter in connection with the clock-beating death of a New Gloucester woman.
Bob W. Ryder, 21, was indicted in August 2011 on a murder charge.
He is scheduled to appear June 5 in Androscoggin County Superior Court for a plea hearing, but no sentence agreement, beyond the manslaughter plea, was reached between Ryder and the state.
Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese said Wednesday that manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 30 years. She said she is planning to argue that Ryder should serve a sentence at the high end of that cap. Defense attorney Justin Leary is expected to argue for a shorter sentence.
“Basically, [Ryder] confessed to manslaughter and the evidence supported that,” Marchese said.
Last July, Maine State Police found the decomposing body of Danita Brown, 38, partially buried in the basement of Ryder’s ground-floor apartment at 417 Main St. in Lewiston
Police said in a sworn statement that Ryder had admitted hitting Brown in the head with a clock. She died of blunt-force trauma. He had told his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor about his actions and where he buried her. His sponsor told police about two and a half weeks later.
Ryder told the sponsor, Floyd Nadeau, that Brown was a prostitute and he had caught her going through his wallet after sex, according to the police affidavit in court files.
When Nadeau expressed doubt about Ryder’s account of events, he took Nadeau into the basement and showed him Brown’s body, which was partially covered with pieces of wood.
Nadeau told police he delayed his report for fear of breaking the AA confidentiality agreement.
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Tragic.
AA confidentiality agreement??
The ” sponsor” didnt want to mention the confession to others?
What a skewed policy that is.
Time for an update 12 steppers.
AA -2.0 maybe?
This monster beat a woman to death with his bare hands.
Dragged her down cellar and piled boards on top of her.
H e will be out in a few years if previous court decisions are followed.
Forget the 30 year sentence.
Aint happening.
I had the same thought. People in therapy are under an agreement that their confidentiality will be broken if the therapist believes that they may harm themselves or others. That’s in compliance with HIPAA policy, and I’m pretty sure AA has nothing to do with that. The sponsor withholding the information lead to the woman’s family not knowing where their loved one was for weeks longer than necessary, and kept this man in general public for that much longer. Real bright.
I think the sponsor should be charged with like with holding information or something?? I also think that if Bob Ryder told his sponsor then he wanted to get cought almost like he had remorse for what he’d done. I dont know this is just my opinion :)
The sponsor should be charged with accessory after the fact. He knew about the murder and didn’t call 911. Confidentiality and be damned, he should have reported it.
he did
Only after two weeks. That’s not reporting it.
He didnt when the guy told him and he didnt immediately after he was shown the body!!
he got rid of scum and himself what is there not to like? Its a win win normal citizens… finally justice.
Strange headline… it could have meant many different things..
I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks there are a lot of strange people out there!!