Ryan's body was found in his basement on December 20th after a fire at his home at 374 Mount Pleasant Avenue North. An autopsy found Ryan died from blunt force trauma to the head. He had a broken jaw, two black eyes, defensive injuries and severe burns. Investigators discovered gasoline had been poured along the floor, over Ryan's body and into the garage. Police seized matches, an empty bleach bottle and a small metal safe from the home.
The court heard that Martin became angry when he woke up to Ryan performing a sexual act in front of him. Martin then attacked Ryan with a stool. Ryan was homosexual and lived alone in his home, but Martin would often stay there.
After the incident Martin went to his brother's house where he was living and said that he had killed Robert Ryan with the bar stool legs. Martin then hid at his sister's house until his arrest on December 23, 2011.
Victim impact statements and the pre-sentence report are scheduled to be read in court on December 10th.
