South Carolina man kills off-duty cop over dead cats

Any hunter , like myself, will tell you it is sometimes impossible to find shell casings in a wooded area even when you know exactly where you hear them hit the ground. I have lost huge shotgun shells in the woods much less a small .223 cal. shell.

I was under the impression that when a police officer was called somewhere it was automatically reported being the fact is they went there. I as a citizen would assume that if I called them they would make a report, why should I have to request a report? and if I do then shouldn't they be REQUIRED to tell me that?

Why was an off-duty policeman on Rye's property?

Defendant Ryan shot a armed stranger who was on his property with a semi automatic weapon.
It is claimed that when Odam was approached he pointed his weapon towards Ryan and Ryan shot him.
I do not believe Ryan was required to let Odam shoot at him first! It must be noted that Odam was not his neighbor! He was a visitor to his in-laws home who lived next door whom he visited infrequently. Perhaps Ryan did not recognize him.
In any event Ryan was protecting his home and property Odam was not there on official business He was in fact a armed trespasser.
The constant referall to Odam as a Deputy police officer is extremely prejudicial to the defense.
The local police mishandled the multiple reports and investigation and left Ryan with the impression that he was on his own as far as resolving the problem

I apologize for misstating Mr Ryes name as Ryan

It appears that Grover Rye was imprisioned for 11 months for what has been shown to be self-defense of his person and property from an armed trespasser.

He should be due compensation and an apology from those who prosecuted him.

If this had not been a supposed off-duty law enforcement officer there would be no trial here. The trespasser was armed and shooting an assault weapon. Mr. Rye appropriatly sensed danger and took appropriate action. It is correct to overturn the verdict and free Rye.

I think if you look at the news you will see that officers break the law too. DUI, killing girlfriend just to name a few I agree with Al. The fact that Odam was an off duty officer should have nothing to do with it and no you should not have to wait for someone to shoot at you to shoot .My question is where do the cats and other stuff come into play got to be more to story.

An off-duty deputy should have known not to enter a property with clearly marked "no trespassing" signs – particularly entering to shoot cats. I was also disgusted by the way the Sheriff's Department sloughed off Rye's repeated complaints about trespassing, burglary and shooting of his pets then accused him at trial of being a "vigilante." All the Sheriff's deputies needed to do to avert this entire incident would have been to go over to the Odam's house and tell them not to trespass and to quit shooting the cats.

What is an off-duty officer doing trespassing on someone's property with a weapon?Is he the one who had been killing the cats?

No one has explained what the off duty officer was doing on the mans property with a fully loaded assault rifle. That's the first thing I would want answered.

i did some research on this as there was obviously stuff not stated in the article. Mr. Rye had this property and rescued cats that lived there. In the previous months he found several of the cats shot to death and a shelter broken in to with over 600 dollars worth of tools stolen. The day of the shooting he was at his property and heard gun shots. He took his gun and found Mr. Odam on his property with a gun. He told him to put the gun down and Odam said he wasn't doing anything wrong and he should put his gun down.

I must say just because you are a police officer doesn't give you the right to go on someone else's property with a gun and demand that they put their's down. This is obviously a tragic situation, but it never says why the guys was on Mr. Rye's property in the first place with a gun. I would be curious to know that.

What was an off-duty police officer doing on private property carrying a semi-automatic weapon? Obviously, Mr. Rye must have been in quite a state of alarm on seeing this trespasser. We must take into account that there were other instances of trespassing and even of the stealing of his property after shooting the locks on his storage facility. The facts of the case seems to show he probably felt that he was being abandoned by the police. Sometimes, exasperation drives a man to what to him seems to be defending himself whereas others would quality it as taking the law into your own hands. The type of harassment that he was undergoing from his neighbours seems to have escalated to this deathly conclusion of a man losing his life. It is unfortunate but his man was defending his cats and his property. Therefore, not guilty!

seems that the police always get a free pass when they harm civilans. when it comes to dealing with city or county officials it is the same. Facts are there was an armed tresspasser on this mans' property . What would you do?

Why was the off duty cop at Ryes place????

Frankly, I'm worried that it "looks better" if you wait until someone starts shooting at you before you defend yourself. Hunter or not, if someone walks onto my property pointing a gun at me, I am not going to wait to see if he's going to shoot me or not. I'm going to shoot first. Maybe not a kill shot if I could help it, but I certainly won't stand around on the off-chance the gun-brandishing stranger doesn't actually intend to use it on me.

After hearing the witness testimony regarding what Odam said just before his shooting is damning for the defense. I would imagine that deadly force isn't authorized if the person confronted is disarming themselves. That still leaves an armed trespasser still to deal with (witness behind the shed watching.) Rye, faced with one unarmed threat and another armed threat still on his property, likely felt threatened even after Odam disarmed himself.

Rye was on his own property and a trespasser was on his property with an Assault weapon.. It does not matter if the guy had the gun pointed at him or not.

No normal person would wait to see if the "Bad Guy" is going to shoot at them first.

If they saw the lock was new, that was a clear indicator that the property was not abandoned. I think if anyone heard shots being fired on their property, they probably would have responded the same way as Mr. Rye. I know I would! They had no right to be on that man's property. Mr. Odam's surviving friend should be on trial for animal cruelty! Mr. Rye should not be on trial for murder.

The victim was admittedly trespassing, vandalizing property, and shooting the defendant's cats. 16 cats were killed. He was caught doing this and holding an assault weapon. And his last words were to say that it was okay to shoot the cats. What kind of people does South Carolina hire as deputy sheriffs? Aren't all these things what he was hired to prevent?
He brought about his fate and no one else is to blame.

The 'friend of the victim' has sunk the prosecution's case. He and the victim were on this man's property, with at least one gun, and the friend has admitted to killing cats. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what reason this 'friend' had for being there.

Mr. Rye was defending his property.

This is a prime example of malitious prosecution the state would have never brought these chargers had the victim not been an off duty police officer.This is another example of why you should never talk to the police about so much as a jaywalking ticket without a lawyer present....this case was a wate of taxpayers money and a false imprisonment of a man who had every right to shoot at someone on his property with a gun...this so called victim should have been held to a higher standard being that he knows the law and he had no reguard for it in the world in which we live today any rational persom wpuld have done exactly what rye did and the police officer should be held responsible for what his actions were...i'm sorry someone was killed but rye was exactly in the right

Yes the man who was shot was on the property illegally to shoot cats . Mr Rye was justified and cleared in the shooting . It's a shame a man of the law would do this to animals. I have lived in the country for many years and know first hand of the blatant disregard for people's private property by some . I hope this will make people who trepass and kill other peoples animals think twice , but probably not . This person ,Mr Odom, had no conscience. I've also encountered the blaise attitudes of some small town police departments about this type of situation.

In Texas we have the right to protect our personal property whether located on our property or elsewhere by use of lethal force. If somebody shot one of my animals they would not live PERIOD!

I lived in the low country for 25+ years and saw many fights over hunting dogs and such. There seems to be an intense love and intense hatred of animals in that area. To have someone trespassing and killing a neighbors' cats on their own property would most certainly cause themselves to be killed if cought in the act. Since when can't you defend your own property against deadly intruders?

Mr. Rye's was found guilty the first time around. If it hadn't been for the Judge giving the jurors the wrong instructions, he would be doing the 30 years that he was given at the first trial.

Animal cruelty involving shooting innocent creatures for sport is absolutely outrageous!!!! If the deputy and his friends or brother in laws enjoyed killing these harmless and non threatening cats I doubt killing a human would have bothered them either. Many killers begin their lives of sadistic murders with brutality against animals.

Justice was served for Mr. Rye who humanely cared for and protected these totally helpless animals.

I agree with Nikki!!! Animal Cruelty charges should be pending in this case! These poor animals have no way to defend themselves against assault rifles! It is our duty as rational caring individuals to take care of them. Animals are loving and give their affection unconditionally. This is especially true of dogs. However, cats being more independent do show their appreciation though less frequently. I have promised my cat, Amun-Ra, an Egyptian Mau, to NEVER bring him to South Carolina, where they shoot cats!!! LOL (Right now he is lying on the bed like an Egyptian Sphinx completely oblivious to the possibility of animal cruelty).

If anyone watched the testimony of the friend that was killing cats with the off duty officer. He looked down on all his testimony. He was lying through his teeth. If this man is convicted a second time on this mans flimsy testimony. This will be a miscarriage of Justice.

I guess that is God's way of stepping in to grant him a new trial. He should not have done one day in jail for his actions. Robert Odem is the guilty one and he paid with his life for killing other living creatures without cause. Had he minded his own business instead of being cruel to animals he would still be alive today. Cruelty to animals leads to other bigger problems in life. Had I been in that situation I would have done the same thing.

Clearly homeowners have the right to protect their person and property as demonstrated by the defendent.
The defendent at his descrection had the legal and moral choice to use watever force necessary against both men.

Mason Mitchell is an admitted liar and animal-killer. I do not believe his testimony regarding Odam's last words. Of course he wants to point blame anywhere else but at himself and Odam. Mr. Rye is a hero to me. I thank him for standing up to animal cruelty and believe he was well within his rights to defend his property against Odam's deadly force. It is unfortunate that the state brought this to trial. It is unfortunate that the state allows people like Odam to get a license to carry a gun, let alone serve as a Sheriff's officer. That is very very scary.

The friend that was behing shed was also armed with a pistol . No wonder they didn,t find caseings from his gun . Maybe the cop didn't shoot .He got killed because his friend was scared and started shooting at Rye

Maybe the judge gave the jury wrong instructions for a good reason. He probably knew the man was wrongly accused and just didn't want anyone to know. Think about it !!!

I think Mr Rye should go to prison. No one sits on their property with a gun unless they are planning to use it. In the daytime. That 911 calls sums up the type of person he is.

Where is the outrage (and the prosecution, BTW) over the animal abuse? Mr. Vick was charged with a FELONY.

The animals abused by Mr. Vick and Co. belonged to the sickos perpetrating the abuse. Were those animals more worthy of protection from abuse than Mr. Rye's cats because Pit Bulls are used as weapons and cats are not?

Why isn't Odam's fellow cat killer on trial for his murder? It was a murder committed during the commission of a group of separate crimes against Mr. Rye.

Who in the world let this man out of jail? it pretty much told the victim's family from 2005 that their family member's life was only worth 10months of punishment...And this is the American Justice Way...Wooow.

Kudos to Mr. Rye for defending himself, his property and his cats. I don't care if you're the highest public official in the land coming on property to plant sunflowers, if you're carrying an assault rifle on MY property especially right near my house you will get shot real quick, especially after I hear several rounds.

This is a prime example of how cops think they can do what ever they want to. I agree with JRB but i live in Texas and was told by the police that if i shot someone on my property no matter how many signs i post, i will go to jail. I had a guy coming around for five years destroying things on our property and even killed one of our dogs with a baseball bat and the cops didn`t do a thing about it. The law in Texas states that if you intenionally kill someones pet, it is a state jail felony but the cops don`t honor that law. I guess that`s why i have no respect for law enforcement. Mr. Rye should be sent home, not prison.

as a LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER i feel embarassed by this sheriffs actions. law enforcement officers arrest offenders for trespassing on others property and certainly on someone elses property with a weapon. i am a animal lover and i found my beloved cat on duty. the sheriff actions of shooting harmless animals is heartless and evil. he should be upholding the law not breaking it. the sheriff certainly doesn't represent the law enforcement community. he has no right to be on anyones property and certainly to cause harm to animals and more importantly not on duty and he can't allowi a friend to commit a crime. I AM CERTAIN GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH HIS BEHAVIOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD TOO.

I am extremely frustrated that nothing is being made of the fact that this policeman is tresspassing , with his friend, armed and shooting at cats! What is his history? It's true, nothing ws done about the repeated calls until one of their buddies was involved. What a failure on law enforcements part. They have noone to blame but themselves!

The conviction of Grover Rye was reversed by the court of appeals because the jury was not charged properly.

The system is not without it imperfections, as it is presided over by humans, and to be human is to error.

It is a true fact that the depuity was armed and he was tresspassing. He was there to shoot cat's or vandalize the property I think. I also think he had the mindset that as a law enforcement officer I can go where I want to and do what whatever I want to. Too many law enforcement officers today have that same mindset. Don't get me wrong, I do think that killing is wrong but what else could Mr. Rye do when faceing an armed person. He had a right to protect himself and his property.

I also think the Sherriff's dept had been covering that dep's backside when Mr. Rye reported the past incident's.

Seems Rye was angry over dead cats. We've all heard of the crazy cat woman, but there are just as many crazy cat men.

Crazy cat man kills deputy, so crazy cat man needs to pay

rip deputy odam.

some people are insane over cats and this poor deputy ran into one. hopefully justice will be served and mr. rye will spend the rest of his life where he belongs, in prison.

sad story.

what a joke that he thought his life was in danger. the reality was that he was obsessed with cats and angry to a homicidal degree that someone had been shooting his feral pride.

What if it had been Mr. Rye who had illegally entered Mr. Odam's property...and with a Gun!!! OMG just because hes an off duty police officer doesn't give him the right to act illegally! If he did shoot the cats he got what he deserved – because that is disgusting! How would he feel if someone shot what he loved – such as a dog, his kid, etc.
Mr. Odam broke the law when he illegally entered Mr. Rye's property! Mr. Rye had the right to protect himself and his property if he felt he was in danger. I wish Mr. Rye the Best!

Fellow Cat Lover

insane cat man kills armed cat hunter? send insane cat man to the kennel and toss away the key.

i like cats myself, but you can't shoot people to death to protect them.

Jeff, this was not the Odam home.
Ron – Robb was not the person who had shot the cats.

A normal person would wait for the Sherriff's officer and not shoot someone in the back 3 or 4 times. Reasonable?

To Diane L.

What if it was you and someone was on your property and killing something of yours – something you loved ...how would you feel? If you had the means to protect yourself and what you loved, would you!? I think too often the police feel they are above the law and can do whatever they want. This is pure karma. Mr. Odam was acting with "evil" intent and karma came back to haunt him for his behavior!

Elizabeth, Robb was there as a civilian. First time on the property. supposedly the cats were out of control in the neighborhood and did
you listen to the "animal lover" explain the reporting and shooting of a dog?

From everything that I have seen and heard, the off-duty officer wasn't fit to serve as an officer. There was something very wrong with him. If he had a problem with the cats, he should have dealt with on his own property. It is very obvious to me that the officer was ambushed and murdered by the defendant. I dont think for a minute that the officer fired a shot, if he had, the defendant would be dead.

The officer placed himself in a very bad position and he paid for it with his life. The defendant is guilty as hell, and he knows it!

Retired Police Officer – Dayton, Ohio

I have found in Tennessee anyway, that the law is not always lawful. We called every night for a week to our sheriff to report that at dark a group of teens were smashing our mailbox with a bat. No one came to investigate. Then one night my husband waited on the porch and shot buck shot over the criminals car as they hit the box, then he called the sheriff and told them he just shot the car, low and behold the deputy showed up in 15 minutes. Later we heard that the person smashing our box and others had been a deputy's son, no arrest were made no compensations made. When our 16 yr old daughter was sitting w/ my grandmother, a masked black man tried to break in on her, no prints were taken nothing done. 4 nights later our truck was stolen, when it was found damaged in a field, they did nothing again. My husband told them if the theives come back they will be shot. We were told by a police neighbor that if we shot them to shoot to kill so they can't sue us.

I truly believe the world is a safer and better place without Mr. Odom in it.
Mr. Rye was correct in his actions and should be a free man.

You should not trespass on anyone's property for any reason.

It is terrible that Mr. Rye had to sit in jail for almost a year. The victim and his friend sound like a couple of jerks that were killing someone’s cats simply for sport. I also do not believe the story told by Odom's friend that Odom had put down the gun before Mr. Rye shot him. I think that-once again-the friend lied. If I had been on the jury, there is no way in hell I would have voted guilty. Mr. Grover seems like a good-hearted, decent man who was left hanging by the local police department. That police department that hired Odom might want to consider psychological testing for potential employees, b/c it's frightening to think that someone like Odom was given a gun and a position of authority. Mr. Rye should receive compensation for the time he spent in jail. Odom's friend should be prosecuted for perjury.

Mr. Rye, from what I have seen and read, acted in self defense. Robert Odam's friend seems to feel guilty, perhaps he was the one trespassing and stealing previously. Was he investigated for that. Mr. Rye had called the police many times requesting help. Why wasn't he given any? The fact that Mr. Odam was a police officer should not matter since he was not an officer in Richland County. The fact that he was an officer tells you that he knew he wasn't suppose to be on that property. Average citizens know that. It appears he followed his immature friend there, who evidently had been there before. What were they doing with assault rifles? People need to realize that just because a person wears a uniform does not mean that they follow the law. Alot of times they feel that the law does not appeal to the, Let Mr. Rye remain free.

Mr Rye should be found NOT GUILTY! His day was forever altered because an off duty police officer decided to trespass on Mr Ryes land and shoot his cats with an assault weapon. He should do no jail time.

He called police they failed then he discovers the intruders who were armed with an assault weapon. Mr Rye was going about his day minding his own business and because an off duty cop decided to break the law he is dead now. Mr Rye wasnt looking for trouble.

Trouble found Mr Rye. To bad off duty cop but you play you pay and in this instance you unfortunately paid with your life but that doesnt mean Mr Rye should pay with jail time. The property was clearly

posted. It will b e an outrage if Mr Rye does another days jail time!!!

I meant to say, sometimes people in law enforcement do not feel that the law applies to them.

I would like to know if the friend that was with Mr. Odam, was ever charged with a crime? Trespassing, vandalism, the killing of cats, anything he should have been. this is wrong the deputy should have known better than to trespass or shoot cats and definetlly NOT to vandalize anything.

I think this man did nothing wrong. what the heck was an off duty cop, doing killing cats on some one elses property. was he not a cop? are cops not suppose to up hold the law, even if they are not on duty. we are suppose to look up to our cops and then they are the every ones who tresspress and kill some one elses property. come on now, this cop was doing wrong. i do not care, this off duty cop was on some one elses property.

In most states, it is not legal to use deadly force to protect outside property. Rye's life was not in danger so he should not have shot Odam. You are supposed to retreat from the confrontation unless it occurs inside your home. A man may defend his castle but not the outside grounds. Rye should have locked his doors & called 911. He could shoot only if Odam broke down the door and attacked him personally. Thousands of kids take shortcuts through other people's yards every day. Should it be legal to shoot them?

Why would an off duty cop be on his property.....???? And if so it was Mr. Odam killing the cats, why was he doing so.....???? One way or another Thomas Rover Rye had no REASON WHAT SO EVER to shoot Mr. Odam.

This man is so non-chalant about having shot a human being to death over cats. This is so crazy. We wonder why there is so much killings on the streets. People just don't have, or rather, value human life anymore.

Richard Murry,
You obviously dont know the facts of this case. Mr Rye had called 911 and had several other problems on his property 3 months before. These people were not merely cutting through his property they were killing his cats and shooting his shed. One of the guys had an assault riffle and he pointed that assault riffle at Mr Rye so Mr Rye had all rights to shoot this off duty cop.

Finally a case shows up showing just howcareless police officers couldbe while there're on and off duty. Police officer's think they coulddo whatever they want

Mr. Rye had no right to take the officer's life. If the officer never pointed his weapon at Mr. Rye there was no threat of imminent danger. I do not understand how there was a perceived threat of bodily harm.

I am glad I don't live where Mr. Rye lives. The police department is the cause of this tragety. Mr. Rye was given no help with his problem of vandalism and shooting of cats. How could he get help from a police department whose own deputy was trespassing with a loaded rifle (and probably killed the cats), and another officer who would not even get out of her car to view the scene of the dead cats because of her problem with bees? I would not want to be her partner In a dangerous situation (she probably would stay in her car with the windows up to avoid the possibilty of bees). Her partner would be on his/her own with no help from her. Neither of these two should be police officers.

I'm so glad Mr Rye was freed. I could never have convicted him if I had been on the jury.

I also believe that Mr. Odam's friend should be found guilty of animal cruelty, vandalism, perjury, and vandalism. He is a real jerk!

I tell you I have 3 dogs and a catand if someone was on my property taking aim at them i would not only shoot but shoot to kill....it is these liberal crazy people against our 2nd amendment rights that ae behind these types of prosecutions...this cop used his training and his abilities to promote his own sick twisted source of fun this cop was not the victim here he had no right to even be on this man's property with a gun....the writers of our constitution gave us great guidelines on how to deal with these situations the state wasted the taxpayers money on this one and im glad they got embarrassed maybe now people will stop and think about entering a property and killing defensive animals for sport...YOU GO GROVER RYE you are to be commended not condemned

Diamond Dave what would you do if someone entered your property to kill and had killed ... I don't know your dog or something else you loved. What would you do? Cops protect cops. People put themselves in positions of power because they like having power over others....and Odam thought he could do whatever he wanted..he guessed wrong!

If you don't want to die, don't go on other peoples private property shoot there animals. Rye's reaction was justified and I would have done the same thing.

I think the Sheriff dept is corrupt, & this man is innocent.
The Sheriff did not have any business being on his property off duty.
DO I believe he was shooting the cats? Yes I do.
ANyone who harms animals for the sport of it, is not a mentally stable person & should NOT have a gun or badge.

The prosacution is twisting, turning this mans words b/c they know this man is innocent. & the defendant is sticking to his story 6 years later.

No Sara, I'm a liberal and I think Mr Rye was in the right. You can't blatantly state "all liberals" feel this way or that way on an issue. A lot of liberals are defenders of animal rights.

To those defenders of Mr. Odam. Imagine if someone came into your suburbian yard with a gun and shot at your cats, hit your house shed. Police did nothing and the person came back again with a gun and you were standing out there what would you do? Imagine this has happened to you a few times and your found your beloved pets murdered on your lawn? Yet no one did anything and it was up to you now to stop the senseless slaughter. Who the hell wants guns going off on their property no matter what is being harmed, etc. And this is America? where this is happening?

Just because this took place in the "back woods" of some hillbilly town doesn't mean tha he, the cop can do whatever he wants.

The gun this trespasser had looked to me like an automatic weapon.
This person was trespassing(period). That's all I had to hear. Was he on duty? If not, the fact that he was a deputy is irrelevant. I have 4 cats which stay inside all the time. They are all neutered. This Rye person may have thought he was doing good by feeding these cats, but they all probably needed vet care and to be neutered. At any rate, Rye is still a much better person that a young punk who thinks its all right to come on someone else's property and use his big gun to kill something. Property owners and animal lovers should vote out the prosecutors who prosecuted this case.

If he loses the trial I will gladly start an internet fund to help with appeal costs. Where I lived previously while putting myself through Graduate School was not such a great neightborhood. I was threatened and almost attacked by a neighbor. Police did nothing...even worse I heard the guy who threatened me laughing/joking with the cop. Later I researched this neighbor and found out that he was a convicted sex offender and had served prison time for that as well as an assault. I went to the head of policelater with my complaint and he belived the cop about the sequence of events. I told the "chief" that if something happened to me I was keeping a record and I would sue the city. Police protect their own!

PS now I live in a beautiful neighborhood. Police will treat you differently depending on their perception of you and your "status".

It really scares me reading some of the comments here. Makes me scared of the jury pool.
First of all the cat thing is a side issue.
The off duty deputy was trespassing with a loaded weapon.
Does not matter wha the owner of the property was doing it is his land.
this is aperfect example of the liberties the police take. They really believe that the law were meant for you and I n ot them.
I guarantee his friend is lying and the other officers are covering for the deceased.
If you catch someone on our land shooting a weapon, you can not tell me it is not safer to do the shooting yourself before you are shot.
Anyone trespassing and shooting a weapon is not the kindof person you can trust when they say "hey I wont shoot".

No disrespect to Odom's family... but Odom was asking to get shot... this case should never have been brought to trial! Killing animals the way he did is disturbing to say the least.....

I thank the State Of S.C. is a joke and the law there is just trying to cover
were had there up there butts not doing thing when Mr. Rye called them abount them people killing cats and the they number a cop tryed to shoot Mr.Rye but sad that someone had to die and all of this going on when the Law there if they were doing there jobs this would not of happen the state of S.C. should be on trail for this not Mr.Rye thank you

if a cop in Canada came on to a property shooting shooting cats they would of fired him, What kind of cops you have down there any way;s walking in people yards thinking their god and when they get shot they blame the land owner. In canada we know there is more dirty cops there are good ones. If that cop came on my land off duty using a police car and a cop assult rife he would be where he now

DA is plainly trying to confuse Mr. Rye and the jury. The previous shooting at another property had nothing to do with the events of 8/14. Mr. Rye is being railroaded to try and cover the misconduct of a rogue cop. Just because someone takes an oath does not mean that they are not beyond criminal activity. We have seen this time and time again in society. Good luck Mr. Rye.

I believe Rye was justified in this shooting. The prosecuter is trying to pick apart his testimoney, but is having a difficult time. I believe the police never took Rye seriously when he called about the cats being shot and that is why he distrusted the police. I also believed as soon as they saw that it was an off duty police officier that was shot, they did very little to find evidence (i.e. the shotgun shells) to support Rye's statement. If I was sitting on the jury, at this point, I would vote not guilty.

people that think it was alright to trespass,trespass with a gun,steal ,shoot off a lock from a shed,kill cats, are going to say the cop did nothing wrong. I on the other hand do think it was wrong. If i cault someone on my property with a gun of any kind I will protect my property, cats, and myself the same way. If its me or him its going to be him!

mr rye is very credable mr odam was a sherrif who was supposed to protect the public and here he is tresspassing killing cats destructuin of property with his friend and also blaming mr rye for the shooting of his dog that sound likes he had no control over it makes sense that he fired a gun at mr rye and his friend lied about the whole inncident i believe that he shot him in self defense and should be found not guilty

This man was totally in the right for protecting himself and his property, the man he shot was trespassing on his property and was in possession of a firearm. Certainly he was up to no good and obviously mean't harm to this man and/or his property. Authorities had been notified on numerous occasions and failed to get the sitation under control.

My house was broken into three weekends in a row while I was home sleeping. After the second week, in my mind, breaking into my house became a crime punishable by death. If I had caught that person, I would have shot him. Grover Rye did the right thing.

why do cops thank they are above the law? I would do the same as the defendant.

I have been watching the testimoney and frankly the police let this man down again and again. He was harrassed by an off duty officer and his buddy. He knew a gun was involved from the injuries inflicted on the cats and the lock on his door. He was in a remote location.

The police failed him. Animal control failed him. He was put in the position of having to defend himself and his property.

I think it's unfortunate that a police officer would take sport and disrespect this man's animals and his property. I can understand why the defendant thought he would detain the perpetrators for law enforcement. I think it's sad the policeman is dead.

Given all the fact thus far this man reacted in an uncertain dangerous situation and I think he's been through enough drama with law enforcement and should be set free.

For Sara – this has nothing to do with liberal etc. I'm one of those people who doesn't think the 2nd amend means everyone should have assault rifles. But this is about an out-of-control man who thought it was ok to trespass, vandalize and kill someone else's pets. And the reason Rye is on trial is because he shot an off-duty deputy and the police/legal system will not accept that. If he had shot an ordinary person who was on his property he would never have been prosecuted.

I have been in this man's situation having a vicious Pit Bull living next door with the renters that moved in. It attempted to attack myself and others in my front yard and later successfully attacked my horse.

Not until we took the renters to court was anything done, and all the judge did was move this pit from our county to another. It should have been put down so as not to harm any other innocent animal or person.

There continues to be ongoing problems with animals runnning lose, guns being shots, etc. The local authorities and animal control have failed to come out and resolve the problems. I can see why people may take matters in their own hands ie, removing or putting down these animals that the owners do not care about anyway!

I agree with Mr. Rye. I see him as the victim in this case. I find him to be 100% sincere and honest!

What I'm seeing & hearing is this is about a man shooting an officer because his cats were being killed. Being that I live in SC and know a little about home owners and individual's rights regarding protecting their property AND THEIR LIVES. From what I gather w/information I listened to on this trial, at the instant of the time of the shooting, the cats were no longer the issue–IT WAS HIS LIFE!! If I heard someone shooting on my property, and I went to see whats going on, I would carry my gun and if I find a person with a gun and he points it toward me, I would not wait for him to shoot. I'm would feel my life is in jeopardy and I would do same as Mr Rye.

SC law gives a citizen the right to protect his outside property same as his home. The Grand Jury was wrong to indict but probably they were given incorrect facts by the law officers.

I have seen many cases is SC where if a law officer is involved, they never get charged.

I think I'd have done the same. Someone on my property with a military AR-15 killing weapon trespassing would be very scary! "shoot first and ask questions later"
Who knows what this cop had done in the past? I'm glad he's off the streets, but not by death. My sincere sadness for the families on both sides for their losses.

This man was defending his property and himself. If someone was on my property and came at me with a gun in his hand, I would probably do the same thing or I would have died of a heart attack first. People are focusing on the cats to much and not enough on the man on His property with a gun, breaking into his stuff. Maybe he did not know what this person was capable of. Give me a break, this man is not guilty.

To characterize this case as animal rights would trivialize the overriding issue. The man was defending himself from an armed intruder on his property after multiple episodes of violence. That the violence was perpetrated against animals is, or should be, immaterial to this right.
If ever there is an example of the "blue line" mentality covering for a bad cop, this is it. Tragic as the death is, the victim put himself in harms way by his illegal activity, made more egregious by his wearing a badge, just as the kid running through traffic can blame no one if he gets hit.

Mr. Rye only went to trial because he shot a cop...everyone knows if you kill a cop, right or wrong, you are wrong. Law enforcement officers receive special privaliges. Oviously they can even break the law. Only cops can stop a cop...no one else is allowed. If I heard shots on my property and saw a guy with an assault rifle looking at me, I would not hesitate to shoot. Anybody that hesitates would probably not be participating in this conversation...Wonder if charges are pending for the other criminals? One other thing, if the other guy was told to put down his gun why did he hide behind the shed...then when your buddy gets shot...would'nt you return fire to try to save his life...I would and so would most reasonable people...guess he really didn't see what happened? I believe he ran off liked a scared cat and left his buddy to fend for himself...Hey what are friends for.

M1 versus AR15 if person holding AR15 intends to shoot someone they would cut that person in half, no way victim was holding automatic rifle with bad intent!!!!!

Why is this being tried. He killed a armed (plainclothed) trespasser on his posted property.
The Police should be on trial for charging him .
This is Law Enforcement at its worst.
I live in a rural area where if you find somebody armed with a rifle lurking by your house it means their there to rob and kill you unless you shoot first and ask questions later.
How would this have been handled if Mr. Rye was the victim ?
As much as I hate cats I think Mr. Rye should be compensated for the pain the State has put him through the last 5 years and return his M-1 30 caliber carbine rifle

Mr. Rye was on HIS property, HIS cats lay dead, HIS shed was locked and secured until Mr Odum or his friend shot it open. Mr Odum, a deputy sherrif holds a AR- 15 on private property, NOT HIS PROPERTY, cats are dead, a lock shot.

A trespasser, gun holding, shooting animals for sport wiht no intention of eating them for food but only to kill for sport. Police officer or not, Odum was trespassing, killing for sport, property damage was reported.

He above all should respect that sign. He paid with his life, Im sorry to say but he violated the law, pure and simple.

To Cliff: a civillian AR-15 is simply a semi-automatic rifle unless it had been altered (if it had been altered add another felony to the list for Mr. Odam), it has no more firing speed than most other semi-autos. The only difference is that it looks much more intmidating.

I watched todya and the DA is clerly trying to confuse this poor man. It is quite clear Mr. Rye is hard of hearing. I had to keep adjusting the volumn to hear the DA's questions. I live way out in the country and hear shots all the time. People do target shoot. My places is all cleared and if I saw anyone in civiliam clothes on my place, you can bet my .223 would be aimed right at them. I don't know about SC, but we have what we call the "Castle Law" in Texas to protect property owneers from this very scenario. Feral cats or not, they did not deserve to be shot. The man was clearly feeding and caring for them the best he could. As for the dog attack, that happened months before and the man was attacked as well aS the cats. the law did nothing and he was right to be concerned about small nieghboring children and a vicious dog running loose. Hope this jury excercises some common sense, but that might be asking too much. Mr. Rye shouldbe found innocent of any wrong doing.

I know how frustrating it can be to try to get the police to respond to a plea for help only to have them ignore your complaint or just brush it aside. It's happened on more than one occasion. After awhile you wonder who you can go too.

I was surprised that this was a police officer who was breaking the law that he must have sworn to up hold. At the same time participating in the killing of innocent animals on someone else's posted property?

I feel Mr. Rye was justified in his actions and I have to believe that the police department should shoulder some of the blame for if they had taken this man's calls seriously and done an investigation into his complaints, perhaps this could have been prevented. They could just have gone to his neighbors and told them that this was posted property and the owner had called regarding vandalism and the killing of his cats.

I I have and love my animals and the attachment is such that they become members of the family.

This was a tragedy but if they had stayed where they belonged and not trespassing and doing harm on this man's property, this would never have happened. I feel he was justified and I would have done likewise.

Seems like if you are a cop in this world you can do no wrong!!! I hope they do right by Mr. Rye and set him free. My heart goes out to Mr. Rye and his family. If I would've been in his shoes I most likely would have done the same thing!! The law didn't hold up on their end and it's ashame. You have to be able to defend your property.

They are making a big deal about Mr. Rye seeing OFF. Odam 2 week's prior shooting on another property. I don't know about him but if someone is shooting at me and I have to kill him to stop him I doubt I would recognize him from before. What I do not understand is what was Dep. Odam doing on his property in the first place. This whole thing stink's. I 've been in Law Enforcement for 25 year's and I can tell when thing's are not right. And this prosecutor is not making any sence with his questions. He's just trying to trip him up with prior staments and he said she said. If I was on the jury this would send up several red flag's

Now he's going on about a dog killing his cat's....What the Hell

This trial is getting ridiculas. The prosecuting attny. is reaching and trying to create flaws in his statements. I can tell you right now that just because I saw someone shooting weeks before wearing sweats in my neighbors yard does not mean I would recognized him later. All the problems he was having and getting no assistance from proper authorites it is no wonder the problem excalated the way it did. I would of done the same thing. The police were not handling the situation in a timely manner. The property is huge. All he intended to do was hold the intrueder until the police fianly showed up. Why in the world after shooting someone could you expect the one who was forced to do the shooting be expected to remember everything that happened in his life. I would be in some sort of shock or disbelief that what happened did truly happen. Its always easier to remember incidents after the shock goes away and you have time to think and talk about situations. I am 50 and I have trouble recalling on demand incidents in my life. Our memory does fade over time. This was an unfortunate accident that could of been avoided if the proper authorites would of done their job. Maybe they should be on trial for the murder for allowing a reported problem to get so bad.

I have been watching this trial and i have to tell you this man mr. rye is a solid citizen who was in fear for his life and did what any solid citizen would do in his position, i pray for both families for they both have had great loses.

Don't most serial killers start out killing small animals?

The police/sheriff dept. are not above the law..no trespassing means no trespassing. The off duty cop came on his property with an assault weapon with intent to do mischief, what a stupid cop!!!..Barney Phife has more sense..

American justice. Is it something the courts/law decide or is it something we must grabe for ourselves? I think once the court/law fail us we have a right to seek that on our own if the oppurtunity presents itself, if it is not justified then we have to pay the price. I believe a talking too by the law to Odom's in laws may have prevented this. I can maybe understand them not doing this if just Mr. Rye's place had just been vandilized, but there were weapons used from the very first report made in March and cats killed. I beleive this would call for complete investigation that would include talking to neighbors. I would have certainly been concerned for Mr. Rye if he would have walked up on one of the numoreus cat killings with no gun and so should the law.

Mr. Rye and possibly this Mitchell guy know how this all went down. It is certainly very sad and my heart goes out to both families.

Number 1.... trespassing private property..repeatedly
Number 2....vandalizing private property...repeatedly
Number 3...animals killed on private property...repeatedly
Number 4...COMPLETE AND UTTER DISREGARD FOR 1,2,3

Firmly believe the other perps of the crimes above should have been required to face some time and steep fines.

To the Rye family, wish you peace and strenght in rebuilding your lives.

To the Odams, sorry for your loss... but lets face it... he should have been smarter picking his friends and past=times.

Very sad for everyone involved but I feel no remorse for the other perps who were involved in bringing this to a head....no remorse.

Okay, let me try and explain this so that you can understand it. Yes I own a pet (dog) and if someone killed my pet intentionally I would be very angry. However, that doesn't mean that I can then go and kill the person that killed my dog.

As far as protecting ones property, that's what civil court is for. In order to justifiably take someones life, you must first be in fear for your own life or the life of another.

The defendant was not in fear for his life! He was pissed-off. He armed himself and he waited for the officer to come onto his property. He then (like a coward) ordered him to place his firearm down, and when he did, the guy executed him.

The last time I checked, the death penalty is not on the books for trespassing.If you think for one second that that man was in fear for his life, you are not being honest with yourself. He was furious and that is all there was to it. Listen to the call that he made to the police after the shooting. Did he sound like he was frightend to anyone? No, he was PISSED-OFF and that's IT.

the guy is a murderer, send him to jail. again

I find the byline terribly misleading. Mr. Rye did not hunt down the person he believed to be killing his pets and shoot them. He encountered an armed man on his property. That man had at least one other man with him. The recent crime spree against Mr. Rye and his family aside, I'm sure the confusion, surprise and fear of the encounter took on a life of its own and in an instant, everyone involved had their life changed forever. There are no winners. I feel badly for Mr. Rye and would lean in his favor at this point.

Also, initially I thought this was a neighbor feud and the Deputy was going onto the property with the specific intent to kill his neihgbors cats because he didn't like his the guy. However, now it looks as though the Deputy was told by his friend that the property was abandonded and the cats were strays. Although shooting the cats is a little weird, it changes my opinion of the Deputy because he wasn't intentionally killing his neighbors pets.

It sounds like the friend got his buddy killed. As far as the shot placement, if a person is in the surrender position (hands up) it would be the same as if he were pointing a gun, which is what the defense is attempting to make you think.

Innocent–the cop should not of been on his property!

all states have laws on the books to wit if during the commission of a crime someone is injured or killed then the people committing the crime can be held accountable; so my question is, instead of charging Mr Rye with a crime in Mr Odom's death, why didn’t the state seek charges against the other guy that was with Mr Odom during the commission of their crime, to wit, killing the cats, criminal trespass etc. It seems to me he is more to blame as a co-conspirator of Mr Odom in Mr Odom's death than Mr Rye is. Secondly, I believe the state of SC has a law, title 16 section 11, that permits homeowners to protect their property and themselves against armed trespassers so how was that not an affirmative defense to the shooting? And I also find it un-honest for the state to keep referring to Mr Odom as an off duty police officer when they should have been referring to him as the common criminal he showed himself to be.

I am an animal lover and agree that what Odam was doing was irreprehensible. However, I do not believe Mr. Rye's version of events. I have serious doubts that Odam shot at Rye at all. Rye claims self defense !? Odam was shot IN THE BACK. I don't think it matters whether he was laying, crouching, standing, or doing a cartwheel. How can it be self defense when you shoot someone in the back ?

i do not think he is guilty just because this was a off duty cop dose not give him rights. cops do wrong to its sad to say but true.

i have been watching the trial too i think is why the off duty cop had his friend there with him so he can be his witness if it would of been the other way around and yes i would do the same as Mr. Rye all the man was doing was protecting his life and his home and his cats but that cop must of been a real man to go around killin cats i think Mr. Rye is a good man even though i dont know him and should be NOT GUILTY for what he has done

The off duty police was wrong but so was Mr. Rye
Most reasonable people would have waited for police knowing they were on there way instead of going back there with a loaded weapon.
Is everyone allowed to ride around with loaded weapons in that county? I through it was a against the law to ride with a loaded weapon in there vehicle unless you were going hunting. I believe that Mr. Rye went there to purposely catch those guys and kill them. I also believe that a cop woild have put the weapon down and stepped back away from it due to his training and Mr. Rye shot him anyway. Self defense does not mean deadly force which is what Mr. Rye did .why not shoote the guy in the leg or arm. He stated he saw foot prints and knew there were more than one shooter how did he know the other guys wouldn't kill him since he was in a clearing after he shot the deputy. He goes and call police again and tell them he killed the guy and he needed to get back before they removed evidence who would think of this at this time if someone was trying to kill you and you knew there were other guys there. The shell casing looked pretty old to me I know I have picked up many shells from weapons being in the Military 24 yrs those shell looked to have been there for a while and remeber he also stated that earlier he had picked up casing when the first cat was killed and they removed the body and set them on the porch but the guys came back later and got them but who's to say he didn't keep them to plant them later because he was going to get those guys for the Cats.

This is the first time that I have watched a trial where an officer was killed that I actually think the defendant is innocent of murder. I say this who is the daughter of a retired police officer.

The fact that this victim was an officer of the law and was still trespassing on private property, killing animals for sport, and possibly breaking and entering buildings and stealing makes him a very dangerous threat in my mind. Susie Rye heard about 90 rounds fired that morning. What was the victim going to move on to once the thrill of killing cats was over? Odam obviously enjoyed killing, and obviously felt that he was above the law. In my mind it was only a matter of time before an innocent person was going to be dead at his hands with him and his buddy lying about it. His buddy was almost instantly proven to be a liar on the stand. Odam was a law officer, but he was also a sociopath and a dangerous bully who felt that he was above the law. I feel confident that Rye has saved other lives by killing Odam. Rye should be aquitted, and the Richland County Sheriff's Dept should be investigated. There are obviously some crooked cops there who had given Odam the idea that he was entitled to act like a criminal and a bully.

I missed the part about kid behind the shed who apperently seen everything about the shooting,where did he go after Grover went to call police,did he go to victim and wait for cops or did he take off.I wish I did see that testimony.Please let me know.Thanks

Mr Rye is being prosecuted in order to camaflogue the ineptness, sloppiness and laziness of the Sheriff's office. Had the deputies done their job on previous calls, this confrontation most likely would have never occurred.
My sympathy to Mr Rye and his family. NOT GUILTY!!!!!

Just for the record too, we citizens are getting sick and tired of the legislated branch of government trying to do right by law abiding citizens by passing laws that allow us to protect our property and our lives against those who would trespass against us, to then only have the judicial branch try and undo the voice of the people by acting like this common criminal, Mr Odom, has any legal protections while in the commission of a crime. Yes, Mr Odom was committing a crime, the fact that he was a deputy means that he knows the law and STILL decided to break it. It was his choice, he choose to break the law and he got what he ogt; he knew better and still choose to commit the crime.

The bottom line is, if criminals don’t want to get shot while committing crimes on or in other peoples property then maybe they should think twice before committing such crimes.

And for the prosecutors who decide to bring cases against homeowners who are protecting their property, a right given to them by common law and common sense, shame on you and for the people who keep these prosecutors in office, shame on you.

Vote them out of office if they are not prosecuting the criminals but instead coming after the law abiding citizens.

We all make decisions both good and bad. We must live (or die) with the outcome of those decisions. God have mercy and give His comfort to all involved.

Cliff,

not really true. it depends on the shooter. a m-1 carbine is a pretty good weapon. i have not seen anything that either weapon was fully automatic, requiring a trigger pull for each shot.

the police did not do a good enouph job investigating the scene and i agree with the self defence plea furthermore had the vic. not been a cop the trial would have never proceeded.

I guess I missed the detailed facts of why an off duty cop was there in the first place, please explain how this man can be tried for this off duty cops presents on this mans property?????????????????

When Mr. Rye encountered this nut with an AR15 pointed at him, it was no longer about the cats. It was about defending his family and himself from an obvious criminal pointing a deadly assault rifle at him. It was about the fact that his cousin's child was having to stay in the house to hide from this dangerous invasion of his land and property.

Rye didn't even know that this person who was killing his pets for sport, threatening and endangering himself and his family, keeping them living in fear, and denying them peaceful enjoyment of their property was SWORN TO UPHOLD THE LAW. That fact in itself proves Odam and his friend to be liars and dirty cops, and proves that Rye's instinct that this person was a dangerous threat was spot on. This is so NOT about dead cats. The dead cats are only evidence of Odam's sociopathic behavior and attitudes.

IMO, this is a glaring case of malicious prosecution. I don't know Rye or his family. I am simply a wife of a fan of InSession and trained as a legal secretary who became intrigued with this case.

I have been watching this trail and reading the reports as well. If you go on another mans property and kill his animals you are breaking the law. Just because you are an officer of the law does not give you the right to break the law. Every one keeps saying Depty this and that. Well I see it like this he should have known better! The law is to protect people and not harm them in any way. Unless they are put in danger. I believe that Mr Rye was in the right. The jury should take into a count that yes the man was killed and yes he was a cop. They should understand that he knew what he was doing was against the law. Cop or no cop he did not have the right to do what he did. I believe Mitchell should be arrested for trespassing and killing animals and lying on the stand. I think the cops who did the innvestagating did not do their job. They just went by their code of honor..which I myself know about...because I served in the Army. Anyways it's a brother hood. They did not look at the fact that Odon was tresspassing and that he was killing Rye's cats. Both is agaist the law. I can't even believe Rye was arrested to start with. If someone broke in my home or was stealing from my land I would give a warning shot then the next at all cost I would protect my family, animals and land. I dont know how they are tring him again. The states witness is a lier. I feel for The officers family. However he was in the wrong and he knew he was. We have rights and for Rye to go to jail perrty much takes our rights and turns them inside out.

I am a prosecutor who believes Rye should never have been prosecuted for murder. Odom was a sociopath who clearly felt his status as a deputy gave him free rein to tresspass on private property and exercise his sadistic impulses by murdering helpless animals. As other people have observed, serial killers usually begin with killing small animals. This sheriff's department appears to be very corrupt and should be investigated by the Attorney General's office. ODOM GOT WHAT HE DESERVED!

The off-duty cop and his friend were on Rye's property several times over several months. Rye owned the property but did not live there. He stored work equipment, and housed rescued cats there, which he attended to daily. The off duty cop, Odam and his friend apparently would come over knowing that Rye didn't live there, and shoot cats, shoot locks off sheds, enter premises and steal Rye's things. Well Rye was at the neighbors house one day when Odam came back with a weapon. Rye confronted Odam, the two refused to drop their weapons, and Rye kills Odam. Note that Odam was off duty and not in uniform, or on official police business. It is reported that Rye called police several times to report break-ins, and dead cats, but nothing was done.

Did you ever think that maybe the cops couldn't find the bullets in the yard because the person that was killed was a cop and they weren't about to look for evidence against their fellow officer.
He would have never been arrested if he had shot a regular person.

Why was Mr. Rye so surprised to see someome on the property when he had said he had called the police and did the officer tell him he was a police officer ?

where there any charges for shooting the cats

I work with law officer everyday and they think that they are above the law, he being a officer he was trained to know better.Why was he on this man property with a gun in hand anyway. These officers where making a joke out of this man and his cats.Who's laughing now.

I still have a problem with mr odam's immaturity.
going out to kill cats for entertainment????
what would have been next? dogs, horses, sheep, cows, toddlers???
he did not belong on that property, cop or no cop.
end of story

Why isn't anybody questioning why the off-duty officer and his accomplice were trespassing on private property. One of the people who was supposed to enforce the law was out breaking the law and denying Ryes' rights to liberty on Ryes' own property. The accomplice has admitted to several serious crimes under oath but has never been charged. Why has the original crime been ignored. Where is the justice in this case. If Grover Rye is convicted this will send the message to those few criminals that hide behind a badge, and thier associates, that they can do whatever they like.

SHOT IN THE BACK FOUR TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing makes this OK!!!! Not the cats, not the shed door kicked in, not the inaction of the police about the cats, NOTHING. Let me say it one more time: SHOT IN THE BACK FOUR TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Mitchell should be the defendent in the death of Mr. Odem. By his own admission. He was responcible for the deceased being on Mr. Rye's property, by telling Mr. Odem the property was abandonned and the cats were a neausance. Is there still a such a thing called purgery? I live in South Carolina and your guilty until proven innoscent. Also it appears the code of blue has been applied in this case.

I guarntee had the shoe been on the other foot, and an off duty deputy shot a trespasser on his property THERE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN A TRIAL. This was an off duty deputy on private property in the commission of 2 felonies at the time he was shot. He and only himsely (Deputy Odem) could have avoided the entire event. If he and his buddies were on my property doing this to my cat I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING!!!!

Not guilty!!! If Mr. Oden had not been on Mr. Rye's property he would not have been shot. If Mr. Oden came onto Mr. Rye's property unarmed he would not have been shot. Mr. Oden was trespassing while armed with a gun, he had Mr. Mitchell with him at the time also armed, I would have done the same thing. Let alone these men were killing cats, they were vandalizing, stealing, breaking and entering, trespassing, how much worse can it get for a police officer that knows all of these actions are illegal and felonies. If you come on my property with or without no trespassing signs armed I am going to think you have intent to harm me and I give you a command to drop your weapon and you don't I'm going to shoot you whether you fire at me first or not.

I can take a gun and sit in my yeard all day – no crime there. If Oden hadn't been there, there would not have been an issue! Mr Rye can and should defend himself – If there is a guilty party in this it is MASON MITCHELL! Mitchell told Oden no one lived there – Mitchell told Oden the cars were a menace. We cannot believe a word he says. Also – shouldn't a trained police officer have known better than to be there shooting cats and shooting the lock off buildings? At that poit Oden would have had to know that property was not abandoned. If I behave in a way that makes a reasonable person fear for his life – I am responsible for the consequences.

It's not self defense: He RAN onto the property with his rifle LOOKING FOR someone to shoot. He was in his truck. He knew the police were on the way. He went in after them anyway. He was in no danger.

It's not defense of dwelling. This is limited to a person entering into your HOME DWELLING (the house you live in) while you and/or your family are in it.

This is VERY CLEARLY MURDER.

Rye had every right to shoot odam. If an armed person is on my property, firing shots for any reason, I'd drop them just like rye. Who cares how they're facing? Bring a gun, meet a gun. This man should never have been put on trial. Set him free and move on.

This is a classic case of overcharging. Involuntary manslaughter would still be a reach and with credit for time served, should result in Grover Rye being set free.

Mr. Odom was on Mr. Ryan's property to shoot cats as a sport. This is the kind of person who is supposed to serve and protect? Another armed lunatic, or sadist, with licence and authority to use armed force as they see fit. What a scarry thought! . From what I seen Mr. Ryan is a law abiding humanatarian who was protecting his property and self when the killing occured. I cannot say I feel bad for a person who shoots defenceless domesticated animals as a sport.

This case is not over cats. This case is over illegal trespassing and self defense plain and simple. The police and DA are only prosecuting because the deceased was one of their own. If they had paid more attention when the man was asking for help and done something of an investigation maybe this whole thing could've been avoided.

An officer of the law should know way better to be trespassing WITH a loaded firearm, a rifle at that. To shoot blindly at animals can potentially lead to unintentional fire upon a human. Not to mention, animal cruelty.

The prosecution talks about Rye "lying in wait", which is most likely not the case. Lying in wait for 19 days?? No. Was Rye now more alert of his surroundings? Yes. Was Rye now pissed because people are shooting upon his property and the Police do nothing? Yes. Was Rye more prepared to defend himself and his land since no one would help? Yes. Who wouldn't??? I know if someone kicked my front door in or was shooting bullets in my backyard, putting my kids at risk, Im not asking questions. The intruder would be taken care of ASAP.

It is a shame that an officer died for nothing. But we as Americans have the right to defend ourselves within the confines of the law. This is clearly the case here. Its simply ridiculous that Rye was even arrested for this. This is purely a way for the PD and the state to try and cover their own laziness.

Mitchell Mason cried for his friend on the stand. And well he should. He could have prevented this. He could have told his friend that the offences he admitted to on the stand ( trespassing , destroying property while trespassing and committing cruelty to animals) was wrong. He could have said, "Hey, this isn't right". And, just maybe, his friend would have heard those words and realised, "I'm a deputy. I'm sworn to uphold the law, I shouldn't be here, doing this." But he didn't. And no one will ever know if he had said those words, would his friend be alive. He will live with that.

But he also has to pay society for breaching the laws we all hold sacred. The same laws he admitted to violating while on the stand.

The State should think twice about making a deal with this devil. Charge him with all the law allows – trespassing, destruction of property, cruelty to animals and interfering with an investigation (yet another thing he admitted to on the witness stand when he said he had lied to the police). Not charging him with all these infractions leaves the State open to speculation about the governing supervisors that would employ an armed deputy who thought shooting cats while trespassing was okay.

This is in response to Bill C: Correct me if Im mistaken Sir, but one of those wounds were through the arm and into the side of Mr. Odom between the 3rd and 4th rib. When someone holds a rifle to aim, they stand sideways, not straight on to the target. If Mr Odom was aiming right handed toward Mr. Rye, that would put that wound in his left arm, or visa versa had he been aiming as a left hander. If this wound was from the the first shot that Mr. Rye put off, it very well could have spun Mr.Odom around sending the other 3 shots into his back.

Bill, he ran onto the property with his rifle to hold the trespassers at bay until the cops got there. Mr Rye was justified in shooting this crimial as soon as the criminal pointed the assault gun at Mr Rye and if Mr Rye is convicted the people in South Carolina should have an uprising!!!

Wasn't this case settled in October 2009? I believe it was.

I was not there. Somewhat irrational behaveour to be at someone's house with an automatic weapon. dictionary . 1995 halloween night 2 men showed up at the front door with what appeared to be automatic rifles in santa cruz ca. What were the cats shot with? Rye's gun ? Did rye sell the power tools to buy gas for his truck.? At 5.00$ a gallon a lot of truck owners refused to believe they were not ripped off. Even if rye had 110 kids in cages Odem still should have been without the automatic weapon pointed at someone. Did rye know Odem upon sight?

Rev Cody,

I don't think that a 30 caliber M1 Carbine is capable of turning someone around. The 30 cal M1 Carbine has almost half the muzzle energy and velocity of a typical 30-06 rifle. An AR-15 has almost twice the muzzle energy and velocity as the M1 Carbine. Typically the AR-15 bullet will go through and through becaue of its high energy and velocity. I can't subscribe to your theory.

Hello ,
In my opinion , such behavior by any police office ( Off duty or not ? ) was " Outrageous " and my question is ? Why was the Victiim armed and trespassing on the defendents property ? What a complete waste of the taxpayer's money , but I guess the Question has to be asked because the was a police officer ....

Why can't the Governor intervene? He has pardon powers. He needs to swoop down and save the integrety of his State's law enforcement and prosecutors before they receive anymore "public display of incompetence."

It is a proven fact , look it up , that Serial Killers started out as being cruel to animals as children ... Set this man free , ...

In response to Billie C. I probably wouldn't have went back on the property either, out of fear, however everyone doesn't think alike. If the police officers would have acted on things maybe Rye would not have felt like he needed to go back on the property to hold the person until the police got there. Nevertheless, Odam had no business being there in the first place killing anything! None of that would hve ever happened!

I am a LE officer and know too many in my profession that take way to many liberties! An officer is held to a higher standard all the time and that is not right. We are people too! In this case the officer was WRONG!! Should it have cost him his life! NO!!!! Only three know the truth- one is dead, one was proven a liar and the other got off! I lean toward Mr. Rye's side! Look at it this way; Mr. Oldham knew someone was removing the dead cats from the property! It does not take a rocket scientist to know the land was not abandoned. There were food bowls for God Sake! If Mr. Oldham had not taken the liberty of trespassing and destroying property, he would be alive today! Go to the root of the problem not to the outcome! I am sorry for the Oldham's loss and also apologize to the Rye's for all the officers out there that think they have the right and everyone owes them something! SAD SAD is all you can say about this.

I have children and grandchildren in law enforcement and I believe Mr. Rye was totally within his rights. He didn't shoot a law enforcement officer, he shot an armed vandal, thief, and animal murderer. Don't forget this had being going on for quite some time and Richland county did nothing to stop it.

Mr. Odam was breaking the law and he's a deputy. He should have know better. It's very tragic but Mr. Rye had every right to protect his property and should n't even been charged.

why is grover rye on trial? i think that the police should b on trial. if they had done their job, maybe noone would be dead. i say grover rye is not guilty and should never have spent a day in jail. come on, a deputy sheriff treespassing, shooting cats, and pointing a gun. who would have reacted differently?

if Mr. Rye said he was in his truck or by it, when he herd the gun shots and knowing the police r on there way why did he not go back down the road and call the police and tell them he is hearing gun shots from his property. I think he put himself in harms way if he walked that far to see who it was. I also think he wanted to do something because the police did not do what he wanted them to do. I think we should be able to protect our property but he had a way out and that is to drive away and call police like he did after he shot the officer, I think he should go to jail.

I pray that Mr. Ryes is set free.

question? if this guy was not a cop do you think this case would be different?

I completely agree with Reverend Cody James comment.
Mr. Rye used deadly force because he had "a reasonable fear of imminent death". Not because he thought the person pointing the rifle at him killed his cats. Not because he was protecting his property. He shot the person because he feared for his life.

I believe that any person who owns a firearm, reguardless in what state they live, should read "Missouri Weapons and Self-Defense Law by Kevin L. Jamison. If Mr. Rye had read this book prior to the incident, I doubt if he would be on trial today. I do not know Kevin L. Jamison. I saw the book under reference while researching "Castle Doctrine".

Last, but not least: I find Mr. Rye "NOT GUILTY"

the lawyer said the first jury slept and they where all young people.
He knew that they where young he helped pick them and if he did not bring it up to the judge that they where sleeping he must think its not a big deal, but when they come back guilty now they have a problem about them being young and sleeping. I think i would look for another lawyer

much has been made by animal lovers about the poor dead cats. what they do not seem to understand is the damage feral cats do to native wild life such as ground nesting birds and small mammals. they are a major threat to our eco system and must be removed or destryed
joe from ky.

I agree that if the victim was not an off duty police officer, there would be no trial here. The defense team in my opinion id first rate, and the prosecution seems to be grasping at straws. I have seen first hand the incompetense of richland county law enforcement.

I agree this is a sad story but weather Rye was angry or not he was protecting his property and has the right to do so this was a waist of tax payer money.

I haven't heard anyone say Odem said he was a cop before he was shot. maybe if he had he would have be alive today. I do know if came to my house with a gun and didn't ID himself he would get shot again.This whole cvase is a waste of taxpayers money if Odem wasn't a cop Rye wouldn't be on trial anyway.

this prosecutor should be ashamed he tried to make this a murder case when its more than clear it was a case of protecting property and if your armed on your own property like the cop said you can sit all day and thats not breaking the law. Not to mention how would you feel with someone on your property with an ar15 or .223 that you dont know.

this is to Bill C....it would be murder if Sc didnt have a law that says you have the right to defend your property. We have a no retreat law...he had every right to defend his property

RE: telephone interview with the SC prosecutor...

The statement referring to the capabilities of a metal detector to locate bullets beneath the ground were unbelieveable!!

I have myself, recovered spent rounds to a depth of 13 inches.. and any rounds less than that will signal much stronger..

For the prosecutor to claim 3 inches max on the equipment is downright ludicrous..

i think the defence has a stronger case, odem shouid have never been on rys property. i think there was a police coverup

when you listen to the prosecuter hed full of it hes says that odem had permission to tresspass vandelize and kill the cats who gave him the right to do that? then he say mitchell said he lied because he frlt remorse he only said he lied on the stand when he got caught in a lie hes a total coward whos whole story is made up where did he go when the gun fight started and he hid and came forward later why didnt he defend his supposed friend in a trial if you find a wittness lied about one thing then you can consider it all to be a lie also why didnt the police look for the bullets and find them if odem was on the ground when he was shot? then they say mr Rye found the shells from odems gun and placed them there its hard to believe an ything the prosecuter says Mr rye is innocent

South Carolina is clearly showing that you cannot protect your property and letting individuals know that cops are always in the right, even if they are taking advantage of their authority and breaking the law. Robert Odam and his lying friend was totally in the wrong. Seeing that rifle scared me and traumatize me on tv. Mr. Odam was not a police officer at that time. He was a trespasser, harming Mr. Rye's family (cats). To be honest, Mason Mitchell should be charged with his friend's death. They were trespassing, harming/ killing cats, and vandalizing Groover's property. Its no way Mitchell saw what happened because Mr. Rye said it himself, he went looking for the others. If he would have seen him, he would have been dead as well.

A federal monitor must be appointed to oversee corrupt Columbia, South Carolina's Sheriff's department, the real cause of why Thomas Grover Rye was compelled to lawfully and reasonably defend his property (cats are technically property under the law and thus irrelevant), and moreover, a legally presumed assumption of his life, with only a rifle, against tresspassers armed with assault weapons (the fact the perpetrator was an off-duty cop is equally irrelevant) in the first place and his subsequent malicious and false prosecution; and also seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law against Deputy Robert Odam's friend for, including but not limited to, criminal harassment, criminal tresspass, criminal vandalism, (and yes, felony criminal animal cruelty charges although this fact is irrelevant and unrelated to Thomas Grover's lawful and reasonable defense of his property and life), and the true cause of why the criminal Robert Odam is dead and rotting in hell.

Fiat Justitia!

Just from watching some of this trial it is very apparent from a lawyer's point of view the police/prosecutor is trying to take the blame off the off-duty policeman and his buddy Mr. Mitchell and dump everything on the Defendant. I live in the country, have cats, dogs and horses, and if I caught someone on my property, with a gun, killing even a mouse, I would blow them away if it took all the bullets in my gun to do it.
My very good friend, Sheriff Hawkins advised me that if you have someone on your property with a gun then that person is not there to have "tea and cookies" and you have the right to protect yourself, your family, and your property. He advised that if a gun is pointed at you, you have the right to "fire."

I missed some of this trial, but to my understanding some of the stolen property was recovered. I would like to know where, when, and how was it recovered?

those young men were wrong but mr rye should have waited at the road for the police by going back to the yard he caused the confrontation then when he called 911 there was so much anger no bad feelings it is ashame a young man died that could have easily shot mr rye i believe therewas malice and for thought and he is guilty

When Mason was on the stand he said that the Oden bent down to put his gun down. Is it not reasonable to think that a trained "officer" with a gun pointing at him would act like he is following orders, but is still postured to shoot back if the opportunity presents? Maybe this is what caused Rye to respond the way he did—assuming what Mason is saying happened is all true. (Not so sure about that one!) Bottom line, the "officer" who was acting like a naughty 13 year old kid trespassing on property and playing cowboys with his buddy learned the hard way that Americans are VERY serious about protecting their property! The whole situation is sad, for Oden, for Mason, for Rye and all the cats who were killed for target practice!

Why did Rye have to shoot him 4 times, Ithink he should be found guilt

Also, who owned the gun Oden had? Was Oden using work property to break the law and overkill cats with his gun?

I think its great to see that they didnt find him guilty people need to know they have the right to deffend themself and their property and had he been found guilty it would have made people wounder what is considered protecting themself and their property. It may have been wrong to confront rather than run but it was his and it was posted no treaspassing and they where armed what else need be said.

I have been watching this- I am in public service also and this is absurd that Mr.Rye was charged in the first place. I'm gathering from the friend's testimony that was trespassing with Odam that they are smart - sheriff deputies that thought they were mightier than thou! They were in the wrong and while it sad that he lost his life-shouldnt have been there-and his friend was so sad and crying on the stand because he relives this daily and knows that they were in the wrong. He's probably crying tears of relief that he wasn't shot- I don't care for cats that much but come on- and for the other two just being fines for animal cruelty-here in Alabama you go to jail for that! Too bad its not you on trial....

I guess in this time and age we as good citizens cant defend our home and family but on the other hand police officers can do whatever they like and feel at anytime they want and its ok. Come on AMERICA where is Mr Rye's justice?

A stanger in civilian clothes comes on my property w/assault rifle or any other weapon I'd shoot his ass. Thats even ignoring the fact of animals killed an property shot up. We have had recent of cases of cops breaking the law and other cops lying about it to protect them. So I absolutely belive they could have alterd evidence. It would be a travesty to convict this man.Ibelive the story that the first jury was asleep

There are so many "WHAT IFs & ONLY IFs" in this case that I don't know why this trial is taking place, let alone twice. What if Mr. Rye did not act the way he did. Maybe he would be the one dead & Mr. Odam & Mr. Mitchell might be the ones on trail for murder or whatever. How would an off duty officer explain how he shot a law abiding man on his own property with an assault rifle. Or Mr. Rye could be dead and no one might never know who killed him. This is a terrible tragety. A young man dead and so many people in mourning.

I don't care if the gun was on safety ( which I do not believe it was) if someone comes on my property with a gun and has been there before shooting my cats or my property, He will be shot. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

I think this officer should not have been on the land at all. My thinking is that Mr Rye should be set free. This young man knows what he was doing, And thought he could do what ever he could do. Sorry he is dead but if he was not in the wrong he would still be alive. Just because he was and officer of the law he can not just do what ever he wants to do. come on now.

When this case first started..the way that the prosecuter was portraying Mr. Rye, I thought he was a crazy old man that shot this boy because he was angry..after listening intently at the chain of events..I feel he shot that kid because he felt his life was in danger..and under those circumstances I would have felt the same way..that kid wouldve been shot by me..yes it is sad..very, very sad..I feel for Mr.Odams family..but he was breaking the law..it sounds to me as if Mr.Mitchell had been reeking havoc for quite some time and unfortunately he got his friend killed..as for the sherriffs...go figure.. another case of law enforcment NOT doing their jobs!! Mr. Mitchell you should be ashamed of yourself..what did you think lying would do?

Bless you ..Mr. Rye !! not guilty !! please try to enjoy the rest of your life..put this terrible ordeal behind you !! Mr. Mitchell..I hope that you learned your lesson..I am so sorry for your loss none the same..may you & your family heal from this ..

THIS MAN SHOULD HAVE NEVER WENT TO JAIL IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!! THE OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE WOULD NOT OF BEEN A TRIAL IF HE HAD NOT BEEN A POLICE OFFICER!!!!!!!!!! THANK GOD THE SECOND JURY GOT IT CORRECT!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Mr Rye! The jury got this one right!

THANK GOD MR. RYE WAS ACQUITTED. if odam had not been a sheriff's deputy this most likely would never have gone to court. just how in the hell was mr rye to know that he was an off-duty deputy, especially since the man was shooting & killing his cats. that is no way for a sheriff's deputy to act on or off duty anyway. shame on the first jury for finding him guilty, big thanks to the supreme court for bailing them out so he could get a fair trial. anyone should be allowed to defend his/her property, with deadly force if necessary regardless of what the perpetrator does for a living.

Not guilty!!!! Amen... justice has been served.. Though that sherrifs dept. needs to be investigated to see who else they have under their command that are charactors like those in the movie 'Deliverance'...
My prayers are with Mr. Rye and his family, that they can resume a normal life, with peace and joy. My prayers are also with the family of Mr. Odom. Now, how about some compensation for Mr. Rye's time behind bars......

The Police in Sherman, Texas can do no wrong. They can run red lights, speed and break other laws and nothing is done. I feel really bad for the family of Robb Odem, but he was wrong and Rye did not deserve jail by trying to protect his property and animals. I think the jury did a great job and made the right choice.

Congradulations Mr. Rye. Time to arrest and indict Mr. Mitchell for burgulary, purjury and causing the death of Mr. Odam. Thats a slam dunk for the state. Once again, Congradulations and prayers to the Rye family.

GOD BLESS U GROVER RYE.

When a life is taken, someone must be held responsible. Mr. Rye never showed any remorse. and his outrageous language on the
tape is unacceptable. He wasn"t sorry he took a life but he will pay,
sooner or later

They say that a police officer is never off duty at least in his mind with regards to right and wrong and legal or not legal in ones actions. I believe Odam in the split second of the confrontation reacted with fear and guilt seeing a whole bunch of trouble was in as a cop and saw his cureer passing before him. I believe Odam did react in such a way trying take control of the situation by posturing in such a way creating a feeling of threat of life in Mr Rye.
Plan and simple, Odam even told it was ok, he should of known the law and had the heart not to murder those cats! I feel for both families but we would not be discussing this at all if Odam had not broken the law.
Mr Rye was justified in his actions to protect his life and property.
Furthermore I feel a heavy hand to convict was placed on Mr Rye for the death of an officer who willfully violated the law.
Mr Rye should be compensated for his imprisonment and his legal expenses.
My prayers for both families

Thank God they found this man NOT guilty, he had every right to defend himself and his property. The guy was a cop he should have known better than unlawfully trespassing and killing animals, what was he thinking, you could say he committed suicide being such a bonehead. Good luck Mr. Rye glad you are a free man, to bad you had to go through all of this because of a couple of idiots

Its unfortunate how the Rye family suffered. To be in your sixties having your good name smeared, ten months of jail, his wife having a nervous breakdown, half a million in legal fees.

Whats sadder is that most people suffer much more than Mr Rye has when their path comes against injustice.

I doubt he would have been able to tell his side of the story had he not defended himself.

Admittedly Mr Mason and Mr Oden were in the act of committing 3 felony's when Mr Oden died. Why is it that Mason is not on trial for murder as an accomplice where someone die in the commission of a felony? Seems like there is a double standard when ever the government gets caught with there hand in the cookie jar. They did not want to prosecute Mr Mason for fear of raising more bad publicity on the police department. surly it would have come up about police hiring practices as to testing to prevent making someone with such a sick mind and no respect for the law a policeman. Good for My Rye, he did the right thing. Maybe some of the sick minds out there will start to think twice before trampling on others rights. Remember "Death Wish" Crime went down after someone stood up to the thugs.

Frankly. The fact that he's a cop doesn't mean anything. He was off-duty. In plainclothes. The defendant didn't know he was a cop. And I think saying "Off-Duty Cop Killed Over Dead Cats" is EXTREMELY prejudicial. It doesn't matter that he was a cop. I think it taints the jury, to be honest.

ROBERT ODAM – SHOOTING CATS FOR FUN:
There is something very wrong with any person who kills another living thing 'for fun'. It is alarmingly wrong to a police officer to enjoy killing
any person or animal 'just for fun'.
We're not talking hunting for food or killing in self defense.
This OFF DUTY Officer planned a 'killing party' with friends for sure
enjoyment. What does this say about how this person's judgment as a police officer and his judgment when he's in a position to have a loaded gun pointed at a person under stess while on the job.
MEK

Lyyne & Rhoward; this really isn't about cats. Take the cats out of the picture. Mr Rye is on his OWN PROPERTY and finds himself in the presence of ( surrounded ) by multiple men with guns who are shooting these guns. He had every reason to believe his own life was in jeopardy and if he didn't shoot . .he would be dead himself.
And I believe that would have been the case. The lot of them would have just lied and said THEY shot Rye in self defense.
Lynee & Rhoward; go stand in your yard and put yourself in Rye's place.
Men with guns surrounding you, firing. Would you really stop and chat?
MEK

Please let me know what the verdict is when the jury decides thanks

If Mike Brooks is so sure Rye's story is true about the shots at Odom I would like him to tell me how come Odom has 3 shots in his back and one from the side though the back of his neck. How can Odom be pointing the rifle at Rye during the shoot out and have 4 shots in his back. That doesn't make sense. Also Odom's gun is on the ground following the shooting, in SAFE position. Not the position an attachers gun would be in.

Maybe the expert Yates can explain that one also.

I don't agree with what Odom was doing but 4 shots in his back is an angry man, which I would be too, getting even for his frustration with these cat killers.

To me that's not protecting his property...It's Murder..

IS IT POSSIBLE that during one of the early calls from Rye to the Sheriff's Dept., that they saw the involvement of one of their own,; could he have been at the neighbor's house at that time? Could that be why the did not take it seriously? I am apalled that someone from the Sheriff's Dept., was out tresspassing, killing cats, breaking and entering. I think the good ole' boy club is covering for him
good and I question anything they are saying However my gut and what I'm hearing tells me Rye is telling the truth.

What a shame for everyone involved. Mr. Rye and his wife seemed to be very kind hearted, respectful and law abiding people. Mr. Odam had his whole life before him, but made a very poor choice by going on another person's property to practice his shooting skills on live animals. I feel very sorry for his parents and wife. It seems to me that if the civil servants, being the local Police and Animal Control, would have acted in a more professional manner, this whole thing could have been avoided. Mr. Rye has lost years of his life trying to get past this issue, Mr. Odam lost his life and it could all have been prevented if local authorities would have handled the situation better. I do think either the State or the County should reimburse Mr. Rye for his attorney expenses and loss of income. Any reasonable person would have done pretty much the same thing and I don't think it is fair that Mr. Rye had to spend his life's savings in order to be free when he shouldn't have been charged in the first place.

Odam's gun was found a distance away from where his body fell on the ground. And four times in the back doesn't much sound like self defense. Happy now, cat lover?

i've heard of SBC (suicide-by-cop) but this is the first SBV (suicide by victim). and it is certain that Mr. Rye is and has been the VICTIM in this case.

it isn't even about cats. hell, i hate cats. it's about individual rights as American citizens to defend BOTH home and property.

i don't know how old this man is but he is certainly "elderly" and if he was the man the DA is trying to make him out to be – there would certainly HAVE to be some prior evidence of violent behavior.

ain't none.
go home mr rye.

yeah he may have been wrong to trespass kill cats and all that but that doesn't make it right for rye to kill him

i why is it a big deal that it was a assault rifle a shot gun is just as deadly. and i head the shot were through and through that was why i thought there were holes in the back not guility

I'm from the South.

Fact: There is, and always has been a great deal of corruption within the law enforcement agencies.

Fact: The "Good Old Buddy" system is extremely acute, especially among the law enforcement community.

Bigger Fact: In the South, you don't go messin (“messing around”, for those non Southerners) with somebodies, land, personal property, or animals; if so, expect trouble.

Justice has been served....NOT GUILTY! too bad it cost Mr. Rye over $500,000 and a couple years in prison. what ever happened to NOT GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT?!!!! A serious oxymoron......
Is there any restitution for Mr. Rye? (I hope so)

Wake up folks! He's not innocent. His case was overturned due to a paperwork technicality. More Court screwups that cost the taxpayers more money.

hmm thats a good way to kill someone you don't like. Invite them over to your place, the moment they step foot on your property you shoot them and place a loaded weapon in their hands. A clever way to kill someone you don't like..and use "self-defense" as the reason.

Why was an off duty police officer on this mans property firing shots? Also the fact that right after the shooting he called police for the 2nd time shows he is not a killer. A guilty man does not stay behind and call the police after shooting a cop.

the off duty cop was there with his freind to shoot cats.the freind told the cop it was abandon property and the cats were stray.so why no charges against this so called friend.mr. rye was in the right.

I missed the end of this trial. What was the verdict last week?

Hi Diane,
He was acquitted, a near miracle when a cop is involved, even when the cop is in the act of committing several crimes: Trespassing, destruction of property, animal cruelty, and threatening the homeowner with an assault weapon.

Has this case concluded, was Rye found guilty or not guilty of murder of the off duty police officer?

It is terrible that someone so young lost his life. That said, as a police officer, Mr Odam should have followed the laws he was sworn to uphold. Whether the property was abandoned or not trespassing is a crime. Shooting domestic animals is a misdemeanor is all 50 states and a felony in some. If the cats were causing a problem, animal control could have been called and the cats would have been dealt with in correctly. Also, if the property was not up to code, ordinance violations could have been issued with fines and directions on what needed to be done and a deadline given. The other men Mr. Odam was with have been convicted of animal cruelty and trespassing charges. If these men were doing nothing wrong, and Mr Odam was laying down the gun as the prosecution says, why have they been convicted? Also, I am in a family of police officers. Police officers are not trained to put down their weapons, ever. I have a hard time believing Mr Odam surrendered and voluntarily put down his gun. More than anything, it disturbs me that this police officer is out shooting cats for "fun".

Tom,
The man was rightfully acquitted. This shows dirty cops that the badge doesn't always protect them. This guy is going to have a rough time with the dead cop's friends. They will target him regularly now. One dead dirty cop is not the only dirty cop in the bunch. Not in the South. NO WAY!

i would like to know what is happening now with this mans case i truely believe that the laws today are just out to put every man in prison. every man has a right to protect his property no matter who it is on it! and its not like he knew the guy was a cop anyways did he? anyways i think its kinda bad that the state has to come and take a mans life away just becouse they feel like it. please contact me with all the info on this case thank you!

I watched thee entire case from start to end ,i;ve seen other court cases on tru tv, but nothing hold a lite to grover rye vs s. carolina .I was w/ mr. rye almost thee entire case,i am a lawabiding citizen,but the way things were decribed thee officer was over stepping his bounderies to an extreme.I felt for Mr rye ,after he won the case he had some face time w/ the camera and explained how he lost his entire lifesavingss on his defense.