Defendant’s wife: “We are terribly sorry”

State of South Carolina
Title 16
Chapter 11
Article 6. Protection of Persons and Property > Clear to myself and others following this case.

I can understand Rye wanting to protect his property. However, he had no proof that Odam was the one vandalizing his property and without proof he should have held Odam and called 911. As far as the cat shootings go, Odam shouldn't have been on Rye's property doing that but it doesn't justify Rye killing him over the cats. Cats are NOT as important as people. And before some PETA head gets all up in the air about the comment, I have pets myself and I love them enough to make sure they stay in MY yard by putting up a fence. That way they can't be roaming all over the neighborhood and causing trouble.

Ifeel bad for Grover Rye , I feel that his case is nothing but a misfortunate accident, and for what this poor man has been through, it 's an injustice.

These cats were on his own property. The officer should never have trespassed, and didn't he fire his gun first? THe property owner should have absolute right to protect his property and living creatures from armed trespassers. This case is a travesty of justice. THis is a good man, and the officer had NO RIGHT to be on his land.

I watched the defendents eyes while testifying and he was making up things and not being truthfull.

Psychologists will tell you that a person who takes pleasure in killing animals will probably have no trouble "shifting gears" and taking out their rage on people. I see Mr. Rye as a hero. Let's be real, he did what anyone would have done in that same situation. Odam gave South Carolina's Law enforcement a bad name. No one should discharge a firearm near a dwelling, and especially not at a house. Odam must have thought that the uniform made him untouchable.

I watched part of the trial. Both of the men was guilty of felonies when they entered Mr Rye's property. If it had not been a deputy that got killed, This case probably would have never went to court. The deputy, if he had been a upstanding-law abiding citizen, would have never been tresspassing and damaging other peoples property. Apparently, he had no respect for people or the law, otherwise if he had he would still be alive. I am sorry that the man died, but put the blame on the persons that were responsible, the 2 men that were knowingly breaking the law when they entering the posted property.

when you are under aged , and tresspassing , killing cats . 1st thing they call that criminal mistchief ,2nd killing cats they should not be police officers.what kind of charges does the other officer have against him. No charges becouse they were above the law.

Just want to say, Odam was a "law enforcement officer" who was trespassing and killing defensless cats for fun. Dont they do some sort of psychological testing on people who want to become police officers. Killing cats, or other animals for fun, is a red flag for trouble, this guy should have never been a cop. Rye would want me to be sitting on his jury, because I would never convict this man.

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

It was broadcast that Mr Rye is somewhat deaf & did not have on hearing aids that day. Why has the defense not put that out sooner to the court? The prosecutor yesterday was redundant, repetitive w his questions and very rude demeaner vs mr rye, who was presenting himself in a very sympathetic and favorable light. He never appeared to be frustrated while attempting the read the prosectors lips & make sense of the accusations/questions.
In the beginning i was solidly in favor of the prosecution–but now with facts and the poor actions of the victim & his witness–i could not vote to convict mr rye. there is too much reasonable doubt. I have pets but that does not sway me. i believe rye's account of that day. his perceptions may have been off but when you are on your own land and hear gunshots from tresspassers, it puts the blood up right away. there is no way to tell they are not shooting in your direction!

If Rye was trespassing on a police officers property with a gun shooting cats and the police officer shot him .They would more than likely find the police officer not guilty.

Rye heard gunshots, and found Odam on his private property with a gun. That is all he needed to protect himself.

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.

As a 50-year-old almost lifelong Southerner who knows how things work in this part of the country, I personally believe the only reason this case went to trial is because the dead guy was a cop. Even as a committed cat-lover, I agree, cats are NOT as important as people. But likewise, cops are NOT any more important than other people. In these parts, if you go trespassing on someone's property with a gun there's a very good chance that you might get shot. What you do for a living is irrelevant.

What about if you go on someone else's property, whether a gun is seen or not, that is a crime, and the owner has the right to stop the criminal. Before the criminal has a chance to hurt the people living on the property. Bottom line: If you trespass, you have to deal with the consequenses.

Couldn't agree more with Vernon, Noah, Janice, well mostly everyone!!!

He was protecting his property... Odum was off duty officer, he thought he was above the law – could trespass and kill someone's pets. WRONG!!

I wonder if he was raised thinking it's ok to kill defenseless animals – that just tells me he'd have no problem kill a human either. I hope Grover is found innocent. Because he IS.

vinnie....when people are hard of hearing they tend to talk louder so when grover is talking loud and you wonder if he is mad vs frustrated the loudness make him seem mad but his wife who knows him wells says he was frustrated...not much was said about his loudness b/c of hearing issue

you know that law enforcement is like anyone else out there "good and bad"..just because a person is law enforcement that doesn't mean they are doing the right thing..i have had a sheriff steal from me and tried my hardest to get something done but no...they have the dept behind them saying whatever to make them look innocent...i would vote grover rye INNOCENT beyond a reasonable doubt....very good defense team!

If someone shoots ANY of my animals for ANY reason, they too will be shot (to death). It's as simple as that....

I don't think the man should go to jail. In this situation I think Odum was full of himself at the time and slinging his power around as if he has a right to it. I hope Rye gets to go home with his family.

They kept saying during the court procedings to put yourself in Mr Rye's place and so I did.. In the begining of the video, he said he was waiting at the road for police after the first 911 call because his driveway was so hard to see, then he heard shots and ran back into the property and started looking around and that's when he ran into Mr. Odam. Keeping that in mind and if I was in his place and I had made it to the phone and already called 911 and I was at the road at my truck and I even knew there were people shooting cats on my property, if I heard more shots there is no way I would had ran back into the property and if he hadn't, Mr Odam would be alive today and probably convicted of cruelty to animals and that's how it should had ended...

after reading the facts in this case i must say the man should be aquited.

One more thing. It really seems like the Beaufort County sheriff's office needs to do a better job of psychologically screening its' candidates for employment. The idea of a man who amuses himself by killing people's pets having a badge and a gun is absolutely terrifying.

Rye is innocent. He put up a fence to protect his cats (rhoward)and property, yet the dead deputy felt it was perfectly ok to knock down the fence, shoot the cats,shoot out the lock on the storage shed,kick down the front door of Rye's house. Most laws look upon pets as property, and Rye had done everything he could to protect his property, including calling the law multiple times. Was the local law not doing anything about any of this because the dead guy was a deputy? I say dead guy because he is not a victim. He was a criminal,committing multiple felonies here. HIs crocodile tear shedding accomplice in this crime admitted on the stand "I lied AGAIN"! The accomplice also had been subsequently to the first trial found guilty of animal cruelty and was fined $900. This was mentioned by the commentator. Sad story,but even law officers must abide by the law.

hey alan from n c , don't publish your address because you appear to be an easy mark. people love to prey on your kind knowing you won't fight for youself or your property.

We treat our pets asa member of the family. If someone came on our property and used our pets as target practice, they would leave in a body bag too. This guy got what he deserved. Im not going to sugar coat this. He should have taken up another hobby and he would be alive today.

Odam should not have been walking around armed on another persons property without permission. Period. The first jury did not understand this very simple fact.

I have been following the case S. Carolina V. Grover Rye, I truely believe he is not gulity of this crime, It is sad that a life was taken but until you are face to face with anyone in your yard with guns the first thing that would go through my mind is protecting myself, you dont know now adays what is in the mind of others and what they are capitabile of doing, this victim being a Deputy Im sure he is well awhere of not to trespress on ones property or shooting ones pets regardless if he thought the place was abandoen,I think Robert Odem being a Deputy was immuture in his actions. I am an animal lover too I feed stray cats and they all have names too they are our pets. Listening to the people who knew Mr. Rye best says it all,his kindness towards others and his actions in the work he does.NOT GUILTY.

Too much theory here...the prosecution nor the defenxe proved what really happened...problem is the defense doesn't have to prove anything...gotta let him go.

I don't understand why off duty policemen knowing Mr. Rye had called repeatedly about someone shooting his cats would even think twice about trespassing on his property with loaded guns, i quess they thought Mr. Rye would not be on his property? Quess what, they were wrong. ME and my beagle Sam were attacked 2 years ago at my front door by a pit bull dog and because of my neighbors, we are both alive today. I know the love you can have for your pets. Now i hope people will think twice about trespassing, knowing they could be shoot.

no matter how you look at it.... its NOT okay to kill someone for killing your cats. its not right.. put it in the hands of the court and convict for cruelty to animals and any other charges. i love animals too, i live on a farm and our neighbors feed ferrel cats and unless you have ever been around this you cant appreciate the problems they cause. i assure you that these cats most likely were not the kind that you see on posters!!! granted, the guy was pretty stupid for going on someone elses property to shoot anything...

I completely agree that Odam should not have been shooting anything on private property. What I don't understand is how Mr. Rye could have been shooting in self defense. Unless I am mistaken, not seeing all aspects of your coverage, weren't all the shots found in Mr. Odam in the back/backside of his body? Was he shooting at Rye from over his head with his gun?

The cop was OFF DUTY, with an assault rifle, on someone else's property, shooting his cats. there is something seriously wrong about that. the cop was an idiot, and his friend doesnt know how to tell the truth

I think the guy was right in defending his property.The guy was a cop he should of known better.

how do we know that this man did not kill this officer first then call 911
know one knows but him and god. he could of staged the whole thing all the shots that were fired off. just to make it look favarable to him. i feel protecting your proprety is one thing over kill is another.

When Odam ILLEGALLY went on Rye's property, Rye had the right to defend himself in whatever manner he saw fit.

Here lies the problem -- Not one but two families have been ruined over some very childish behaviors . Two wrongs don't make a right ! One family lost a loved one forever and the other stands to loose one forever . VERY VERY SAD !!!! Whatever happened to morals and values and being responsible for ones actions ( and that goes both ways ) ! Only time can heal this matter and even then the pain will never go completely away ! Thoughts and prayers for them both ( the families ) !

Listening to the trial, my opinion is the Odam was completely in the wrong. He knew he was trespassing and anyone who gets a kick out of killing small animals has something very wrong with them. Rye had the right to protect his propery and his pets. Truthfully, I think they should do futher mental tests on prospective police officers to make sure weirdos like Odam are not responsible for the "protection" of normal sane people.

Lynne, we must be watching different trials. This guy had a an OFF-DUTY cop come on to his property and pointed what looked like a machine gun at him in his own yard! Are you joking? I would hope we all as American's could protect our own property, pets, kids and selves without fear of going to jail!

Number 1, nobody was living on the property. Number 2, the 911 call tells me he (Rye) fulfilled his plan to get even.

I can't belive that the other guy with the gun who was there shooting the cats wasn't held liable for the death of the officer since it involved a crime!
The other guy had time to change the evidence by laying the gun down in the position it was found and changing the clip before the cops got there, for the simple fact that after Mr. Rye went running to call 911 to get help.
The other guy knew he would be in trouble for being on the property shooting the cats and who's to say that when he seen Mr. Rye with the gun that he didn't shoot the first shot fired and cause Mr. Rye to start shooting the police officer?

What are you talking about Jimmie? His 911 call was a call for help and he was freaking out that his cats were being shot up. And who cares if was or wasn't living on the property? Does that make it ok for people to destroy somebodies stuff? Insane.

If anyone should be on trial here it should be the 'friend" of Odam. Had it not been for his obvious lies about it being okay to be on the property and shooting cats, Officer Odam may not have been there at all. Then this same "friend" lies to the police during the investigation and if that wasn't bad enough, during his own testimony he admits to seeing his friend kneeling down, unarmed, being shot...while he stood behind a shed doing nothing. Unbelievable! The wrong man is on trial here.

Hey, Jimmie: The CATS were living on the property! They count to many people – including me. Cruel senseless killing of animals – almost like our nation's animal control/shelters –killing apprx 6 million abandoned cats and dogs EVERY year. Get a grip. Animals count!

Rye didn't call then kill uniformed officers. Was there any evidence he lured the traspassers onto his property? No. He heard shots, found an armed person on his property, and stopped the threat. Which is his right.

even if a property isn't being lived on doesn't mean that you should trespass. A deputy sheriff should know better than to shoot animals for fun. Why didn't the off deputy sheriff identify himself? I think more that they are charging him with murder because he was a law enforcement officer.

The facts don't don't show much towards conviction, it also shows the poor forensic work of the police.

Sure nobody has the right to take life, and both sides acted badly. Odom didn't belong there in the first place, thus setting in motion a series of bad actions. Also shows that the other person with Odom had been there previously, if he claims that property was abandoned.

Even if the defendant was lying in wait, it's still his property. It's a tragedy all around.

I am no crimenalist, but I agree with the jury, I do not think the police did a very stringent investigation.

Can Rye now sue the SO?

I understand the jury in the first trial was sleeping during testimony. Why didn't the judge call a mistrial?

Not Guilty. There is justice. He tried to get help from law enforcement, and wasn't taken seriously. Its not a good situation no matter how you look at it, no winners, but I absolutely agree with the verdict. Thank you.

This case is not "Cat lover kills Cop" it is "Property owner defends himself from armed felons"

These guys were not just killing cats, they shot the lock off the shed – breaking and entry, in possion of a firearm.

If Odem had not been a police officer, his friend would have (should have) been charged with felony homicide. Can someone explain why they were not charged?

i was so very happy that you all found him not guilty
because it's not a crime to watch over your property
and your pet's.

For those who have never served on jury duty, when a trial starts the prosecutor points to a specific number of facts that he intends to prove. It is the duty of jurors to judge whether each point has been proven, and if the prosecutor fails to prove just one point, then reasonable doubt has been established and the juror's duty is to render a not guilty verdict.
Those were the instructions given to me as a juror many years ago. Over the years several attorneys have verified that these instructions are correct. As such, it makes it a lot easier to be a juror than one might have previously thought, and lessens the task of jurors and their responsibility.

The jury did the right thing in finding him not guilty. This case would never have gone to trial if the deceased was not a police officer. Had the roles been reversed and Mr. Rye had been trespassing on a police officer's property and shooting cats, nothing would have been done. Mr. Rye is no danger to society, he was well within his rights to protect himself and his property. What a shame that he has had to spend thousands and thousands on legal fees while defending himself. The jury took their job very seriously and stuck with the letter of the law.

I also agree that the prosecution only brought Rye to trial because a sheriff was killed.
The law has decided that a police officer's life is much more important than just an average citizen. They even afford police dogs with calling them officers. The fact that they may be trained and domesticated, they are still by instinct wild and when commanded they revert to a vicious nature.

But with all that being said, police officers see themselves as having power. They don't and they are not above the law. This deputy knowingly committed a crime, on top of that fired shots at a human coming at him.

In this particular case it could be from his military training that he reacted and acted that way. Meaning that we programed them for service in the military, but we forget to deprogram them when they leave.

It's a shame that this instance happened, however the sadness that he died, he would have been more shamed in his actions had he survived.

The jury acted based on the law, and that was the correct course of action. There is enough evidence even if Mr Rye acted in the manor of vengeance he also acted within the law, Mr Odam and his cohort were breaking the law, simple and plain, case closed.

Finally, justice with Not Guilty!!!! Sorry about the death of Odam, but Rye tried to take care of things several times before being left with having to defend himself and "His Property"! God bless both families, but I am elated that Mr. Rey is back with His Family!

People that dont know the law need not speak! You have the right to protect your person and property....property( i.e. pets, belongings anything you pay for and/or own...person( i.e. you, your family, and anyone at your home at time of attack! Odam was doing wrong on someone elses property and got caught, plain and simple. They need to stop emphasizing the fact that he was a police officer because he put his badge down when he decided to TRESSPASS and KILL! Godbless Rye and his family!

I'd like to say this to SANDY. The scene shows no evidence that Mr Rye shot a defenseless unarmed man. The fact they found no cartridges near the body or even the bullets makes it clear that it wasn't murder, thus disproving that Mr Odam was laying down.

The jury also asked for clarification as for lesser charges and according to the instructions, ruled that there was not enough to charge him with a lesser crime.

Mr Rye could have acted differently, but he did act within his rights. If he had been lying in wait, both people would be dead. It's hard if you have never been on a jury to see all of the facts, I have. A capitol murder case on a double homicide, ended with a death sentence.

Nothing is ever as simple and clear cut as it appears, but i am surprised that Mr Rye was even tried, but the prosecution showed intent, from previous attempts to get justice that it seems that he took matters in his own hands. If Mr Odam had not come back on the property after shooting 15 min previous, this instance would not have happened at all. When you pull out a weapon, your intent is both searching for trouble and self protection. I doubt Mr Rye would have fire at a person that was unarmed and was off his property, but Mr Odam was armed and ON his property, and never identified himself as a law officer. The law is the law, And in SC it's different than in most other states.

I truly hope that this man is found innocent. I have followed the case and listened to both the prosecution and the defense. He was clearly defending his property. I don't know about South Carolina, but in my state is illegal to shoot a domestic cat. They have free reign to roam wherever they wish. Some one who needs a high powered to rifle to kill a cat has mental problems. It angers me to see the prosecutor painting this image of a man who took the law into his own hands. He was clearly within his rights to defend his property. The tearful testimony of Mason Mitchell was offensive. He should be tearful. He should bear the blame for his friends death, not Grover Rye.

Rye kept changing his story to fit the facts. Four times in the back isn't self defense. He was at the road after he called 911 and was waiting for the cops. He should have stayed there, but he went back to "get 'em". And he did. Four times in the back.

Rye was at the road after he called 911 and was waiting for the cops. He heard more shots on his property and went back. He should have stayed at the road until the cops arrived instead of taking things into his own hands. I don't think that Odam was shooting at Rye because his gun was a distance from where his body was on the ground. Odam tried to hide behind the tree and Rye followed him around it while shooting Odam in the back. Rye should have been made to clean up his property and something should have been done about the cats breeding on it. And he should go to jail for murder. Because in the real world that's what it was.

If he is found innocent (which I think he is) is just going to tell others like the alleged victim, that you have to respect others property. I mean we let them trespass and kill our pets; they go to court and get a $950 fine, what is next? They get inside our homes and kill us? We are all given choices in life, the again alleged victim chose to do something against the law, and the good citizen needs to live with it because, he was ONLY killing cats. You get in my house, to bring me a flower, without my permission and you are going down. I was not born in America, but I still find that its constitution is the greatest document document ever written, after the Bible of course, read it and things like this would not happen.

are people starting to become aware of how corrupt are Judaical systems is all most every day you here of some who has been in prison for years and is not guilty and the prosecutors and the courts no it they need to over haul the united stats of America for injustices for which it stands what is wrong with this picture will we become a communist country ????????? think about that when they take away are wrights to bare arms we will be

Did the dead deputy work for the same sheriff's office that was "investigating" this case? Did they know about Odam's behavior and just cover it up? Seems if that is the case, Rye would have a good civil suit against the county.

I watched most of this trial and was so intrigued. He should never had to stand trial (a second time) for this "Off Duty Cop's" mean acts towards animals, let alone vandalism of another person's property. The off duty cop's friend, Mitchell, should feel really bad since he told his friend the property was deserted and they both got a "SICK THRILL" shooting and blasting precious cats to peices. Grover Rye should sue the state of South Carolina for all his legal fees and/out of pocket expenses he had to use up just to defend himself. If the cops had done their job well, the first report Mr. Rye called in should have been thoroughly investigated and followed up. God bless Grover Rye, his wife and family. You are a true Southerner and a good man and you done everything right in your reporting of this physco's mean acts. All copy should have to view this trial so they can see they are not "ABOVE THE LAW'.

where I live I hear gun shots all the time! Two or three times I called the police, they still have not come to check it out! What happens if they shoot thought my house? justice for Mr rye

I watched this trial unfolding on tv and if I was a juror for this trial Mr.Rye is automatically acquited simply from hearing the 911 call placed after Odam was shot. The tone in his voice and the words he spoke were obviously honest,the amount of adrenaline running through the man at that moment would not have allowed him to make up the story as it went along. Cop or no cop,on duty or off duty, if I find you on my property holding any kind of firearm which I believe you intend to use against me,my family,my cat,dog,horse,cow,etc,etc, you will not be given the chance to do so if it is within my ability. Odam was wrong in doing what he did,Rye caught him and got the jump on him just as anybody else would in that situation. Not guilty in my book.

Not Guilty! Mr. Rye is not guilty! This case all around is sad. But Mr. Rye should not be on trail. The dead person and yes I am referring to this guy as the "dead person" because this sick person did not deserve to be an officer and the police are trying to cover it up. The "friend" should be on trail. I also think Mr Rye should sue the county for all legal fees and pain & suffering. I hope Mr. Rye gets to go home soon!

cats are the bomb. that guy had it coming.

First off, why was a police officer trespassing on another persons property without the property owners permission.

secondly, why was this police officer violating laws he had sworn to protect.

Most importantly, if the officer had not been on the property the victim would not had an altercation resulting in violent consequences.

The police investigation surrounding securing, evidence collecting, and interviewing properly was a shambles by poorly trained officer's. The prosecutor understanding this man was accurate in his testimony attempted to alter his statements to win his case! SUCH a sad case with many court room cases reflecting the same scenario across this country.

Innocent by lack of evidence. Innocent by key witness committing perjury on the stand.

I think justice was served. I'm an animal activist and if someone was on my property with their guns killing my animals, I would've done the same thing. This off-duty cop should've known better. It's unfortunate but he got what he deserved.

Nearly all police officers in any jusisdiction will give perjured testimony at the drop of a hat. The name for it iscalled " testilying." The conspiracy of silence and blind loyalty among law enforncement officers is probably the strongest of any profession. I am proud of the SC Supreme Court's decision in this case.

Odam had a duty to obey Mr. Rye's command which was to put down his weapon once he trespassed onto his property with a gun. Mr. Rye and his family are the real victims.

I own two cats and I would feel the same if anyone was to purposefully kill them. It is a sad outcome to some stupid acts. There was no reason for any person to step foot on the property and kill any animal on it. Rye was just protecting what was his and I respect the jury's decision.

I feel he should have served time for murder, I know Mr Rye and have been to this little house where it happened. when the cats would come close to him he would curse and yell at them. he did not live there, and this was just a place for the wild cats to multiply. They were certainly wild cats, they would not even come to you. So before giving him the hero of the day badge, just think about the young man that was killed and his family. The jury got suckered !!!!!!