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Michael Ryan: A sadistic killer who showed no mercy

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Michael Ryan: A sadistic killer who showed no mercy

• By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star
• May 26, 2015
• May 26, 2015 Updated Feb 18, 2020
• 0

1 of 5

The rusted door to the hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers stands ajar in this 2012 photo taken on property that used to be Rick Stice's farm northwest of Rulo.

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

Most of the buildings are now gone, but the hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers and an adjacent pole shed remain on the property that used to be Rick Stice's farm northwest of Rulo. 

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

The hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and some of his followers is shown in this 2012 photo from the farm northwest of Rulo that was once owned by Rick Stice.

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

A minimum-maintenance road northwest of Rulo leads to the former Rick Stice hog farm where James Thimm and Luke Stice were tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers. 

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

In this 2012 file photo, part of the south wall stands open on the hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers at the property that used to be Rick Stice's farm northwest of Rulo. 

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

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By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star

RULO -- Two principles guided the lives of Yahweh's followers on the farm north of Rulo in the mid-1980s: Obey God's commands, and prepare for the Battle of Armageddon.

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+5 

Michael Ryan (Courtesy photo)

Courtesy photo

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 402-473-7234 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.

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The rusted door to the hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers stands ajar in this 2012 photo taken on property that used to be Rick Stice's farm northwest of Rulo.

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

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Most of the buildings are now gone, but the hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers and an adjacent pole shed remain on the property that used to be Rick Stice's farm northwest of Rulo. 

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

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The hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and some of his followers is shown in this 2012 photo from the farm northwest of Rulo that was once owned by Rick Stice.

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

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A minimum-maintenance road northwest of Rulo leads to the former Rick Stice hog farm where James Thimm and Luke Stice were tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers. 

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

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In this 2012 file photo, part of the south wall stands open on the hog barn where James Thimm was tortured and murdered by Michael Ryan and his followers at the property that used to be Rick Stice's farm northwest of Rulo. 

• ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo

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Michael Ryan (Courtesy photo)

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