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Man Cleared in 2004 Death of Off-Duty Deputy
posted 10/28/09
10:47 am
The State reported that 63-year-old Thomas Rye of Eastover was found not guilty of murder late Monday in the death of 22-year-old Robert Odam, a Beaufort County sheriff's deputy from Bluffton.
Rye had shot Odam after a number of Rye's pets had been killed on his property.
Rye was convicted of murder in 2005, but the South Carolina Supreme Court ordered a new trial, saying property owners have the right to use "reasonable force" against a person who is trespassing.
Testimony indicates Odam was carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle when he went onto Rye's property on Aug. 14, 2004. The property was fenced and had No Trespassing signs.
Rye had a .30 caliber rifle and fired after a confrontation.
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