New charges for man accused in killings
Ryan Blinston of Oroville was arraigned in Butte County Superior Court, is charged in murders of 3 people.
OROVILLE >> A man accused of killing three people was arraigned in the Butte County Superior Court on Thursday afternoon, appointed a public defender and ordered to return to court the following week.
Ryan Blinston, 37, was charged in the murders of Loreen Severs, 88, of Los Molinos; Sandra George, 82, of Oroville; and Vicky Cline, 57, of Oroville. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey and Tehama County District Attorney Matt Rogers announced in a joint press release on Wednesday they were filing the charges following a multi-agency investigation, and agreed to combine each of the cases to be tried in Butte County.
Wearing a yellow jumpsuit, Blinston appeared briefly in court before Judge Corie Caraway, who read Blinston the list of charges, which included the three murders, and special allegations of use of a deadly weapon for all three. Additionally, Blinston was charged for the attempted murder of Loreen Severs’ husband Homer Severs, 91, which also carried special allegations of use of a deadly weapon and great bodily injury of an elderly victim, plus arson of another’s property — Cline’s vehicle.
Much of the discussion centered around the appointment of a public defender for Blinston. Carraway appointed Nicole Diamond, who has represented Blinston in a separate attempted murder case since charges. Blinston asked if someone else was available, Carraway responded he was free to hire a private attorney, but if not, the judge would appoint Diamond.
Ramsey, representing the prosecution in the case, then told the judge the Butte County Public Defender Consortium indicated they may want a different attorney to represent Blinston. Carraway upheld the appointment of Diamond, though she said the topic could be revisited in future court proceedings.
Prosecutors said Blinston worked for a treetrimming service in 2020 and was part of a crew that worked at the Severs’ residence and George’s residence. They allege Blinston returned to both residences on May 23 and June 4, respectively, and slashed their throats. Homer Severs survived the attack, but later died of an unrelated illness in December.
Cline, who prosecutors said was an acquaintance of Blinston’s, was last seen alive with Blinston in downtown Oroville on June 6, and that night, her burned vehicle was found in Oroville. Later, investigators said blood and DNA found on and in Blinston’s vehicle matched Cline.
Cline’s body was found along the Feather River in Plumas County two weeks later.
Blinston was also charged last year for the attempted murder of a Brush Creek man after a Butte County SWAT team, which had pursued Blinston to a remote property on Milsap Bar Road for allegedly torching Cline’s vehicle, encountered Blinston attempting to enter the man’s RV and found the man with a deep neck laceration. After a brief chase, deputies apprehended Blinston and placed him in custody at the Butte County Jail, where he has been held since.
Blinston pleaded guilty to attempted murder, then after the defense asked for a mental competency hearing, the criminal proceedings were reinstated in February.
The jury trial in that case, scheduled to begin June 7, is separate from the new charges — for now.
Outside of the courtroom, Ramsey said it is unlikely the June 7 jury trial takes place as scheduled because his office is seeking to combine that case with the three murder cases and try them all at once.
Blinston, who is being held in the county jail without bail, is due back in court at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.