Researcher Convicted of Raping Colleague
- Share via
NEW MEXICO
*
A jury in Reserve convicted a wildlife researcher of raping a colleague whom he had drugged with an animal tranquilizer while they were studying bears in the wild.
Patrick Ryan, 51, was found guilty of 36 counts, including criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact, kidnapping and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The weapon was Ketamine, a sometime “date rape” drug also used to immobilize bears for research or treatment.
Ryan, who did not testify, said the sex was consensual, but the woman insisted she never even knew she was being sexually abused. He could be sentenced to more than 400 years in prison.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.