In the late summer of 2007, the life of 16-year-old Ryan Anthony Matko was tragically cut short. A resident of Chester, Virginia, Ryan was a rising junior at Thomas Dale High School and worked as a cook at his family's restaurant, the Wild Rose Café. He had plans to attend culinary school and was an avid hunter and a dedicated fan of the Pittsburg Steelers.
On August 22, 2007, Ryan was reported missing when he failed to show up for his shift at the café.
The night before, he had been at home with his mother. The following day, his car was found abandoned in the Shadow Creek subdivision. A police search of the vicinity led to the grim discovery of Ryan's body in a wooded area approximately 100 yards from his car. He had sustained gunshot wounds to his head and back.
The investigation into the young man's death continued for eighteen months before a breakthrough occurred. In February 2009, 17-year-old Detavis J. King was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. King was a former classmate of Ryan's at Thomas Dale High School. Reports indicated that King had ties to the Bloods gang, though a judge later ruled that any mention of his gang affiliation would not be admissible in court.
During the trial of Detavis J. King, prosecutors presented evidence that included cell phone records and a pair of sneakers. The murder weapon, a. 32-caliber Harrington & Richardson revolver, had reportedly been sold multiple times after the crime. While King admitted to selling small amounts of marijuana to Ryan, whom he described as a friend, a clear motive for the murder remained elusive throughout the trial. Despite the prosecution's efforts, the reason behind the senseless killing was never fully brought to light.
