A Parent’s Worst Nightmare: How a Family Discovered Their Son Was a Killer
Introduction
On a cold November morning in 2022, the quiet town of Rome, Georgia, would be shaken by a crime so brutal and bizarre that it would haunt every parent’s deepest fears. In the center of this tragedy stood 21-year-old Brandon Ryner, a college student with a troubled mind and a loving family. Within hours, Brandon would become the prime suspect in the murder of his best friend, Aaron Davis, leaving his parents to grapple with the unthinkable: their son was a wanted killer.
This is the true story of how a family’s world unraveled as police raced to solve a chilling homicide, a young man ran from justice, and a community confronted the darkness hiding in plain sight.
The Abandoned Car
The case began with a mystery. Early that November morning, officers discovered a Toyota Prius abandoned in a creek outside Rome. The car’s engine was off, its lights on, and there was no sign of the driver. The vehicle’s license plate traced back to 21-year-old Aaron Davis, a recent graduate of Brigham Young University who had come to Rome to visit friends and see his girlfriend in Alabama.
Aaron’s father, Jeremy Davis, was baffled. His son had planned a celebratory visit with longtime friend Brandon Ryner, but now his car was found ditched in a creek. Jeremy called the police, giving them details about Aaron’s trip and confirming that he hadn’t heard from his son since he left for Brandon’s house the previous night.
Aaron’s phone went straight to voicemail. The mystery deepened, and Jeremy filed a missing person’s report. The investigation to find Aaron was officially underway.
The Last Friend Seen
The first logical step for police was to contact Brandon Ryner, the last person known to have seen Aaron. When Lieutenant Sailors called, Brandon sounded helpful, even concerned:
“I’m looking for my friend right now,” Brandon said. “I’ve tried calling him, it just goes straight to voicemail.”
Brandon explained that he and Aaron had started drinking around noon the day before. Aaron, a light drinker, became violently ill, throwing up repeatedly. Brandon claimed he left Aaron alone, went to bed, and woke up to find Aaron’s car gone.
To the officers, Brandon’s story seemed plausible. Maybe Aaron, sick and disoriented, had wandered off or tried to drive home. But something about the details didn’t quite add up. To get to the bottom of it, police decided to visit Brandon’s house in person.
The House of Secrets
When officers arrived at Brandon’s home, they found him oddly calm and cooperative. He repeated his story: drinking with Aaron, Aaron throwing up upstairs, Brandon going to bed and waking up alone.
But as they searched the house, disturbing clues began to emerge. Several doors were locked, including the door to Aaron’s room—a strange detail, given Brandon’s claim that Aaron had simply been ill. Officers asked Brandon to unlock the room.
Inside, they were hit by a strong chemical smell and saw piles of cleaning supplies. More alarming, they found significant pools of blood next to the bed—far more than could be explained by vomiting. The blood looked old, but there were fresh cleaning agents scattered around. Officers questioned whether Aaron could have moved around after such a loss of blood, especially if he was supposedly suffering only from alcohol poisoning.
Brandon’s demeanor shifted. As officers grew suspicious, he suddenly bolted, jumped the backyard fence, and disappeared into the neighborhood.
The Manhunt
Brandon’s escape triggered a full-scale manhunt. Police canvassed the area, knocking on doors and questioning neighbors. One officer encountered a neighbor who happened to be on the phone with Brandon’s father, Jeremy Ryner.
Jeremy was shocked to learn Brandon was missing. He had been helping police look for Aaron, unaware that his own son was now a fugitive. The officer explained the situation, asking Jeremy to keep searching and to contact police if he heard from Brandon.
Hours passed with no sign of Brandon. The entire family was thrown into confusion and fear, not knowing where their son was or what he might have done.
The Father’s Dilemma
While searching his house, Jeremy Ryner found Brandon’s cell phone. This discovery was a turning point in the investigation. The phone could hold critical clues about Brandon’s whereabouts and state of mind.
However, Jeremy hesitated to hand the phone over to police. As a father, he wanted to protect his son, believing Brandon was innocent until proven guilty. He wondered if surrendering the phone could be a tragic mistake.
Police pressed Jeremy for the phone, explaining the urgency. Jeremy’s cooperation wavered, and his demeanor shifted. Something on that phone had disturbed him deeply.
Later, officers would learn that Brandon had left a series of chilling notes and messages on his phone: graphic descriptions of violence, disturbing poetry about his mental state, and a to-do list that included cleaning up after the murder. Whether these were the exact messages that alarmed Jeremy remains unknown, but they painted a picture of a young man unraveling.
The Surrender
After hours of uncertainty, Jeremy called the police again. He had found Brandon and convinced him to surrender. Brandon, accompanied by his parents, arrived at the police station, his fate now in the hands of law enforcement.
Brandon was eerily calm, showing little emotion as he was processed and interrogated. When Detective York sat down to interview him, Brandon immediately invoked his right to remain silent and requested a lawyer. He knew better than to say anything that could be used against him in court.
With Brandon refusing to talk, police turned to his parents for answers. Jeremy and Rachel Ryner, shaken and devastated, tried to help the investigation as best they could.
The Truth Comes Out
Jeremy provided crucial information about Brandon’s mental health. He explained that Brandon had suffered from anxiety attacks and OCD since childhood. He had been brought home from college to help stabilize his medication and mental state.
Brandon’s parents described how their son had called them the morning after Aaron’s disappearance, acting strangely. They recounted how Brandon and Aaron had been close friends since fifth grade, but Brandon’s behavior had grown increasingly erratic.
Police now had enough evidence to search for Aaron’s body. Jeremy described an old cemetery where Brandon had mentioned going, and officers launched a full-scale search.
The Body in the Cemetery
Aaron Davis was found buried in a secluded area of the cemetery, wrapped in the very sheets he had slept on in Brandon’s house. The speculation was over—Brandon Ryner was a cold-blooded murderer.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the community. Aaron, a promising young graduate with a bright future, had been killed by his best friend. The brutality of the crime and the attempt to conceal it left everyone reeling.
Brandon was placed under arrest for murder and transported to the local prison. Officers noted his bizarre calmness, as if he was unfazed by the gravity of his actions.
The Aftermath
The final duty for police was the most heartbreaking: informing Aaron’s parents that their son had been murdered. The Davis family was devastated, struggling to understand how their son’s life could end so suddenly and senselessly.
Aaron’s death was a horrifying act, and justice had to be served. In the courtroom on July 18th, 2024, Brandon Ryner faced the consequences of his actions. His plea for mental insanity was quickly dismissed, and the judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Family’s Pain
For Brandon’s parents, the nightmare was just beginning. They had done everything they could to protect and support their son, only to discover he was capable of unimaginable violence. The guilt, confusion, and grief would linger long after the trial ended.
The community, too, was left to pick up the pieces. Two families were destroyed—one by loss, the other by betrayal. The tragedy served as a stark reminder that darkness can hide in the most unexpected places, and that sometimes, the ones we love are capable of the unimaginable.
Epilogue: Lessons Learned
The story of Brandon Ryner and Aaron Davis is a cautionary tale about the limits of understanding and the unpredictable nature of mental illness. It is a reminder that even lifelong friends can become strangers, and that every parent’s worst nightmare can become reality in a single, violent moment.
Thanks to the persistence of law enforcement and the painful honesty of Brandon’s parents, justice was served for Aaron Davis. But the scars left behind will never fully heal.
