Texas man admits to murder after DNA sketch

Publish date: 2024-10-06

A Texas man has confessed to a 2016 murder following the release of a sketch of the suspect using DNA from the scene which bore an uncanny resemblance to him.

Ryan Riggs, 21, admitted to sexually assaulting his 25-year-old neighbor and beating her to death with a lawn mower blade shortly after investigators released the profile on November 8. 

According to Brown County Sheriff Vance Hill, Riggs confessed to the 2016 murder of Chantay Blankinship first to his church congregation, then to investigators. 

A lab in Virginia developed the imagery, which included eye, skin, and hair color, along with ethnic background - all based on the genetic information found at the scene of the crime.

Ryan Riggs, 21, wasn't suspected of the crime before the release of the sketch The DNA sketch, created with crime scene DNA, identified the suspect as a male with fair skin and blue/green eyes - a description that matched Riggs

Ryan Riggs (left) has admitted sexually assaulting and beating his 25-year-old neighbor to death with a lawn mower after a DNA sketch implicated him to the crime (right)

Riggs, 21, admitted murdering  Chantay Blankinship (above), police say. She attended the same church as the suspect 

Riggs, 21, admitted murdering  Chantay Blankinship (above), police say. She attended the same church as the suspect 

 This DNA profile was created using samples found out the scene of the gruesome crime. Riggs bares a striking resemblance to the picture and was subsequently arrested 

 This DNA profile was created using samples found out the scene of the gruesome crime. Riggs bares a striking resemblance to the picture and was subsequently arrested 

Hill said that Riggs has been charged with capital murder.

Riggs sexually assaulted Blankinship and bludgeoned her with a blade from a lawn mower, according to a report by KTXS.

Both the victim and the confessed killer attended the same church. 

'Why did you make her suffer?' Blankinship's stepfather Steven McDaniel, asked. 'Why did you do the horrible, horrible, horrible things that you did to her?'

Riggs became a person of interest in the case shortly after the DNA sketch was released. 

The sketch identified the suspect as having brown or light brown hair.

Police have not revealed why they believe Riggs (left) killed Blankinship, 25 (right)

Riggs was not suspected of the crime until the DNA sketch was released. A picture from his Facebook shows what appears to be an assault rifle mounted on his wall 

Riggs was not suspected of the crime until the DNA sketch was released. A picture from his Facebook shows what appears to be an assault rifle mounted on his wall 

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After the sketch was released to the public, the Brownwood Bulletin received a number of tips regarding the identity of the perpetrator. 

Riggs was among those identified as a possible suspect - according to the Brownwood Bulletin, Riggs knew both Blankinship and her boyfriend.

Riggs was also a suspect in an unrelated dumping case. He was arrested for the murder Wednesday.

The sheriff's office said Thursday it was unclear whether the death penalty would be pursued in the case. 

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