BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (WNYT) – A Milton man received the maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison for killing a local Elvis tribute artist during sexual roleplay last year.
Ronald Rayher, 71, was convicted in May following a trial on second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence charges in the death of Thomas “TJ” Krider in April 2024. Rayher gave Krider multiple doses of chloroform, which caused his death. Rayher then left Krider’s body in his basement for several days before calling police.
Both the prosecution and defense agreed that the roleplay was consensual. The defense had argued that Krider took one last dose of chloroform by himself, and Rayher found him dead when he came downstairs. Rayher claimed that he panicked and did not call police right away…