Ryan Lindler Sr and Jr: Father and son accused of killing 'trespassing' machete-wielding neighbor over land dispute
LEXINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: Father and son, Ryan Lindler Sr, 51, and Ryan Lindler Jr, 26, are facing murder charges for the fatal shooting of Kevin Newhouse, 36, their neighbor armed with a machete.
The incident unfolded as the Lindlers confronted Newhouse over a land dispute near Lindler Farms outside of Columbia.
What prompted the tragic shooting?
According to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon, the father and son had an ongoing issue with Newhouse, stemming from a previous intrusion at a different location. The confrontation escalated, leading to the fatal encounter.
Allegedly preventing Newhouse from returning home, Lindler Jr claims that the machete-wielding neighbor attacked both men. Investigators state that the elder Lindler managed to disarm Newhouse and instructed his son to shoot the victim. Lindler Jr reportedly fired three to four rounds with a Glock handgun, resulting in a fatal head injury to Newhouse.
What are the charges against Ryan Lindler Sr and Ryan Lindler Jr?
Arrested last week, both Lindlers are currently held without bond, awaiting a Circuit Court judge appearance. The charges include murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, carrying the potential for a life sentence if convicted.
Family members of Newhouse assert that the Lindlers accused him of stealing from their property months earlier, leading to the confrontation. Darlene Harmon, a neighbor who had experienced trespassing by Newhouse in the past. "It's kinda aggravated me because, from our experience with Kevin Newhouse and the situation in 2020, that's when it happened with us. Then I knew there was more to this story that was being told and I still believe that," Harmon said.
Helena Price, a close friend of Newhouse, remembers him as a "helpful person."
"People just have such a disregard for human life anymore,' she added. They are too fast to take a life."
Legal representation for the Lindlers, led by Eric Bland, frames the case as a defense of property rights. 'It's going to come down to property rights, vandalism, a history of trespassing — the right to defend others,' he claimed. "All things that property owners guard for and against. People in Lexington County, South Carolina, value their property, and a lot of citizens respect each other's property," Fox reports.
Both Lindlers, with no criminal background, are said to be committed to fighting the charges, with Lindler Jr on the brink of marriage and in the midst of building a home with his fiancée. If found guilty, they could be sentenced to life in prison.
