News 13 continues to follow Ryan Houston's path of chaos and violence that left two people – as well as Houston himself – dead.

It all goes back to May 2023, when Houston was charged with attempted murder for shooting a Buncombe County Sheriff's Deputy outside of the Buncombe County Magistrate's Office.

Many viewers and even law enforcement have questioned why Ryan Ricky Houston was able to have the chance at posting bond and pretrial release.

News 13 is taking those questions to the North Carolina legal system.

In May 2023, Houston was charged with two counts of attempted murder for the shooting outside the magistrate's office.

At the time of that shooting, North Carolina law only allowed for bond to be withheld if someone was charged with first-degree murder, meaning a deliberate killing.

Since Houston was not charged with first-degree murder because no one died, he was allowed bond.

While a high bond was set at over $1 million, Houston was able to meet the requirements for release despite concerns of law enforcement.

It's hard for me to understand why he was out, why there was a bond, after shooting a deputy sheriff, attempting to kill someone else. I have a hard time understanding why he was out," said McDowell County Sheriff Ricky Buchanan.

Buchanan's office is now investigating the circumstances around Malerie Crisp's stabbing death. Crisp – who was in a relationship with Houston – was found stabbed to death in Houston's car on Aug. 1, 2024. She was found after the vehicle wrecked with a tractor-trailer along Interstate 40.

Houston fled and was charged with a home invasion in which he was accused of fracturing the homeowner's face several times, sending him to the hospital.

Buncombe County District Attorney recently discussed the issue on a local radio show.

News 13 also contacted Todd Williams on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Williams told listeners that the District Attorney's office had also advocated that Houston's bond be revoked and made attempts to have it modified.

He explained changes to the law with the Pretrial Integrity Act in Oct. 2023, which now forces judges – instead of magistrates – to set conditions of pre-trial release for 18 different more serious felonies.

 

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSQuestions linger after Ryan Houston's violent spree ends in tragedy (wlos.com)