Police Investigate Unattended Death After Breaking & Entering Report On New Year's Day

An island resident was found deceased by the Nantucket Police Department on New Year's Day after it investigated a report of a breaking and entering incident at a Hummock Pond Road residence just after 8:30 a.m.

In a statement provided by NPD Lieutenant Angus MacVicar on Friday morning, the Nantucket Police Department responded to a residence at the end of Hummock Pond Road at 8:33 a.m. for a reported breaking and entry. According to the police log, it was 281 Hummock Pond Road.

When patrol officers arrived, they discovered the residence had been broken into and several personal items had been left behind by the suspect.

"Those items were identified as possibly belonging to Kevin D. Ryan, age 71 of Nantucket," MacVicar said. "Based on the items found, an immediate search of the residence, surrounding area and other residences in the area were conducted with negative result. Investigating officers requested and received security camera recordings of the outside area of the involved residence. After reviewing the security camera recordings, Patrol Officers and Detectives conducted another search of the area just outside the involved residence and discovered the snow covered, deceased body of Kevin D. Ryan, age 71 of Nantucket. The case does not appear suspicious and has been received by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Nothing further."

Ryan was the individual involved in a low-speed chase last month that led to several criminal charges. On Wednesday, Ryan agreed to a plea deal and was released from jail on the condition he complete one year of probation on two charges of leaving the scene of property damage, one charge of resisting arrest, and one charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon continued without a finding for one year.