How a white supremacist turned a Nebraska hog farm into a survivalist nightmare

Michael Ryan’s Deadly Archangel Cult at Rulo

In 1981, Michael Ryan took over an old hog farm near Rulo, Nebraska and turned it into a cult compound. He called himself an “archangel” and got more than 20 people to join his white supremacist group.

The cult stole farm gear across three states to buy guns and food for what Ryan said was a coming race war. Soon after, Ryan killed two people – a cult member who questioned him and a five-year-old boy.

The horror ended in August 1985 when police raided the farm after the boy’s father escaped and told authorities.

Today, Rulo’s quiet streets and Lewis and Clark marker reveal nothing of this dark chapter in Nebraska history.

A Truck Driver Found His Calling in White Supremacy

Michael Ryan lost his job driving trucks in Kansas back in 1982 and started going to Posse Comitatus meetings in Hiawatha.

James Wickstrom ran these meetings, teaching ideas about Anglo-Saxon power and the coming end of the world. Ryan quickly became known as “Wickstrom’s main man in Kansas” and met people who later joined his cult.

In June 1983, Ryan went to a big Posse meeting in Wisconsin where Wickstrom showed him how to “ask God questions” by pushing on someone’s arm.

Struggling Farmers Fell Under Ryan’s Spell

Rick Stice owned an 80-acre hog farm near Rulo and met Ryan while looking for help for his dying wife Sondra. After she died in April 1983, Rick faced raising three young kids alone with money problems.

By summer 1983, Ryan had a growing group believing he carried the spirit of the Archangel Michael and talked directly to God.

Saturday Bible study at Ryan’s place drew the Haverkamp family, Ryan’s wife Ruth and their three kids, Rick Stice, James Thimm, and John Andreas. The arm test guided all big choices.

The Hog Farm Transformed Into a Doomsday Compound

In June 1984, Ryan said God ordered everyone to move to Rick Stice’s farm north of Rulo along the Missouri River.

About 20 people moved there that summer, including Ryan’s family, Rick Stice and his three children, Cheryl Gibson with her five kids, the Haverkamp siblings, and James Thimm.

The group lived in two trailers, with Rick (now called “High Priest”) and his new cult wife Lisa Haverkamp in one, while everyone else shared the other.

Ryan gave members military ranks and warned anyone who left would face hell or death.

The Group Stole Their Way to Armageddon Readiness

Ryan told his followers that the end of the world would happen near Rulo because the area had many wheat fields, matching Bible stories.

Starting in late 1983, Ryan sent members stealing at night across three states while he stayed home watching TV.

They took farm gear, machines, cattle, and hogs, selling everything to buy guns, bullets, and survival supplies.

By fall 1984, the compound had over 75,000 bullets, dozens of guns including automatic rifles, and lots of stored food. Police later found stolen stuff worth more than $120,000 at the farm.

Life Revolved Around Ryan’s “Messages From God”

The arm test controlled every part of daily life by August 1984.

Women checked with God through the arm test to plan meals, even figuring out how long to boil water. Each morning, Ryan used the test to decide who needed to skip food or get punished that day.

Most days, Ryan watched TV while others worked, claiming he talked with God constantly. Locals noticed armed men in camouflage walking the fence with AK-47s and a big “Keep Out” sign at the entrance.

Doubters Faced Harsh Consequences

James Thimm and Rick Stice started questioning the arm test and God’s messages in early 1985. Ryan claimed Rick’s five-year-old son Luke also had doubts, which Ryan said he could read in the child’s mind.

Both men lost their ranks and became “slaves” on the farm.

Luke got labeled a “dog,” “mongrel,” and “dogshit,” with Ryan banning anyone from using his real name. The men got the worst jobs, slept outside chained to a porch, and faced brutal punishments.

A Child Died From Relentless Abuse

Ryan put five-year-old Luke through awful torture, putting cigarette ashes in his mouth, spitting on him, shooting him in the arm, and tying a whip around his neck.

Cult members painted “666” on the boy’s back, soaked him with ice water, and kicked him outside in cold weather. One follower later said Ryan dangled Luke from a dog leash around his neck.

Around March 25, 1985, the 230-pound Ryan violently slammed the small boy into a cabinet, causing a deadly head injury. Ryan made the group put Luke in bed and pray instead of getting help.

The child died, and Rick Stice had to bury his own son in an unmarked grave.

A Father Tried Twice to Get Away

After his son died, Rick Stice called the FBI but couldn’t talk safely from the compound.

When Ryan and one of his wives went to Kansas City for their honeymoon in April 1985, Stice escaped and met with FBI Agent Dun.

He gave details about the thefts, giving authorities legal reasons to investigate since taking stolen livestock across state lines broke federal law.

After a week, Stice went back to the compound, fearing hell for leaving.

Later, Stice escaped again while in town cashing a Social Security check, and this time he stayed away for good.

The Cult Tortured a Man for Three Days

When Ryan found out about Stice’s first escape, he blamed James Thimm and had him chained to a horse trailer in a shed.

On April 27, 1985, Ryan accused Thimm of poisoning a turkey dinner and ordered male cult members to beat him.

Over three days, Ryan and his followers, including his 16-year-old son Dennis, Timothy Haverkamp, James Haverkamp, and John Andreas, put Thimm through extreme torture.

They whipped him repeatedly, broke his legs and arm, shot off his fingertips one by one, skinned him alive, and sodomized him with shovel and pickaxe handles that ruptured his internal organs.

Ryan finally killed the 26-year-old by stomping on his chest, then made others bury Thimm in a shallow unmarked grave.

Police Finally Stormed the Compound

In June 1985, police arrested John Andreas and another cult member for moving stolen farm equipment, uncovering the group’s criminal activities.

On June 26, 1985, Rick Stice told FBI investigators about both murders after his final escape.

On August 15, 1985, Richardson County law enforcement, Nebraska State Patrol, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a dawn raid on the compound.

Officers found a massive weapons collection including automatic rifles, dozens of other guns, and over 75,000 rounds of ammunition.

They dug up both graves and recovered the remains of Luke Stice and James Thimm, with forensic evidence confirming the brutal nature of their deaths.

The Law Caught Up With Ryan After All

Michael Ryan, Dennis Ryan, and Timothy Haverkamp faced first-degree murder charges for killing James Thimm.

In March 1986, after moving the trial to Omaha, a jury found Michael Ryan guilty of first-degree murder and Dennis Ryan guilty of second-degree murder following 18 days of testimony.

Timothy Haverkamp pleaded guilty to second-degree murder before trial in exchange for testifying against the others.

In October 1986, Judge Robert Finn sentenced Michael Ryan to death in Nebraska’s electric chair, saying his actions were so depraved he must be mentally disturbed though still legally sane.

Ryan also pleaded no contest to second-degree murder for Luke Stice’s death and stayed defiant, telling a reporter the victims were no “big deal” compared to Old Testament killings.

He died of brain cancer on death row on May 24, 2015, without ever being executed.

Visiting Rulo, Nebraska

Rulo sits along the Missouri River in southeastern Nebraska and has a small village park at 6th and Rouleau Street with a picnic shelter and playground. You can grab fried catfish at Wild Bill’s bar.

For more historical context, drive 9 miles to Falls City for the Richardson County Historical Museum or head 40 miles north to Nebraska City’s Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

Indian Cave State Park near Barada offers hiking trails and caves to explore.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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