Ryan Ray Andrews, 45, of Fort Dodge was found unresponsive in a yard in the 1600 block of 14th Avenue Southwest in the early morning hours of December 29, 2023, suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. First responders transported him to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. The Fort Dodge Police Department has classified his death as a homicide and opened an investigation.

Investigators identified two persons of interest. The first, 37-year-old David S. Dayton of Fort Dodge, was sought for questioning and was taken into custody in Bode in January 2024 on a parole violation. A second person of interest, 49-year-old Lewis E. Ayala of Fort Dodge, was publicly sought in April 2024; authorities described him as 5 feet 3 inches, about 145 pounds, with brown eyes and short, partially gray hair, and noted he was also wanted on a separate Webster County warrant for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon. Webster County Crime Stoppers offered a $500 reward for information leading to Ayala’s specific and current whereabouts.

Andrews was remembered as a loving and selfless man and a phenomenal music artist who valued family and friends and was known for his sense of humor and willingness to help others. Is there anyone who knew Ryan or who has information about the circumstances that led to his death?