Maryland teenager convicted and sentenced to life in prison

Ryan Furlough, age 19, was convicted of Murder in the First Degree (premeditated murder), and sentenced to Life in Prison, today.  
On 3 January 2003, Ryan Furlough, of Maryland, laced his friend’s soda with Cyanide. Furlough’s victim, Benjamin Vassiliev, died 5 days later. 

The killing was prompted when Furlough took an active interest in Vassiliev’s girl friend.  Furlough probably thought that with Vassiliev dead, he (Furlough), could win the girl’s heart.   

Furlough was convicted of Murder in the First Degree (premeditated murder), and sentenced to Life in Prison.  However, the Judge did not impose Life in Prison without the possibility of parole. The Judge chose to take into account Furlough did not have any previous convictions.   

The late Benjamin Vassiliev’s family was quoted as saying "[Furlough] should be put away for good." 

The question remains, where did a 16 year old boy get cyanide? (Furlough was 16 at the time of the murder)   

Cyanide is a highly toxic chemical that attacks and destroys the central nervous system causing death, which under normal circumstances, kills within a few agonizing seconds after direct exposure or indigestion. Cyanide was the key ingredient in Zyclon-B that Nazi Germany used in their death camps.  

Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts go out to the late Benjamin Vassiliev’s family. We share your pain. 

Michael Berglin