Notorious dark past of Moriarty shooter

MORIARTY, N.M. (KRQE) - The man who shot his wife at a Moriarty store yesterday, then later killed himself, has a connection to a dark chapter in New Mexico history.

Ronald Stout served a long stretch in the state pen many years ago when at 17 years old violent Ronnie Stout began a 10 year prison term for armed robbery.

"He had a reputation of being a pretty tough guy." said former state corrections secretary Aldolph Saenz who knew Ronnie Stout and his twin brother Donnie. Both were maximum security inmates at the state pen on January 3, 1980.

Ronnie was beaten in a fight with an African-American inmate fueling fears of a race riot. In the book, "The Hate Factory", it claims that that fight led inmates to plot for what was later the deadliest prison riot in American history leaving 33 inmates dead. When the rioting broke out however, Ronnie was just released on parole.

Saenz say Ronnie also found life tough on the outside as he believes 10 years in a prison called "hell on earth" shaped Ronnie Stout.

Over the years he didn't have any more serious trouble with the law aside from several DWI's but there were apparently domestic problems. A judge recently signed papers ordering Stout to stay away from his wife.

Police say Stout shot her Wednesday at a Moriarty store where she worked before killing himself. "I'm not surprised that he killed himself. I'm not surprised because it's a matter of pride and honor. He knew he screwed up on that one." said Saenz.

When police tried to track down Ronnie Stout Wednesday, they described him as armed and dangerous, and that description would have also fit when he was wanted for armed robbery, 40 years ago.

Stout's wife, Greta, is in satisfactory condition and is expected to recover.