Drug Enforcement Agent and JMU alumnus Thomas J. Bryne (‘91) died after being attacked, severely beaten and mugged while walking to his New Orleans hotel on Aug. 28. Authorities believe Bryne was abducted as his body was found 40 blocks away from his hotel, where he was staying at while attending a conference.
After being found on the road at an intersection by a passerby, Bryne was rushed to the hospital where after multiple surgeries, he died of his injuries on Aug. 30. The investigation into Bryne’s death is being lead by the New Orleans Police Department with help from the U.S. Marshalls and the FBI. Two people, Joseph Miller and Ameal Parker, have been arrested after being linked to Bryne’s stolen credit cards.
Byrne, who died at the age of 40, is survived by his wife Maureen and his four sons: Tommy (age 8), Joseph (age 6), Matthew (age 4) and Michael (age 2). He is also survived by his parents, Retired Dea Special Agent Thomas G. Byrne and Joan Byrne of Fairfax.
Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Bryne attended JMU graduating with a degree in finance. While attending JMU Bryne was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In 1992 he joined the DEA as an intelligence research specialist assigned to the financial and special intelligence section. In 1996 he became a special agent for the DEA and was assigned to the Miami field Division. Bryne’s last assignment was as a Group Supervisor in Houston.
The Breeze was alerted to this tragic news by another alumnus, Chris Cosgriff (’99), the chairman of The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring fallen law enforcement officers.
