Ryan Zike was a naturalist from Louisville, Kentucky. ^{[undefined] [undefined] [1]}

Zike worked as a naturalist and recreation supervisor for Jefferson Memorial Forest in Kentucky for seven years. ^{[undefined] [undefined]}

He was named a naturalist at the Heller Nature Center in late September 2017.

^{[undefined] [undefined]}

Zike graduated from Trinity High School (Louisville) in 2002. He went on to attend Eastern Kentucky University, where he studied outdoor recreation and park administration, graduating in 2009 ^{[undefined] [undefined]}

On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, authorities responded to a report of gunfire at about 6:20 a.m. and found Ryan dead of a gunshot wound to the head behind a Dunkin' Donuts at 620 N. Western in Lake Forest, Illinois. ^{[undefined] [1]}

His ex-girlfriend, Claire Elizabeth VanLandingham, was also found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Lake Forest Hospital, where she died. ^{[undefined] [1]}

Zike and VanLandingham were involved in a romantic relationship between March 2017 and October 2017.

^{[undefined] [1]}