Facebook, Saratoga County Sheriff's Office / personal photo, GoFundMe (Brianna Schaefer), Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Ronald G. Rayher, a 69-year-old retired chiropractor, has been accused of fatally smothering Thomas J. Krider, a 40-year-old Elvis impersonator, during a sexual encounter in an upstate New York suburb.

The incident occurred on April 5, and Krider was reported missing the following day in Ticonderoga, New York.

The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) announced on Wednesday that they learned of a possible deceased person in a Milton residence on Tuesday.

Rayher has been arraigned in Milton Town Court for “manslaughter in the 2nd degree (class C felony) and tampering with physical evidence (class E felony),” according to the SCSO.

According to The Times Union, court documents and investigators suggest that Rayher restrained and bound Krider, then administered chloroform to him more than once during the encounter. The use of chloroform was reportedly consensual.

The two men had known each other for years, stated SCSO Undersheriff Jeffrey Brown. Deputies are investigating how Rayher secured the chloroform, a toxic organic compound once used as an anesthetic. It was also reported that Rayher tampered with and hid Krider's belongings after the alleged killing in Rayher's home.

Krider's wife, Heidi Greene, reported her husband missing 24 hours after he traveled to Milton to help move furniture. Krider, who performed as TJ Greene, was a celebrated Elvis impersonator and had recently settled in Ticonderoga with his wife.

“TJ was a talented performer, whether he was wearing sequins as Elvis, or whether he was guiding a Star Trek tour. He brought his compassion and energy to every performance and he touched many lives. The multitude of condolences showing up on social media speak to just how many people loved him,” the campaign description added.T

Elvis Presley, often hailed as the “King of Rock and Roll,” was an iconic American singer, actor, and cultural phenomenon. Born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis rose to fame in the mid-1950s with his unique blend of country, rhythm and blues, and gospel music.

His charismatic stage presence, distinctive voice, and energetic performances captivated audiences worldwide. Some of his most famous hits include “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Suspicious Minds.” Elvis was not just a musical trailblazer; he also had a successful acting career, starring in over 30 films.

Krider's untimely death may mark him as the second-most famous celebrity impersonator to die by strangulation after the death of Michael Jackson impersonator Jordan Neely under very different circumstances. While this imitator of the King of Rock and Roll seemingly met his end during a paraphilic sex act, the most famous imitator of the King of Pop met his end after harassing and threatening passengers on a New York City subway train, prompting the former Marine Daniel Penny to step in and restrain Neely in order to protect the safety of those on board.

Both strangled celebrity impersonators, as well as both musicians they imitated, are deceased. Elvis passed away in the bathroom of his famous Graceland mansion in 1977, while Jackson met his end at a rented mansion in Los Angeles in 2009. Both entertainers were known for their struggles with prescription drug abuse, likely hastening their untimely demises.