The internet has a funny way of preserving moments in amber while the real world moves on in much darker directions. If you’ve spent any time digging into the question of is colin rideout still engaged, you’ve likely stumbled upon a digital ghost. There are old social media crumbs and forum whispers that suggest a life once filled with normal milestones, like engagements and wedding planning. But those crumbs belong to a different version of reality.
Honestly, the answer isn’t found in a gossip column or a wedding registry. It’s found in a New York state prison record.
When people search for Colin Rideout's relationship status, they are usually looking for the human side of a man who became central to one of the most gruesome and high-profile murder cases in upstate New York history. Colin, along with his mother Laura and brother Alexander, was convicted in the 2016 slaying of his father, Craig Rideout. This wasn't just a family dispute; it was a calculated, brutal crime involving acid and a makeshift "murder kit" found in the trunk of a car.
The Reality of the Life Sentence
Let’s get the hard facts out of the way. Colin Rideout is currently serving a sentence of 25 years to life for second-degree murder, plus additional time for tampering with physical evidence. When you are behind bars with a "to life" tail on your sentence, the concept of being "engaged" changes fundamentally.
Back in 2016, around the time of the arrest, there were local reports and social media ties indicating that Colin was indeed in a serious relationship. Some even pointed to a specific engagement. But as the trial progressed and the horrific details of Craig Rideout’s death came to light—the strangulation with a ligature, the disfigurement of the face with acid—the "normal" life Colin had been building evaporated.
You’ve got to wonder what happens to a fiancée in that scenario. Does she stay? Generally, no. While some people do maintain "prison relationships," the weight of a murder conviction involving the killing of one's own father is a heavy burden for any relationship to survive. There has been zero public evidence or legal filings since his conviction in 2017 to suggest that any prior engagement remained intact or resulted in a marriage.
Why People Keep Asking About This
It's curiosity. Plain and simple.
We see a young man who looked, for all intents and purposes, like a regular college-aged guy. He had a job, a family (or so it seemed), and supposedly, a future with someone. People want to know if that person stuck by him. It's that "true crime" fascination where we try to find a sliver of humanity or loyalty in someone convicted of an unthinkable act.
Basically, the "engagement" is a relic. It’s a piece of information from a life that ended the moment his father was killed in that Penfield basement.
The Trial That Ended the Future
To understand why the engagement likely dissolved, you have to look at the evidence the jury saw. It wasn't just circumstantial. Police caught Colin and his brother Alexander at Devil’s Bathtub in Mendon Ponds Park. They were throwing a bag into the water. What was in the bag?
- Bloody clothing.
- Gloves.
- Acid-based drain cleaner.
That is not the behavior of a man preparing for a wedding. That is the behavior of a man trying to erase a crime. During the trial, the prosecution painted a picture of a family fractured by a bitter divorce, with the children choosing sides with their mother, Laura, to a lethal degree.
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The defense tried to argue that Colin wasn't involved in the actual killing, but the jury didn't buy it. He was convicted of the top count.
Where is Colin Rideout Now?
As of 2026, Colin remains incarcerated in the New York State Department of Corrections system. He spends his days in a maximum-security facility, far removed from the suburban life where he was once an engaged young man.
Relationships in prison are possible, sure. There are programs for "conjugal visits" in some states, but New York has specific, strict rules regarding the Family Reunion Program (FRP). To participate, an inmate usually needs to be married or have a very long-term, documented domestic partnership. Since Colin entered the system as a single man facing a life sentence, the likelihood of him maintaining or starting a legal marriage that grants those privileges is slim to none.
Sorting Through the Rumors
You might see "zombie" articles or AI-generated sites claiming he's happily married or still engaged. Don't believe them. Those sites scrape data from ten years ago and present it as current news. They don't account for the fact that a person's life can be completely dismantled by a criminal conviction.
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If you’re looking for a status update, the most accurate one is "Inmate."
The tragedy of the Rideout case isn't just the death of Craig Rideout, which was horrific. It’s also the total destruction of the lives of his children, who threw away their futures—and their relationships—for a plan that was as poorly executed as it was cruel.
Actionable Reality Check
If you are following this case or similar true crime stories, here is how you can stay updated with facts rather than rumors:
- Check the NYS DOCCS Inmate Lookup: This is the only 100% factual way to see where Colin is and what his current status is. It won't tell you his relationship status, but it will confirm he’s still serving time.
- Look for Parole Board Minutes: Since Colin has a "to life" sentence, he will eventually have a parole hearing (decades from now). These hearings often include testimony from family and friends, which is where personal details sometimes surface.
- Search Appellate Records: Colin has attempted to appeal his conviction. These legal documents often contain personal background info that isn't shared in news snippets.
Ultimately, the person Colin Rideout was engaged to has likely moved on, seeking a life far away from the shadow of the Mendon Ponds Park "murder kit." The engagement is over because the life it was attached to no longer exists.