Rodney Reed Preventing For His Life On Dying Row?
Rodney Reed was convicted of raping and murdering a white lady in 1996 and was sentenced to demise by an all-white jury in Texas in 1998. Now, Reed and his household, who has maintained his innocence, is looking for justice earlier than his scheduled execution on November 20.
At 28 years outdated, Reed was convicted of killing Stacey Stites, 19, in Bastrop, Texas. He was ordered to demise row as a result of his DNA was present in Stite’s vaginal cavity, in accordance with the Innocence Venture, a corporation devoted to exonerating wrongly convicted individuals. From the start of the case, Reed addressed the presence of DNA, admitting he and Stites had been concerned in a secret affair and that the quantity of DNA by no means indicated a homicide.
Authorities initially suspected the person Stites’ was engaged to — Giddings police officer Jimmy Fennel, because the prime suspect when her partially clothed physique was present in a wooded space on April 23, 1996. She was strangled together with her personal belt. Fennel was cleared of any wrongdoing, with some saying the help of different racist cops. Reed was indicted for her homicide as an alternative.
The Innocence Venture cited a number of key items of proof that would result in Reed’s freedom, together with forensic scientists declaring it’s scientifically inconceivable that Reed was the assassin
Not solely was the homicide weapon by no means examined for DNA, three forensic specialists from Reed’s racially charged trial submitted sworn affidavits citing how Stites’ reported time of demise was inaccurate. In accordance with the Innocence Venture, her unique time of demise makes the timeline for Reed killing Stites extremely unlikely.
On the time of the trial, no witnesses got here ahead to corroborate Stites and Reed’s consensual sexual relationship, aiding the prosecution’s argument for a responsible verdict. Since then, Stites’ personal cousin and co-worker have admitted to understanding about their romantic relationship.
In one other groundbreaking key component, Bastrop Sheriff’s Officer Curtis Davis, Fennell’s former greatest pal, admitted Fennell supplied contradictory accounts of the place he was on the evening of Stites’ demise. Initially saying he was out consuming the night Stites’ was killed, he later confessed he was at his condo he shared with Stites. Since then, it’s been decided the precise time of her demise occurred throughout their time collectively that night by the brand new forensic investigation. Fennel, who additionally failed two lie detector exams throughout the investigation, additionally had motive to kill his fiance` for dishonest on him with one other man. Meaww additionally reviews a police officer, whose identification has not been revealed, overheard Fennell say Stites acquired what she deserved whereas at her funeral.
In 2007, Fennel, who had a historical past of violence in opposition to ladies, served 10 years for kidnapping and sexual assaulting a girl he arrested.
On October 10 and 11, Reed’s story was featured on Dr.Phil’s two-part collection in regards to the controversial case.
A Twitter account has been created to assist free Reed, with updates to his case and the way others can become involved in securing his freedom.
A Change.org petition has been launched, looking for 75,000 signatures. As of Thursday, October 17, the petition has garnered over 64,000 signatures.
