Update of Rodney Reed

We have not forgotten about Rodney Reed. Any update on the Rodney Reed case? COVID-19 took over right after Reed granted clemency. There is a small update, but at the same time, this is a reminder that Rodney Reed’s fight has not forgotten. To go over the case for those who might not know what is going on. Rodney Reed charged on May 29th, 1998. He eventually convicted of murder and rape of Stacey Stites, a 19-year-old white woman. Reed ultimately sentenced to death with an execution date of November 20th, 2019.

Backstory:

About twenty years ago, Stacey Stites was found dead on a rural road in Bastrop, Texas. Stacey was engaged to a man by the name of Jimmy Fennell, a rookie cop. Fennell was known to have a hothead. There were alleged reports that Fennell threatened to cause harm to Stacey previously to her murder.

Allegedly that Stacey saw Rodney behind Fennel’s back. The family of Reed states they would see Stacey come around their part of town and hang out with Rodney. Stacy was known to Rodney’s side of the family is what is alleged. However, Rodney was not known by Stacey’s family due to Stacey engaged to Fennell. Additionally, Rodney was white in what could be a possible opinion, and Fennell said that Stacey “deserved what she got,” and “He had to kill his ni**e* loving fiance.

Evidence:

The evidence against Rodney Reed was bare minimum with enough evidence. For instance, DNA evidence was a small amount of sperm; however, Reed admits that Stites and himself had consensual sex previous to her death. Reed has never denied a sexual affair with Stites. Stacey Stites has alleged reports of threats on her life from Jimmy Fennell. Stacey's truck showed no signs of fingerprints or other evidence that Rodney Reed was in the car. Beer cans were found around Stacey and per the autopsy report by Robert J. Bayardo, M.D., who found signs of choking or strangulation.

Stites's body was found with burn marks on her face and her mid-area of her body. Stacey pick-up truck found in a location that was not possible for Rodney to quickly get as he does not have a car and lived across town.

Another Angle:

According to Stacey Stites, the boyfriend Jimmy Fennell was a rookie cop known to be controlling and a hothead. It could be possible that Jimmy Fennell found out about Stacey and Rodney. Alleged that at Stacey’s funeral, Jimmy stated, “she got what she deserved.” Fennell was an original story that did not add up, and Stacey and Fennell were living together. Later, after Stacey passed, Fennell was charged with sexual assault while on duty and sentenced to ten years in prison. Fennell allegedly admitted to an Aryan brotherhood he “had to kill my n***er loving fiance. Not to mention Jimmy Fennell’s short career in law enforcement had multiple complaints from women. Jimmy Fennell released on his ten-year sentence in 2018. Just a random thought, Jimmy Fennell was convicted of raping a woman while she was in his custody as a police officer who is supposed to uphold the law.

Nevertheless, he was committing a crime. Stacey Stites found raped and dumped on a rural road like trash, and it could all be possible because she was having an affair with a black man; this is all alleged; however, his convicted crime does fit in with what happened to his then-fiance.

Unfair Trial:

In Bastrop's small town, TX, in 1998, did not offer Reed a fair trial. The jury was all white, with no one who looked like him or other minorities—the DNA from a consensual relationship used during the trial. However, the murder weapon never tested for DNA. Stacey Stites's apartment that she shared with her fiance Jimmy Fennell was also never searched as a crime scene for further investigation. The beer cans found around her body also did not test, and Stacey’s pick-up truck not treated as apart of the crime with a report; why? The original detectives allegedly ended up murdered, others that were involved have also accused of taking a position of power after the Reed case allegedly. Around twenty witnesses have recanted their statements about Reed having a part in Stacey’s murder. According to the pathologist, the original time of death is not accurate, and the pathologist states that Reed’s guilt is impossible with what gathered medically and scientifically.

What are your thoughts on the Rodney Reed case? Do you think that he is innocent? Do you believe he should have a fair trail going forward? If so, do you think Stacey Stites ex-fiance should be looked in to further or is it too late? Make sure you comment below, let’s have some dialouge.

Reference:

Free Rodney Reed. https://freerodneyreed.com/#about

Murder In The Lost Pines.

https://media.kxantv-media-us-east-1/story/rodneyreed/index.html?ipid=related-recirc

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22981961/#:~:text=abstract,(e.g.%20choking%2c%20strangulation).

Autopsy.https://rodneyreedfulltruth.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/1996-4-24-stacy-stites-autopsy-toxicology-and-related-reports-travis-co-bayardo.pdf

Court Stops Execution of Rodney Reed in Texas after outcry. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/us/rodney-reed-texas-execution.html

New witness for Reed says fiance confessed to murder. https://www.statesman.com/news/20191030/new-witness-for-reed-says-fiance-confessed-to-murder