In 1998, Rodney Reed was convicted of raping and murdering a woman named Stacey Stites two years prior. Almost all of the evidence against him came from DNA tests, but his lawyers said Reed had been having a secret affair with Stites, which explained why DNA was found on her body. However, new evidence has recently come out that could exonerate Reed. Stites’ fiancé, Jimmy Fennell, was convicted in 2008 of kidnapping and raping a different woman, and a prison mate testified that he had heard Fennell brag about murdering his fiancée because she had been in a relationship with a black man.
Reed remained on death row until last Saturday, November 16th, when the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, delayed Reed’s execution date.
Five days before that on Nov. 11, about half a dozen students from the University of Redlands met in the Hunsaker Lounge with a list of phone numbers to begin their first round of “phone banking.” Phone banking is a term used to describe calling a certain organization or business to support a cause. In this case, the calls were to the Texas government in an attempt to put pressure on the governor to stop or delay Reed’s execution. Some of the students were a part of the U of R’s Black Student Union, and some were just looking to make their voices heard.
Amanda Chiles, a member of BSU said she felt “relieved” when she learned of the delay on Reed’s execution.
In a previous interview during the phone banking event, before the news came out about Abbott’s decision, Chiles said that because Reed is a black man, she felt there was, “a lot of racial bias impacting [the decision].”
Many people agree that the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, is a more conservative Republican. He has referred to the death penalty as “Texas justice,” which may be a reason why he was reluctant to take Reed off death row.
Chiles said she didn’t think that what BSU did was enough on its own to overturn Reed’s previous sentence, but she thought what did help make a difference was “how much awareness [BSU] spread about it.”
Although Chiles said she was “very happy” about the recent turn of events, one aspect was frustrating to her. On the poster outside of Hunsaker that announced when the phone banking would take place, someone had written the words: “he raped a 12 year-old.” This was likely in reference to an unsolved rape case separate from Stites’ murder, but according to prosecutors also involves Reed’s DNA. Chiles stated that the claim was not true, nor was it the crime Reed was convicted of committing.
“It’s really cool how many people came behind and supported this, but there’s always going to be people … that don’t want to believe what the facts are,” Chiles said in response to the vandalism.
No more BSU events have been planned while waiting to hear more about the Reed case, but Chiles said she is part of an email chain from The Innocence Project, and she plans to stay updated and spread information over the next few weeks.
As of now, Reed’s execution date is delayed by 120 days, but his new trial date has not been set. Although his future remains up in the air, his lawyers have said they are excited about a new opportunity to present evidence that could prove Reed’s innocence.
[hr gap=””]Photograph by Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via Associated Press.
Rodney Reed, Some Context
From: Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, pro death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113
Read the many cases of sexual assault by Reed (1), inclusive of a 12 year old, raped orally, vaginally and anally, with Reed’s DNA confirmed.
Judicial review of Reed’s claims of 1) innocence and 2) the state not disclosing evidence: ” . . . we hold that Reed has failed to show that the State did not disclose favorable evidence. . . . Reed has not made a threshold, prima facie showing of innocence by a preponderance of the evidence . . . We deny relief.” (2)
The Innocence Project can be, very, deceptive, as detailed (3), inclusive of creating false confessions and claiming a death row DNA exoneration, when not true, by judicial review, and the IP not revealing that, for 8 years and counting.
Innocent frauds, by anti death penalty activists, are the rule, not the exception (4), with a 77% error rate in innocent/exoneration claims (4).
Massive, worldwide activism, with actors and other anti death penalty activists, claiming the “innocence” of death row inmates have been, intentionally, fraudulent and/or, otherwise, wrong (5), very often, by the media, as well, and as detailed (5).
Appellate judges and governors are very generous with death row inmates, with only 15% being executed and 45% removed by appeals/commutation
What will happen with Reed? As so many have not figured out, yet (5), pay attention to the courts, not the activists.
1) II. THE STATE’S PUNISHMENT CASE, pages 7, 8 and 9,
IN THE Supreme Court of the United States
RODNEY REED, Petitioner, vs. THE STATE OF TEXAS Respondent, No. 17-1093
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-1093/45899/20180507150103836_Reed%20BIO%20FINAL.pdf
2) V. Conclusion, within EX PARTE RODNEY REED, Applicant ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS, NO. AP-75,693 IN CAUSE NUMBER 8701 IN THE 21ST DISTRICT COURT OF BASTROP COUNTY
https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2008/17748.html
3) see paragraphs 3 and 4
Death Row, “Exonerations”, Media & Intentional Fraud
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/06/death-row-exonerations-intentional-fraud.html
4) Deception: The DPIC “Exonerated”/”Innocence” List
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/09/deception-dpic-exoneratedinnocence-list.html
and
Death Row, “Exonerations”, Media & Intentional Fraud
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/06/death-row-exonerations-intentional-fraud.html
5) Just a few
HOLLYWOOD, MURDER AND TEXAS
DEATH ROW INMATE GARY GRAHAM AND THE ANTI-DEATH PENALTY MOVEMENT:
A CASE STUDY OF LIES, HALF-TRUTHS AND INTIMIDATION
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/11/gary-graham-hollywood-murder-and-texas.html
Rebuttal: “Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man?”, David Grann, The New Yorker, 9/7/2009: Cameron Todd Willingham: Media meltdown & the death penalty
# 11 here
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-innocent-frauds-standard-anti-death.html
“Troy Davis & The Innocent Frauds of the anti death penalty lobby”,
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2011/11/troy-davis-innocent-frauds-of-anti.html
Guilty: Sacco and Vanzetti
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/08/guilty-sacco-and-vanzetti.html
Roger Keith Coleman #2, here
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-innocent-frauds-standard-anti-death.html
so many more
Overview
Death Row, “Exonerations”, Media & Intentional Fraud
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/06/death-row-exonerations-intentional-fraud.html
The Innocent Frauds: Standard Anti Death Penalty Deception
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-innocent-frauds-standard-anti-death.html
Lots of cherry picking. The death penalty is Black and Brown defendants get the death penalty way too much. You have a right to your opinions and I defend your right to free speech just like I defend Alex Jones’ right to such. However, the Innocence Project is not a fraud. Your comments are right wing distortions.
Gregory:
No, they are not.
Fact checking/vetting matter. You did none. I did a lot.