Rodney Reed Bio, Age, Height, Family, Wife, Children, Execution Halted

Rodney Reed Biography

Rodney Reed is an American Texas native who was convicted of the rape and murder of Stacey Stites and he is currently being held in Bastrop County prison on death row and sentenced to death. Stacey Stites was a white 19-year-old bride-to-be engaged to a local Giddings police officer, Jimmy Fennell. After she didn’t show up at work on April 23, 1996, a search led to Stites’ body in a wooded area.

Rodney Reed Family

Reed comes from a very supportive family that has stood by his side since his trial and conviction of murder of her fiance. Although he has not revealed their identity they still believe Reed is innocent despite his scheduled execution. Stacey Stites’s family also came forward to support Reeds’ innocence and in an attempt to stop his execution.

Rodney Reed Age

Rodney Reed was born on December 22, 1967, in Texas, United States.

Rodney Reed Body Measurements

• Height: 1.76 m.
• Weight: Not Available.
• Shoe Size: Not Available.
• Body Shape: Not Available.
• Hair Colour: Black.

Rodney Reed Wife

Reed is not married and does not have a wife, however before his conviction he admitted in court that he had an affair with Stacey Stites who was murdered on April 23, 1996, and lead to his conviction.

Rodney Reed Children

Reed does not have children.

Murder of Stacey Stites

Stacey Stites who was 21 years old was found dead on the side of a dirt road near Bastrop, Texas, on April 23, 1996. However, Reed was found guilty by an all-white jury and sentenced to death on May 29, 1998. Reed maintains his innocence to this day and claims he was set up by Stites’ fiance, Jimmy Fennell.

Stacey Stites was strangulated with her own belt and tests confirm the DNA of an unknown male is found on her. A year later, police matched the DNA found on her to Rodney Reed, an African-American male. Though he initially denied knowing Stites, Reed confessed during the trial that he and Stites were having an affair. Stites’ cousin also corroborated this fact. He claimed that his DNA was found on her because they had sex on the night before her murder and he didn’t kill her.

Rodney Reed Trial and Conviction

Fennell was the suspect first suspect after Stites was killed. However, DNA evidence didn’t match Fennell’s and her case went cold for a year. Reed who has maintained his innocence since and his supporters believe that Fennell may not be innocent. His defense, backed by the Texas Innocence Project, is pushing for a new trial to present new evidence that could prove Fennell is guilty. Besides a fresh look at DNA evidence using improved technology that wasn’t present at the time of Reed’s conviction, Reed’s defense also wants to present witnesses who could prove Fennell’s connection to Stites’ murder.

A woman who knew Stites and Fennell sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials in July 2019, in a bid to help Reed. She claimed to have witnessed a conversation between Fennell and his young fiancee in which Fennell the then cop threatened to kill her if she ever cheated on him. The woman, who worked in life insurance, recalled a time when Stites was filling out an insurance form and Fennell allegedly said, “If I ever catch you messing around on me, I will kill you and no one will ever know it was me that killed you.” She also submitted a life insurance policy receipt with an affidavit.

The other witness was Deputy Lee Clampit, a former colleague of Fennell who recalled an incident during Stites’ funeral where Fennell behaved oddly. “Jimmy was looking at Ms. Stites. At that moment, Jimmy said something that I will never forget,” Clampit wrote. “Jimmy said something along the lines of, ‘You got what you deserved.’ … I was completely shocked and floored by what Jimmy said. It did not strike me as something a grieving partner would say to their murdered fiancé.”

During an evidentiary hearing, a witness claimed to have seen Stites and Fennell arguing outside a convenience store. The time at which the witness saw them, 5:00 a.m., is almost two hours after prosecutors claim Reed killed Stites. Many years after Stites’ tragic death, in 2007 Fennell would be convicted for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman in his custody. Fennell served his sentence and was released in 2018.

Several witnesses have claimed that Fennell is abusive to women. One witness even claims to have seen his wife, Aida Fennell, with bruises on her face. Reed’s defense further states that they have evidence undermining Fennell’s alibi. They also say Stites died much earlier than prosecutors claimed during the first trial and could prove that Fennell killed her at his apartment. Reed’s cousin and the person supervising him and the crew as part of a local store’s remodeling job at that time could provide his alibi, too.

Rodney Reed Scheduled Execution Halted

In 2015, extensive media coverage and a documentary on his case got a stay order on Reed’s execution. However, a judge in July scheduled his execution date for November 20, 2019. After the decision, witnesses have come forward and petitions have been signed to get Reed a retrial. Reed’s attorneys have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in his case, arguing that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed new evidence in the case “that referenced no legal authority,” their appeal reads.

They have repeatedly cited that Reed’s civil rights were violated in the trial. Dr. Phil, through his popular show, is trying to prove Reed’s innocence. He sat down for a jailhouse interview with Reed, which aired on October 10, 2019. With a team of experts, Dr. Phil explored the various theories of this case that suggest that Reed is not guilty.

Execution Halted

In a stunning decision handed down Friday 15th Nov. 2019, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted the execution of Rodney Reed, who was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday for a murder he says he did not commit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rodney Reed

Who is Rodney Reed?

Rodney Reed is an American Texas native who was convicted of the rape and murder of Stacey Stites.

How old is Reed?

Reed is 52 years old as of 2019, born on December 22, 1967.

How tall is Reed?

Reed stands at a height of 1.76 m.

Is Reed married?

Reed is not married and does not have a wife, however before his conviction he admitted in court that he had an affair with Stacey Stites who was murdered on April 23, 1996, and lead to his conviction.

How much is Reed worth?

Not Known.

How much does Reed make?

Not Known

Where does Reed live?

Reed is currently being held in Bastrop County prison on death row.

Is Reed dead or alive?

Reed is still alive and in good health.