-7-
-7- DAYS
-7- DAYS LEFT.. TO STOP THE EXECUTION-- OF A BASTROP COUNTY MAN.
"I FEEL THAT THE TRUTH IS OUT
THERE."
COURTS HAVE DISMISSED HIS
APPEALS..
BUT HIS SUPPORTERS SAY--
EVERYONE'S
IGNORING THE FACTS.
"INNOCENT!
INNOCENT OF THE CRIME OF WHICH
HE HAS BEEN CHARGED!"
BUT THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS- ARE
STANDING BY
THE VERDICT.
"THE RIGHT MAN HAS BEEN
CONVICTED BEYOND A
REASONABLE DOUBT OF STACEY
STITES' MURDER."
TONIGHT-- AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT A
CONTROVERSIAL
CONVICTION AND DEATH SENTENCE..
IN THE KVUE CRIME FILES: THE
CASE OF RODNEY REED.
"FREE RODNEY REED! FREE RODNEY
REED! FREE RODNEY REED!"
MORE PROTESTS -- AS TIME RUNS
OUT.
TODAY-- RODNEY REED'S FAMILY
MEMBERS
RALLIED IN FRONT OF THE BASTROP
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE-- ON A DAY WHERE THE
COUNTY COURT WAS SUPPOSED TO
HEAR REED'S CASE.
THE COURT DELAYED THAT-- SO IT
CAN HEAR FROM THE
JUDGE WHO ORDERED REED'S
EXECUTION.
REED'S ATTORNEYS AND LOVED ONES
AREN'T GIVING
UP THOUGH..
THEY PLAN TO HOST MORE RALLIES
TOMORROW - AT
THE BASTROP COUNTY D-A'S
OFFICE.. AND AT THE
GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN AUSTIN.
HIS LAWYERS AND FAMILY ARE
TRYING
TRYING TO
TRYING TO SAVE HIM IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION-- AFTER EVERY ATTEMPT
IN THE COURT OF LAW-- HAS
FAILED.
BUT WHY IS THAT?
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE
STATE SAYS --- REED IS
GUILTY -- BEYOND A SHADOW OF A
DOUBT.
WE WANT TO WARN YOU-- SOME OF
THE DETAILS OF THIS
CASE ARE GRAPHIC..
TONIGHT -- YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE
PROSECUTOR
WHO TRIED REED'S CASE -- STACEY
STITES' SISTER -- AND A
WOMAN WHO POLICE SAY - IS ONE OF
REED'S VICTIMS.
HERE'S KRIS BETTS.
"WHY
"WHY DID
"WHY DID YOU COME HERE TODAY?" "BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO TELL THE TRUTH."
CLOCK
CLOCK TICKING "ALL WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE IS TO JUST LOOK AT THE
EVIDENCE.
EVIDENCE. LOOK AT THE TRUTH. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE RODNEY IS TOTALLY INNOCENT,
THERE'S
ENOUGH OUT THERE TO CAST DOUBT,
AND THAT IS ENOUGH
FOR A NEW TRIAL."
CLOCK TICKING
"THE RIGHT MAN HAS BEEN
CONVICTED BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT OF STACY STITES' MURDER."
CLOCK TICKING
"GOOD, GOOD GUY." "WE WERE
RAISED TO TREAT PEOPLE AS YOU
WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED." "HE'S
A SOCIOPATH."
CLOCK TICKING
"MY JOB IS TO QUESTION GUILT. I
WOULD NEVER GO FORWARD
ON A CASE AND NOT QUESTION
GUILT" "RODNEY REED IS MOST
CERTAINLY GUILTY."
CLOCK TICKING
"I WANT TO DO ALL THAT I CAN DO,
ALL THAT I CAN DO,
BECAUSE I KNOW MY BROTHER IS
INNOCENT."
FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES --
RODRICK REED HAS FOUGHT ON
BEHALF OF HIS BROTHER -- RODNEY
REED.
"THE STATE KNOWS THAT I'M
INNOCENT."
ON NOVEMBER 20TH, 2019 -- REED
IS SCHEDULED TO
DIE --- FOR THE MURDER OF STACEY
STITES
STITES IN
STITES IN BASTROP -- IN APRIL 1996. "YOUNG WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN
BASTROP..."
"SHE HAD A LIFE WITH JIM, AND
NOW SOMEBODY'S
TAKEN THAT AWAY."
ENGAGED -- AND WEEKS AWAY FROM
HER WEDDING TO
GIDDINGS POLICE OFFICER JIMMY
FENNEL -- STACEY STITES --
A 19 YEAR OLD RECENT GRADUATE OF
SMITHVILLE HIGH
SCHOOL -- WAS WORKING THE EARLY
MORNING SHIFT IN THE
PRODUCE SECTION OF BASTROP'S
H-E-B -- TO MAKE
EXTRA MONEY FOR HER WEDDING.
"SHE'D BEEN WORKING, PAYING OFF
HER DRESS AND
DOING A LITTLE BIT EACH WEEK TO
MAKE SURE THIS WEDDING
CAME OFF OKAY."
BUT ON THE MORNING OF APRIL
23RD, 1996 -- STACEY'S
COWORKER CALLED HER MOM CAROL--
TO LET HER KNOW
STACEY HADN'T SHOWN UP FOR WORK
AT 3:30 A.M. AS
SCHEDULED.
POLICE FOUND THE TRUCK SHE
SHARED WITH FENNEL IN THE
PARKING LOT NEAR BASTROP HIGH
SCHOOL. BUT STACEY
WASN'T ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN. THEN
-- HOURS LATER -- A REALTOR
STUMBLED UPON
STACEY'S BODY -- ON A QUIET --
DIRT ROAD -- MILES AWAY.
STACEY --- HAD BEEN STRANGLED.
CRIME SCENE VIDEO SHOWS A PIECE
OF
OF HER
OF HER BELT -- THE MURDER WEAPON -- A FEW FEET AWAY FROM HER BODY IN THE WOODS.
STACEY'S SHIRT WAS PULLED OFF --
HER PANT ZIPPER WAS
BROKEN --
AND WHEN DPS ANALYSTS PROCESSED
THE SCENE -- THEY
FOUND SEMEN IN STACY'S VAGINA.
IMMEDIATELY -- TEXAS RANGERS AND
LOCAL INVESTIGATORS
STARTED FOCUSING THEIR
INVESTIGATION ON FENNELL --
ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S LEAD PROSECUTOR --
LISA TANNER.
"I'VE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW
JIMMY FENNELL COULD
HAVE KILLED STACY STITES."
"DID WE SUSPECT HIM? OF COURSE,
YOU ALWAYS
SUSPECT THEM, BUT IT NEVER ADDED
UP."
DEBRA OLIVER -- IS STACEY'S
OLDER SISTER --
OLIVER SAYS STACEY WAS EXCITED
TO MARRY FENNELL
-- IT WAS THE LAST THING THEY
EVER TALKED ABOUT --
"I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE
KNOW THAT WE BURIED
HER IN HER WEDDING DRESS AND HE
PUT THE RING ON HER
FINGER."
"QUITE HONESTLY AT THE END OF
THE YEAR I REALLY
THOUGHT
THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A COLD CASE. I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE EVER GOING TO FIND
ANYONE."
MONTHS PASSED WITHOUT A LEAD --
FENNELL
FAILED TWO LIE DETECTOR TESTS
--
BUT THE SEMEN INSIDE STACEY DID
NOT MATCH FENNELL -- OR --
ANYONE ELSE CONNECTED TO STACEY
"THEY TESTED EVERYONE. ANYONE
WHO
WHO HAD
WHO HAD REMOTELY HAD CONTACT WITH HER AT ANY POINT. I MEAN HUNDREDS,
THEY EXHAUSTED IT. EVERYONE
KEEPS SAYING
THAT THIS WAS A SMALL TOWN, NO
IT WASN'T A SMALL TOWN
INVESTIGATION. THIS WAS THE
TEXAS RANGERS, THE
TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL. THEY
COMPLETELY
TOOK OVER AND INVESTIGATED THIS,
AND IT WAS EXHAUSTIVE."
AND
AND THEN
AND THEN -- A BREAK IN THE CASE. "ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 1996, NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS AFTER
STACEY WAS KILLED, A YOUNG
AUSTIN WOMAN NAMED LINDA
SCHLUETER WAS VISITING FRIENDS
IN BASTROP
AROUND MIDNIGHT WHEN SHE SAYS
SHE WENT TO USE
THE PAY PHONE AT THIS NOW-
CLOSED GAS STATION. IT WAS
WHILE SHE WAS USING THE PHONE
THAT SHE SAYS A TALL
BLACK MAN APPROACHED HER ASKING
FOR A RIDE."
"HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE AND HE SAID
SHE WON'T GIVE ME A RIDE, I
GUESS I'LL JUST FREEZE TO
DEATH. AND IT MADE ME FEEL BAD,
AND I WAS ONLY 19 AT THE
TIME. SO I WAS LIKE WHERE DO YOU
LIVE? AND HE SAID ON MAIN
STREET, AND IN MY MIND MAIN
STREET IS THIS BIG, LIT UP
ROAD, SO I WAS LIKE HOW FAR? AND
HE SAID A MILE OR TWO."
SHE DROVE -- AND SAYS WHEN HE
TRIED GUIDING HER
DOWN A DIRT ROAD - SHE REFUSED -
AND TURNED THE
CAR AROUND
WHEN HE WENT TO GET OUT OF THE
CAR ---
"THE NEXT THING I KNOW HE HAS ME
BY THE BACK OF MY HAIR
SLAMMING MY FACE IN MY STEERING
WHEEL. I'M
PUNCHING BACKWARDS, AND I OPEN
THE DOOR. I SCREAM SO LOUD THAT
I PEED MY PANTS, AND I JUST KEPT
PUNCHING." LINDA SAYS SHE KEPT
TRYING TO FIGHT BACK -
"AND I ASKED HIM, WHAT DO YOU
WANT? WHAT THE HELL
DO YOU WANT FROM ME? AND HE SAID
I WANT A BLOWJOB. AND I
SAID YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME
BEFORE YOU GET ANYTHING
FROM ME. AND HE SAID I GUESS I
HAVE TO KILL YOU THEN."
STILL FIGHTING -- LINDA SAYS HE
TRIED TO TAKE HER IN THE CAR
-- BUT WHEN SHE SAW LIGHTS
APPROACHING -- SHE JUMPED
OUT -- AND SAYS HE TOOK OFF IN
HER CAR -- LEAVING HER TO
RUN FOR HELP.
"THE COPS CAME AND I IDENTIFIED
WHO IT WAS, EXACTLY WHAT
HE WAS WEARING, WHERE I PICKED
HIM UP, WHAT
TIME IT WAS."
ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS --
EARLIER IN THE NIGHT -- A
BASTROP OFFICER HAD NOTICED REED
NEAR THE GAS
STATION -- WEARING THE CLOTHES
LINDA DESCRIBED --
THEY PLACED REED IN A PHOTO
LINEUP
"I KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHO IT WAS.
IMMEDIATELY. I
PICKED HIM OUT IMMEDIATELY, NO
DOUBT AT ALL."
THAT NIGHT -- IS WHAT WOULD
LEAD POLICE TO CONNECT
RODNEY -- TO STACEY'S CASE --
SIMILAR MO'S -- PROSECUTORS
SAY -- LINDA'S CAR -- LEFT CLOSE
TO WHERE
STACEY'S TRUCK WAS FOUND -- THEY
ALSO THINK STACEY
MAY HAVE BEEN STOPPED NEAR THE
SAME GAS STATION -- AT
THE TRAIN TRACKS.
"WE BELIEVED THAT STACEY WAS
ABDUCTED FROM THAT
POINT, FROM THAT PLACE. POSSIBLY
BY BEING STOPPED
BY A TRAIN. WE KNEW THAT THERE
WAS A STRUGGLE
INSIDE OF HER TRUCK, BASED ON
THE CONDITION OF
HER TRUCK. BASED ON THE
ABRASIONS THAT WERE FOUND ON
HER BODY THAT WERE LINEAR
ABRASIONS-- ALONG HER SH--
HER-- ACROSS HER SHOULDER."
SUSPECTING THEY MAY BE CONNECTED
-- POLICE TESTED
REED'S DNA AGAINST THE SEMEN
FOUND IN STACEY -- AND ---
IT MATCHED.
AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATING --
POLICE
BELIEVED THEY HAD FOUND THEIR
KILLER.
"THEY CALLED AND SAID 'WE HAVE A
SUSPECT AND WE THINK
IT'S HIM.'
THEY QUESTIONED REED-- IN JAIL
FOR A DRUG
CHARGE -- AND HE DENIED KNOWING
STACEY AT ALL.
BUT WHEN POLICE CONFRONTED HIM
WITH THE
DNA EVIDENCE -- HE CLAIMED --
THEY HAD HAD CONSENSUAL
SEX DAYS BEFORE -- SAYING IT
WAS A SECRET -- SINCE
STACEY HAD BEEN ENGAGED.
"ALL OF THIS TALK ABOUT STACEY
STITES HAVING THIS
CLANDESTINE AFFAIR WITH RODNEY
REED ONLY CAME UP
AFTER HE WAS LINKED TO BY DNA,
WHICH WE LATER LEARNED,
IN LOOKING AT THE CASE, WAS
PRECISELY THE ARGUMENT THAT
HE MADE BACK IN THE PREVIOUS
CASE IN WICHITA
FALLS-- HE DENIED HAVING ANY
KNOWLEDGE OF A RAPE CASE."
TANNER IS REFERRING TO RODNEY
REED'S FIRST CHARGE
FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT --
A YOUNG WHITE WOMAN TOLD POLICE
SHE WAS RAPED AND
BEATEN OFFICERS TOOK THESE
PHOTOS OF HER INJURIES
AFTER THE INCIDENT.
REED SAID IT WAS CONSENSUAL --
AND SHE WAS
HIDING THE RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE
HE WAS BLACK.
A JURY ACQUITTED REED -- BUT HE
WOULD GO ON TO FACE SEVERAL
MORE
MORE CHARGES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT -- INCLUDING THE RAPE OF A 12-YEAR OLD
GIRL IN BASTROP.
REED'S DNA -- ACCORDING TO THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE -- MATCHED SEVERAL
UNSOLVED RAPE
CASES.
4 CASES ARE STILL PENDING --
BUT REED WAS ALREADY UNDER
ARREST FOR CAPITOL MURDER -- SO
THOSE FOUR
RAPE CASES -- WERE NEVER TRIED
-- INCLUDING
LINDA'S.
"EVERYBODY SAYS HE'S INNOCENT
AND THEY JUST DON'T
KNOW THE WHOLE STORY."
"IT'S BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING TO
HAVE OTHER WOMEN SAY
RODNEY REED RAPED ME TOO, RODNEY
REED ATTACKED ME.
RODNEY
RODNEY REED BEAT ME TOO. AND TO HAVE THE MEDIA TELL THESE WOMEN WELL YOU DIDN'T HAVE
YOUR DAY IN COURT SO
YOUR STORY DOESN'T MATTER." REED
HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF
RAPE
RAPE --
RAPE -- MANY OF HIS SUPPORTERS BELIEVE HE WAS FRAMED. "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THEY WON'T
SET HIM UP, MAKE HIM
LOOK
LOOK TO
LOOK TO BE LIKE A RAPIST? THEY ARE VERY CORRUPT DOWN HERE."
"WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS WE HAVE A
BUNCH OF
ALLEGATIONS. THEY'RE ALL VERY
DIFFERENT.
THEY GO BACK OVER THE COURSE OF
A LONG TIME AND
THEY
THEY WERE
THEY WERE NEVER REALLY VETTED." REED'S LAWYERS WITH THE INNOCENCE PROJECT
PUSHED FOR FURTHER DNA TESTING
IN 2015 --
AND IN THE STATE'S ADVISORY --
IT SHOWS
ADVANCED DNA TESTING REVEALED
MORE OF
RODNEY'S DNA ON STACEY -- IN HER
VAGINA, ANUS AND
UNDERWEAR -- AND MIXED WITH
STACEY'S DNA ON HER PANTS
AND ON HER BACK BRACE -- WHICH
WAS FOUND -- IN HER
TRUCK.
"WE'VE DONE DNA TESTING. AND ALL
IT'S DONE IS
FURTHER SOLIDIFY THAT RODNEY
REED IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR HER MURDER."
NOW REED'S LAWYERS ARE PUSHING
FOR THE MURDER
WEAPON TO BE TESTED FOR DNA --
"THE STATE HAS FOUGHT FOR YEARS
TO PREVENT US
FROM TESTING THE ONE ITEM THAT
REALLY COULD
DETERMINE WHO COMMITTED THIS
CRIME, AND THAT'S THE BELT
THAT WAS USED TO STRANGLE
STACEY."
THE STATE ARGUES -- THE BELT HAS
BEEN HANDLED BY
MULTIPLE PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS
-- AND IT'S BEEN
CROSS-CONTAMINATED.
HERE IT IS LYING IN A PILE OF
EVIDENCE.
"SINCE ALL TESTING HAD BEEN
COMPLETED,
PEOPLE HANDLED IT WITHOUT GLOVES
AND
THAT WAS, AGAIN, CONSISTENT WITH
THE
STANDARDS OF THE DAY."
THE US SUPREME COURT ALSO DENIED
REED'S
APPEAL TO TEST THE BELT IN 2018.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
NEW WITNESSES
HAVE COME FORWARD CLAIMING THEY
KNEW STACEY
WAS WITH REED HAVE CLAIMED
JIMMY FENNELL STACEY'S
FIANCE CONFESSED TO HER
MURDER.
"WE'RE REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET
THESE WITNESSES IN
FRONT OF A JUDGE, IN FRONT OF A
JURY, AND LET'S SORT IT
ALL OUT AND LET'S FIND OUT WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED HERE
BEFORE WE EXECUTE THE WRONG
GUY."
THE STATE SAYS THESE WITNESSES
ARE NOT CREDIBLE.
OLIVER POINTS OUT STACEY'S
EMPLOYER H-E-B OFFERED A
50-THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD FOR
INFORMATION
WHEN SHE WAS KILLED AND NO
ONE CAME FORWARD.
"HAD THAT PERSON COME OUT THAT
FIRST YEAR WHEN
THERE WAS A REWARD OFFERED, WHEN
IT WAS
PUBLICIZED WELL WITHIN THE TOWN
IT'S A SMALL TOWN,
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS WASN'T THE
TALK OF THE TOWN, I
PROBABLY WOULD GIVE HER MORE
CREDIT, BUT TO
COME OUT 20 YEARS LATER AND ALL
OF A SUDDEN YOU
REMEMBER.MM
"
REMEMBER.MM " IN ANOTHER ARGUMENT FOR REED'S
INNOCENCE
HIS LAWYERS SAY EXPERTS WHO
HAVE LOOKED AT THIS
CRIME SCENE VIDEO --- HAVE COME
FORWARD SAYING STACEY
COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BEFORE
MIDNIGHT
WHEN SHE WAS ALLEGEDLY WITH
FENNELL --
THE PROSECUTION SAYS IT'S NOT
AN EXACT
SCIENCE
AND THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
WHO DETERMINED
HER ORIGINAL TIME OF DEATH SAYS
STACEY WAS KILLED
AROUND 3 A.M.
SO NOW -- AFTER MORE THAN A HALF
DOZEN FAILED
APPEALS --
RODNEY REED IS FACING WHAT COULD
BE -- HIS FINAL WEEK
CLOCK TICKING
AS HIS FAMILY, LAWYERS AND
SUPPORTERS MAKE THEIR
FINAL PLEA FOR A STAY OF
EXECUTION.
"WHAT HE REALLY WANTS IS A NEW
TRIAL, WHERE A JURY
CAN ACQUIT HIM."
CLOCK TICKING
"ALL WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE IS TO
JUST LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. LOOK
AT THE TRUTH. IF YOU DON'T
BELIEVE
RODNEY IS TOTALLY INNOCENT,
THERE'S ENOUGH OUT THERE TO CAST
DOUBT, AND THAT IS ENOUGH FOR A
NEW TRIAL."
THE STATE -- AND FEDERAL JUDGES
IN CHARGE OF
REVIEWING HIS CASE -- HAVE COME
TO THE SAME
CONCLUSION
CLOCK TICKING
"HE'S HAD EVERY BIT OF JUSTICE
THAT COULD HAVE COME TO
HIM, AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN THEY SAY HE'S
GUILTY."
"RODNEY REED IS MOST CERTAINLY
GUILTY."
"NO DOUBT AT ALL...NO DOUBT AT
ALL."
ALL."
CLOCK
CLOCK TICKING IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO NOTE -- JIMMY FENNELL SPENT -10-
YEARS IN PRISON-- FOR KIDNAPPING
AND IMPROPER
SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH A WOMAN IN
HIS CUSTODY WHILE HE WAS
A GEORGETOWN POLICE OFFICER IN
2007..
BUT ATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE
SAY-- YOU CAN'T MENTION THAT
FACT WITH REGARDS TO STACEY'S
MURDER CASE--
UNLESS YOU ALSO MENTION THE OPEN
RAPE CASES AGAINST
REED.
MEANWHILE-- THESE ARE JUST SOME
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.
. LAWMAKERS.. AND CELEBRITIES
WHO'VE ALL
CALLED ON GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT
TO ISSUE A STAY
OF EXECUTION FOR REED..
AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE
SIGNED ONLINE PETITIONS-- TO
SAVE HIS LIFE..
SO AS REED'S EXECUTION DATE
APPROACHES-- THERE'S NOT
MUCH MORE HIS ATTORNEYS CAN DO..
THEY'VE FILED AN APPEAL WITH THE
U-S SUPREME
COURT-- ASKING JUSTICES TO WEIGH
IN..
BUT ULTIMATELY-- ANY DECISIONS
TO DELAY OR
STOP REED'S EXECUTION FALL TO
THE COURTS.. THE TEXAS
BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES..
AND GOVERNOR
GREG ABBOTT..
AND WITH JUST -7- DAYS LEFT---
REED'S LOVED ONES ARE