James Earl Reed
Encyclopedia
James Earl Reed was a convicted murderer put to death in the state of South Carolina
by electrocution
in the electric chair
.
During the guilt phase Reed represented himself and waived his right to testify. It took the Charleston County Circuit Court jury 30 minutes to find Reed guilty of both murders. At the conclusion of the penalty phase, the jury recommended and District Court Judge William L. Howard sentenced Reed to death for both murders. In 2003 Reed ended his right to appeal in at least four different courts. Purported to have an I.Q. of 77 and to suffer from some “neurological impairment,” Reed chose to die by electrocution instead of lethal injection, did not ask for clemency, eat a last meal, or make a final statement.
Before the penalty phase began, Reed sought to change his relationship with his standby counsel such that he would give the opening statement and his attorney would continue. Reed claimed he was too emotional to cross-examine the victims' family. Over the objections of Reed’s standby counsel, Howard refused to appoint counsel because Reed had waived his right to counsel and it was too late in the proceeding for his attorney to adequately prepare.
When the switch was thrown, witnesses heard a noise similar to the sound made by the key ring clip lock on a gas station pump handle when the tank is "full". The sound indicated that the circuit of the electric chair had been completed and current was now passing into Reed's body. Reed jerked forward, but other than that there was no significant movement. The electrodes were disconnected at 11:25pm and he was pronounced dead at 11:27pm.
Witness to the execution included Marsha Lafayette Aleem, the youngest daughter of the married couple Reed was convicted of murdering. She was seated in the first of three rows and directly in front of Reed as he sat in the electric chair. She was accompanied by two of her uncles. In the row behind them were a victims' advocate and an investigator. Seated in the third and final row were the three media witnesses invited to the execution. No one from Reed's family chose to attend the execution.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
by electrocution
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
in the electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
.
Crime
Reed and 28-year-old Laurie Rego, the daughter of Barbara Ann Lafayette and Joseph Lafayette, dated briefly while they were both in the Army. Sometime after Rego tried to end the relationship Reed pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 37 months in prison. In prison he wrote threatening letters to Rego and after he was released in May 1994, he bought a gun and hitchhiked to the Lafayettes' house in Adams Run, South Carolina looking for Rego. The Lafayettes were each shot five times and although no physical evidence linked Reed to the murder scene he was arrested and questioned by police. Reed cooperated with police in an attempt to locate the murder weapon and spent casings, which were never found.During the guilt phase Reed represented himself and waived his right to testify. It took the Charleston County Circuit Court jury 30 minutes to find Reed guilty of both murders. At the conclusion of the penalty phase, the jury recommended and District Court Judge William L. Howard sentenced Reed to death for both murders. In 2003 Reed ended his right to appeal in at least four different courts. Purported to have an I.Q. of 77 and to suffer from some “neurological impairment,” Reed chose to die by electrocution instead of lethal injection, did not ask for clemency, eat a last meal, or make a final statement.
Before the penalty phase began, Reed sought to change his relationship with his standby counsel such that he would give the opening statement and his attorney would continue. Reed claimed he was too emotional to cross-examine the victims' family. Over the objections of Reed’s standby counsel, Howard refused to appoint counsel because Reed had waived his right to counsel and it was too late in the proceeding for his attorney to adequately prepare.
Execution
Reed's execution was set for 6pm on Friday June 20 2008, but a series of appeals stopped the execution from occurring until 11:20pm, when the curtains were opened so that witnesses could view the execution. Reed was strapped into the chair, with a strap or mask that covered most of his head. Electrodes were connected to his head through a wire that could be seen connecting from the ceiling to a cap on his head and another wire was connected to the calf of his right leg. Reed was not seen to look at anyone and he declined to state any last words. He had earlier also declined to opt for a last meal or any spiritual advisor. After his declination to last words was announced, a leather hood was tied around his head.When the switch was thrown, witnesses heard a noise similar to the sound made by the key ring clip lock on a gas station pump handle when the tank is "full". The sound indicated that the circuit of the electric chair had been completed and current was now passing into Reed's body. Reed jerked forward, but other than that there was no significant movement. The electrodes were disconnected at 11:25pm and he was pronounced dead at 11:27pm.
Witness to the execution included Marsha Lafayette Aleem, the youngest daughter of the married couple Reed was convicted of murdering. She was seated in the first of three rows and directly in front of Reed as he sat in the electric chair. She was accompanied by two of her uncles. In the row behind them were a victims' advocate and an investigator. Seated in the third and final row were the three media witnesses invited to the execution. No one from Reed's family chose to attend the execution.