Innocent Death Row Inmate Rodney Reed’s execution stayed by Texas Court

By Scotty Reid

Last week, death penalty abolitionist Mark Clements appeared on Black Talk Radio News to inform the listening audience about the case of Rodney Reed, an innocent man set to be murdered by the state of Texas for a crime he did not commit. Today, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay of execution while the court examines new evidence in the case which is 19 years old.

KXAN News reports,

Rodney Reed’s execution, scheduled for next week, has been put on hold.

According to the court order postponing Reed’s execution for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites, Reed’s new defense team has newly discovered evidence that supports his claims of innocence and there is new “scientific evidence” that establishes his “probable innocence.”

Reed, who was scheduled to be put to death Thursday, March 5, has always maintained his innocence.

Prosecutors have said all along that Stites was killed around 3 a.m. and her body was found about 12 hours later. They say Reed abducted, raped and strangled her.

However, Reed’s defense attorney says their new evidence shows she was killed hours earlier, the night before. And he says the only person with her was her fiancé, Jimmy Fennell.