Bio

James Earl Reed was born on November 26, 1958. He grew up in Charleston County, South Carolina. Reed was reportedly an average student in school, although he had social challenges.

As Reed got older, he joined the Army. While in the military, he had a relationship with a woman named Laurie Rego. Their relationship was marked by conflict, and it eventually ended. After their breakup, Reed had a difficult time coping and became aggressive. He was arrested after an incident where he drove his car into an Army officer who was trying to assist Rego. Reed pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

During his time in prison, Reed reportedly wrote letters to Rego that contained threatening language. After his release in April 1994, instead of going to a federal halfway house as planned, he purchased a firearm and sought out Rego.

Reed’s mental health has been a topic of discussion, with reports stating that he had an IQ of 77, which is considered below average. This raised questions about his ability to represent himself during later legal processes. Despite his struggles, Reed often displayed a stubborn attitude and a desire to control his circumstances.

Reed’s life took a dramatic turn after he went to the home of Joseph and Barbara Lafayette, who were the parents of his ex-girlfriend, looking for their daughter. The events that transpired at their home would change his life forever, leading to significant legal consequences.

Murder Story

James Earl Reed murdered two people on May 15, 1994, in Charleston County, South Carolina. His victims were Joseph and Barbara Lafayette, the parents of his ex-girlfriend, Laurie Rego. Reed went to their home looking for Laurie. When Joseph and Barbara refused to tell him where she was, he shot them multiple times.

After the crime, Reed fled the scene. He was later arrested based on eyewitness accounts that placed him leaving the Lafayette home following the gunfire. Evidence collected at the scene included a diagram of the Lafayettes' house found in Reed's bag, as well as tennis shoes matching prints found outside the home.

During his trial in 1996, Reed represented himself and argued that there was no physical evidence linking him to the murders. Despite this, the jury found him guilty after only 30 minutes of deliberation. Reed was sentenced to death.

After spending over a decade on death row, Reed's execution by electrocution took place on June 20, 2008. The execution was delayed for several hours due to last-minute legal challenges, but ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court denied all appeals, and Reed was pronounced dead at 11:27 PM. He did not make any final statements before his execution.