Bio

Lawrence Raymond Reynolds Jr. was born on June 2, 1966. He grew up in a middle-class family in Ohio. He began drinking alcohol at around fourteen years old. As he got older, this drinking habit increased and affected his life, leading to issues in school and work.

After graduating from high school, Reynolds enlisted in the Army. He served for six years and re-enlisted for another two years. His time in the Army included serving overseas in Korea. He struggled with alcohol during his service, often getting drunk and calling home.

When Reynolds returned home from the Army, he faced difficulties in finding stable employment. He worked for a replacement window company, but his drinking led to problems with attendance and punctuality, resulting in him being fired. After that, he moved back in with his parents. While living at home, he completed an alcohol treatment program. However, he continued to struggle with his addiction.

Reynolds’s life continued to worsen as he became increasingly dependent on alcohol. He sold personal items to support his drinking. As time passed, he became known as someone who had trouble keeping a job and relied heavily on alcohol.

Murder Story

On January 11, 1994, Lawrence Raymond Reynolds Jr. entered the home of his 67-year-old neighbor, Loretta Mae Foster. He had previously painted her basement and was known to her family. That day, Reynolds used deception to get into her house. Once inside, he assaulted her with a wooden tent pole and tried to strangle her. After the attack, he rummaged through her belongings and stole $40 in cash and a blank check. He left her body on the living room floor.

Later that night, Reynolds bragged to friends about what he had done. Unsure if he was telling the truth, a couple of those friends went to check on Foster. They peered through her window and saw her lifeless body. They then contacted the police, leading to a homicide investigation.

The following morning, law enforcement showed up at Reynolds' home and arrested him. They obtained consent to search his bedroom and found evidence that tied him to the crime. This included blood-stained clothing, a piece of rope, and the blank check belonging to Foster.

After the investigation, Reynolds was charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping, and attempted rape. At trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He spent years on death row, during which he expressed regret for his actions but struggled to convey remorse.

Reynolds attempted suicide days before his execution, which led to a delay. Ultimately, he was executed by lethal injection on March 16, 2010. His last words mentioned wanting to emphasize the flaws in the justice system, rather than expressing sorrow for his victim.