Rodney Rodell Reed was born on December 22, 1967, in Texas. His father, Walter, was a veteran of the Air Force and originally from Bastrop, Texas. His mother, Sandra, worked as a nurse. Rodney grew up in a large family, having six brothers. This family environment shaped his early years in Texas.

Rodney attended Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, Texas. During his time in school, he was an active participant in sports. He played on the school's football team and had a talent for boxing. In fact, he became a state Golden Gloves champion boxer, showcasing his skills in the ring.

On April 23, 1996, Stacey Stites was found dead in Bastrop, Texas. The police were alerted at 3:11 PM when her body was discovered in bushes near a dirt road behind Bastrop High School. Earlier, Stites' fiancé reported that her truck had been parked near the school. She had been killed between 3:00 and 5:00 AM, suffering brutal acts before her death, which included being beaten, raped, and strangled with her own belt. Parts of the belt were found close to her body and near her truck.

Stites was 19 years old and worked at a grocery store. After she failed to show up for her shift, her mother contacted the police. Despite offering a $50,000 reward for information, no leads were generated. An anonymous tip later suggested that a woman’s son might have seen Stites shortly before her death, but the call couldn’t be traced.

Authorities began investigating Rodney Reed after a woman named Linda Schlueter reported an attack that happened in November 1996. DNA evidence connected Reed to Stites. It revealed that his DNA matched sperm found in Stites' body, as well as saliva on her chest. Reed had previous arrests which made law enforcement familiar with him. He was charged with Stites' murder in April 1997 while already incarcerated for unrelated charges.

During Reed's trial in May 1998, the prosecution's case relied heavily on this DNA evidence. Reed initially denied knowing Stites but later claimed they had a consensual relationship. No witnesses confirmed this relationship. After a jury deliberation of six hours, Reed was convicted and sentenced to death. His sentence was influenced by his history of similar offenses.

Reed's legal team filed multiple appeals over the years, arguing that crucial evidence was ignored, including the belt used in the murder. His execution set for January 2015 was delayed to allow the examination of new evidence, leading to widespread public attention and support from celebrities and political figures.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended a stay of execution in November 2019. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals later stayed his execution to investigate claims of innocence and prosecutorial misconduct. New evidence emerged but did not convince the courts to grant him a new trial.

In 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Reed's request for a new trial. The Supreme Court of the United States later denied a petition from Reed in 2024. Reed continues to maintain his innocence, and his case remains controversial.