[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OKLAHOMA

[Rick Halperin]

June 21




OKLAHOMA:

Case against accused serial killer at a standstill over death penalty debate in 
Oklahoma


The case against an accused serial killer is at a standstill.

William Reece is currently serving a 60 year prison sentence for kidnapping 
after he abducted 19-year-old Sandra Sapaugh. Fortunately, she was able to 
escape and call police.

Recently, Reece has been linked to several unsolved murders across Texas and 
Oklahoma.

According to KPRC, Kelli Cox disappeared on July 15, 1997 after touring the 
Denton jail with her criminology class. She phoned her boyfriend to pick her up 
from a payphone nearby, but was never heard from again.

Nearly two decades later, Reece decided to lead investigators to Cox's remains.

Investigators in Oklahoma also decided to test Reece's DNA against an unsolved 
murder that occurred around the same time in Bethany.

On July 26, 1997, 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston was abducted from the Sunshine 
Car Wash in Bethany.

The next day, her body was discovered in Canadian County.

Cox and Johnston are 2 of 5 women who were kidnapped, murdered or disappeared 
in 1997 under similar circumstances.

All 5 are believed to be linked to Reece.

However, Reece has only been charged with Johnston's murder.

Oklahoma authorities allowed Texas to hold Reece in the Lone Star State so he 
could lead police to the victims' bodies.

Reece's attorney says his client would admit to his role in the murders and 
would lead police to the bodies in exchange for not getting the death penalty.

Texas officials agreed to the terms, but Oklahoma prosecutors have not.

"He didn't give his victims a chance to have their wishes heard, or anything. 
So why should he get what he wants?" Kathy Dobry, Johnston's mother, told KPRC.

Instead, Oklahoma officials have not decided whether or not to pursue the death 
penalty in this case.

"He took my daughter's life and his life needs to be taken too," Dobry said. 
"In the Bible, it says, 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

Reece moved to Houston in 1996 after serving time in Oklahoma for rape.

(source: KFOR news)