Sandra Reed, Mother of Texas Death Row Inmate Rodney Reed, Dies

Sandra Reed, the mother of Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed and a key figure in the public fight over his conviction, has died. An online fundraiser has been launched "to support the family with meals and daily needs" in the aftermath of Sandra Reed’s death.

Abraham J. Bonowitz created a GoFundMe campaign for Brittany Reed, with a goal of $8,000.

"We are asking for your love, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time as we honor the life of Sandra Reed, a true Bastrop, TX legend. Her impact on the community, her kindness, and the love she shared with everyone around her will never be forgotten," the fundraiser reads in part. "Any donation, no matter the amount, along with shares and prayers, truly means everything to us. Thank you for standing with our family, showing love, and helping us get through these days."

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Rodney Reed’s appeal in March, after his legal team sought DNA testing that they say could prove his innocence in a 1996 killing.

In 1998, Reed was sentenced to death for the 1996 killing of 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Police and prosecutors said Stites had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Reed was arrested after DNA tests confirmed his sperm was inside the victim. Reed and family members have claimed the two had been in a secret affair, and defense lawyers argued Stites' fiancé, Jimmy Fennell, was responsible for her death.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in 2023 to send the case back to a lower court to deliberate on Reed’s constitutional challenge to Texas' DNA testing law, which states testing does not apply to evidence that may be contaminated.

In 2024, the Supreme Court rejected Reed’s request to review his claim for a new trial. Reed alleged prosecutors in his 1998 trial illegally suppressed evidence that could have exonerated him. Sandra Reed said the court’s decision was "very shocking and very disappointing."

"But at the same time, we the Reed family remain optimistic, and we will continue to fight," she added.

Rodney Reed’s execution date has not been set, due to ongoing legal battles.