An American will spend the rest of his days behind bars after coldly murdering a couple who were renting their home in 2020.
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Chad Allan Reed, 56, received his sentence more than three years after the bodies of Joseph Soule and Jaclyn Lepird were found wrapped in plastic.
The remains were transported in his truck to a garage near the crime scene in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Reed, at the time of his arrest five days later, told authorities that he had acted to “defend” himself against Joseph Soule, accusing the latter of brandishing a knife in his direction.
The accused’s version of events was quickly dismissed during the legal proceedings.
Charged with the 1st degree murder of Joseph Soule and the 2nd degree murder of Jaclyn Lepird, Reed received a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Photo from Law&Crime Network
Joseph Soule was shot dead at the end of the backyard, while his wife was killed after trying to defend her boyfriend. The couple’s home was also set on fire.
“We were very satisfied with the judgment. Nothing can equal two life sentences. We are very relieved that he will no longer be able to harm anyone,” Lepird’s sister shared in an interview with the Law&Network channel.
Reed is not his first run-in with the American justice system, having been accused of sexual crimes and armed assault in 2003 and 2005.