Todd Alan Reed (born 1967), known as The Forest Park Killer, is an American serial killer and sex offender who raped and strangled three homeless women in Portland, Oregon between April and June 1999, later dumping their bodies in the Forest Park reserve. He was convicted of these deaths and received three terms of life imprisonment, and remains the sole suspect in two similar murders that occurred in nearby Gresham, in 1987.[1]
Reed was born Todd Alan Thomas on May 22, 1967, in Portland, Oregon, to Ronnie Thomas and Marine Sgt. Alfred Thomas, who had married nine days prior.[2] They had another son prior to their divorce in 1971. His mother Ronnie Thomas would subsequently remarry Robert Reed, who adopted Reed and his brother, and the two later divorced when Reed was 12.[2]
By the age of 14, Reed was a registered sex offender and was put in a residential program for his crimes, but, as he wasn't considered dangerous, he was released. In the following years, Reed met Gail Bennett in 1986, whom he would later marry in 1988.[2] Reed and Bennet had two children, and, after Bennet divorced Reed in 1997,[1] Reed was ordered to pay child support and granted visitation.[2]
Reed worked at Rinella Produce, where he was described as a diligent worker who never made any trouble. During this time, several homeless women from around the city began disappearing.
Murders
Confirmed
Lilla Faye Moler (28) - a homeless prostitute suffering from manic depression, Moler had previous convictions for drug use and prostitution. She went missing in April 1999, and her body was later found by a couple walking their dog on May 7, covered with tree branches and leaves.[3] She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death.[4] A condom containing the killer's DNA was found 28 feet away from her body.
Stephanie Lynn Russell (26) - a fellow homeless prostitute and acquaintance of Moler, Russell's body was found by police while they were searching the area where the previous victim was located. Her body was discarded only a quarter-mile away from Lilla, and had also been sexually assaulted and strangled. Unlike Moler, authorities suspected that Russell had died much more recently, likely within a week of being found.[4]
Alexandria Nicole Ison (17) - a transient runaway with substance abuse issues and contact with the justice system was found by a hiker on a trail running along Forest Park on June 2. The area hadn't been searched by authorities the previous month. Her body had been dumped down a steep hill, about a quarter-mile away from the other victims, and she had also been sexually assaulted and strangled like them. Ison had been missing since May.[5]
Suspected
Jennifer Lynn Tchir (15) - Tchir went missing on July 3, 1987, in Gresham, and was last seen with Reed's girlfriend, Gail Bennett. Initially, a biology student from Mt. Hood Community College discovered a human shin and heel bone on July 18, 1988, and over the week, Explorer Scouts discovered enough bones from the brushy fields in the southeastern part of the city to make a nearly complete skeleton. It was later positively identified as Tchir by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's office, with the cause of death being labeled as asphyxiation.[6]
Mindi Coleen Thomas (12) - Thomas disappeared from her apartment complex in Gresham on August 3, 1987. Like Tchir, she was last seen in the company of Gail Bennett. That same October, her remains were found near a hiking trail close to the Mt. Hood Community College. She too had been strangled to death.[6]
According to the Gresham Police Department, the suspect in both of these cases was described as a white male in his late teens to early 20s, with very dark, short hair, thick eyebrows and little beard hairs along the chin line. He wore military-type glasses with metal frames and a stud-type earring in his left ear, and apparently drove a car described as a metallic blue-colored 1970s model Dodge Charger. Capt. Gerald Johnson noted in a written statement that the man was likely acquainted with the girls or their circle of friends, as he was seen calling out to Tchir by name at a convenience store on the day of her disappearance.[7]
Arrest, trial and imprisonment
On July 7, a female police officer who matched the then-unknown killer's physical preferences posed as a prostitute in an attempt to lure him out. Reed was observed stalking the officer, and one of the lookouts recognized him from an earlier conviction for burglary and assault, from which he spent 2.5 years behind bars. On July 18, Reed was arrested at his job in Rinella Produce for the murders of Moler, Russell and Ison, after his DNA was matched to the crime scenes.[8]
On February 23, 2001, he pled guilty to the murders in order to avoid the death penalty, and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. Reed was questioned about the two 1987 Gresham murders, as he met every criteria for the suspect's description, but to this day, he has yet to be charged with either of them.[8] As of June 2020, it is unclear in which prison Todd Alan Reed is housed in, or even if he's still alive.
todd, alan, reed, born, 1967, known, forest, park, killer, american, serial, killer, offender, raped, strangled, three, homeless, women, portland, oregon, between, april, june, 1999, later, dumping, their, bodies, forest, park, reserve, convicted, these, death. Todd Alan Reed born 1967 known as The Forest Park Killer is an American serial killer and sex offender who raped and strangled three homeless women in Portland Oregon between April and June 1999 later dumping their bodies in the Forest Park reserve He was convicted of these deaths and received three terms of life imprisonment and remains the sole suspect in two similar murders that occurred in nearby Gresham in 1987 1 Todd Alan ReedBornTodd Alan Thomas 1967 05 22 May 22 1967 age 55 Portland Oregon U S Other names The Forest Park Killer EmployerRinella ProduceSpouseGail Bennet 1988 1997 Children2Parent s Ronnie Thomas Marine Sgt Alfred Thomas Robert ReedConviction s Murder x3Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment x3DetailsVictims3 5Span of crimesApril June 1999 possibly 1987 CountryUnited StatesState s OregonDate apprehendedJuly 18 1999 Contents 1 Early life 2 Murders 2 1 Confirmed 2 2 Suspected 3 Arrest trial and imprisonment 4 See also 5 Bibliography 6 ReferencesEarly life EditReed was born Todd Alan Thomas on May 22 1967 in Portland Oregon to Ronnie Thomas and Marine Sgt Alfred Thomas who had married nine days prior 2 They had another son prior to their divorce in 1971 His mother Ronnie Thomas would subsequently remarry Robert Reed who adopted Reed and his brother and the two later divorced when Reed was 12 2 By the age of 14 Reed was a registered sex offender and was put in a residential program for his crimes but as he wasn t considered dangerous he was released In the following years Reed met Gail Bennett in 1986 whom he would later marry in 1988 2 Reed and Bennet had two children and after Bennet divorced Reed in 1997 1 Reed was ordered to pay child support and granted visitation 2 Reed worked at Rinella Produce where he was described as a diligent worker who never made any trouble During this time several homeless women from around the city began disappearing Murders EditConfirmed Edit Lilla Faye Moler 28 a homeless prostitute suffering from manic depression Moler had previous convictions for drug use and prostitution She went missing in April 1999 and her body was later found by a couple walking their dog on May 7 covered with tree branches and leaves 3 She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death 4 A condom containing the killer s DNA was found 28 feet away from her body Stephanie Lynn Russell 26 a fellow homeless prostitute and acquaintance of Moler Russell s body was found by police while they were searching the area where the previous victim was located Her body was discarded only a quarter mile away from Lilla and had also been sexually assaulted and strangled Unlike Moler authorities suspected that Russell had died much more recently likely within a week of being found 4 Alexandria Nicole Ison 17 a transient runaway with substance abuse issues and contact with the justice system was found by a hiker on a trail running along Forest Park on June 2 The area hadn t been searched by authorities the previous month Her body had been dumped down a steep hill about a quarter mile away from the other victims and she had also been sexually assaulted and strangled like them Ison had been missing since May 5 Suspected Edit Jennifer Lynn Tchir 15 Tchir went missing on July 3 1987 in Gresham and was last seen with Reed s girlfriend Gail Bennett Initially a biology student from Mt Hood Community College discovered a human shin and heel bone on July 18 1988 and over the week Explorer Scouts discovered enough bones from the brushy fields in the southeastern part of the city to make a nearly complete skeleton It was later positively identified as Tchir by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner s office with the cause of death being labeled as asphyxiation 6 Mindi Coleen Thomas 12 Thomas disappeared from her apartment complex in Gresham on August 3 1987 Like Tchir she was last seen in the company of Gail Bennett That same October her remains were found near a hiking trail close to the Mt Hood Community College She too had been strangled to death 6 According to the Gresham Police Department the suspect in both of these cases was described as a white male in his late teens to early 20s with very dark short hair thick eyebrows and little beard hairs along the chin line He wore military type glasses with metal frames and a stud type earring in his left ear and apparently drove a car described as a metallic blue colored 1970s model Dodge Charger Capt Gerald Johnson noted in a written statement that the man was likely acquainted with the girls or their circle of friends as he was seen calling out to Tchir by name at a convenience store on the day of her disappearance 7 Arrest trial and imprisonment EditOn July 7 a female police officer who matched the then unknown killer s physical preferences posed as a prostitute in an attempt to lure him out Reed was observed stalking the officer and one of the lookouts recognized him from an earlier conviction for burglary and assault from which he spent 2 5 years behind bars On July 18 Reed was arrested at his job in Rinella Produce for the murders of Moler Russell and Ison after his DNA was matched to the crime scenes 8 On February 23 2001 he pled guilty to the murders in order to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms Reed was questioned about the two 1987 Gresham murders as he met every criteria for the suspect s description but to this day he has yet to be charged with either of them 8 As of June 2020 it is unclear in which prison Todd Alan Reed is housed in or even if he s still alive See also EditList of serial killers in the United StatesBibliography EditW Jerry Chisum and Brent E Turvey 2011 Crime Reconstruction Second Edition Academic Press ISBN 978 0123864604 John O Savino and Brent E Turvey August 23 2011 Rape Investigation Handbook Academic Press ISBN 978 0123860309 References Edit a b Police think man killed others Statesman Journal August 8 1999 a b c d Portraits differ on suspect in killings The Seattle Times archive seattletimes com Retrieved 2022 10 11 Bodies found Albany Democrat Herald May 10 1999 a b Park deaths may be related Statesman Journal June 4 1999 Police looking for serial killer Albany Democrat Herald June 5 1999 a b Father believes two girls deaths related Albany Democrat Herald July 26 1988 Suspect described The Daily News March 22 1989 a b Serial killer suspect linked to other deaths Corvallis Gazette Times August 8 1999 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Todd Alan Reed amp oldid 1115447324, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
