Man Charged In Oklahoma Slaying Indicted In 2 Texas Slayings

<p>A man already charged with abducting and killing a 19-year-old woman in Bethany, Oklahoma has been indicted in the 1997 Texas slayings of a girl and a teenage woman.&nbsp;</p>

Friday, September 2nd 2016, 4:31 pm

By: News 9


A man already charged with abducting and killing a 19-year-old woman in Bethany, Oklahoma has been indicted in the 1997 Texas slayings of a girl and a teenage woman.

The Galveston County grand jury indicted William Lewis Reece on murder counts in the deaths of 12-year-old Laura Smither of Friendswood and 17-year-old Jessica Cain of Tiki Island.

Reece was already serving a 60-year prison sentence in Texas for kidnapping earlier this year when he led police to graves where remains were found of Cain and Kelli Cox, a 20-year-old University of North Texas student who was last seen in Denton in 1997.

“We’re just so grateful for the answers that were given to two families who have been living in a state of limbo and loss all of these years,” said Gay Smither, mother of the 12-year-old victim.

Reece is charged in Oklahoma with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the 1997 death of 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston. He’s currently in the Oklahoma County Jail without bond. His next court appearance is set for October.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

September 2nd, 2016

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 27th, 2024

March 27th, 2024