Jury Hears Details Of OKC Woman’s 1997 Murder During Trial For Accused Serial Killer

The man accused of murdering several women decades ago appeared in court for the seventh day of his murder trial. 

Jurors have finally heard what happened the day Tiffany Johnston disappeared. Investigators said, Reece also admitted to killing three other people from Texas, adults Kelli Cox and Jessica Cain, and 12-year-old Laura Smither. 

Related: Texas Ranger Takes Stand In Murder Trial For Suspected Serial Killer 

Johnston vanished from the Sunshine Carwash in Bethany on July 26, 1997. Her body was found the next day in a field. She had just a bikini top on.   

In February of 2016, a Friendswood Detective, Doug Bacon recorded an interview with Reece after working at an excavation site where investigators were searching for Cox’s remains. 

Reece said in the interview he went to the Sunshine Carwash to get grease off his truck and horse trailer. While he washed the vehicles, Reece claims Johnston started to yell at him after he sprayed her with water accidentally.   

Reece claimed he then hit Johnston and threw her into his horse trailer.  After a struggle, Johnston grabbed a horseshoe and hit Reece in the head. Reece said after that, he strangled her in the trailer. Reece then dumped her body in a field that he said, “had tall grass.” 

The state also showed the jury an AT&T phone bill from 1997. The bill shows Reece made a call from Yukon after 6 p.m. on July 26, 1997. Reece originally told investigators he had never been to the area. 

Johnston’s family spoke to News 9 for the first time during the trial Wednesday. 

"I've had moments where you just felt yourself trembling inside, but again it's the people around me that are going to keep me strong," said Johnston's cousin, Misty Witt.