Rodney Reed’s mother insists ‘the truth will set him free’ after death row inmate’s execution stayed

The mother of death-row inmate Rodney Reed says she’s a ‘happy mom’ after her son’s execution was suspended indefinitely so the courts can examine new evidence in the murder of a 19-year-old Texas woman more than two decades ago.

‘I’m so happy. I’m one happy, happy mother’, says Sandra Reed after an appellate court handed down its decision on the indefinite suspension Friday. 

Her celebrity-loved son gained support for the delay from Kim Kardashian and Dr. Phil, who insists the 51-year-old Reed is innocent. 

Sandra Reed, the mother of death-row inmate Rodney Reed, says she’s a ‘happy mom’ after her son’s execution was suspended indefinitely so the courts can examine new evidence in the murder of a 19-year-old Texas woman more than two decades ago

Sandra Reed's celebrity-loved son gained support for the delay from Kim Kardashian and Dr. Phil, who insists the 51-year-old Reed is innocent

Sandra Reed’s celebrity-loved son gained support for the delay from Kim Kardashian and Dr. Phil, who insists the 51-year-old Reed is innocent

In light of new evidence to be presented in the lower courts, the mother of Rodney Reed (pictured) says 'the truth will and shall set him free'

In light of new evidence to be presented in the lower courts, the mother of Rodney Reed (pictured) says ‘the truth will and shall set him free’

The mother agreed, saying ‘the truth will and shall set him free’, reports KEYE.

The appellate panel stepped in after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles also unanimously recommended a 120-day stay of the November 20 execution. 

The new evidence to be considered in a retrial, includes testimony from eyewitnesses who have implicated another man in the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites.

Reed and others say the real killer is the victim’s former police officer fiance Jimmy Lewis, clashing with prosecutors who convicted Reed two years after the murder on DNA evidence. 

Reed, who has been accused of multiple other sexual assaults, but was never convicted, has argued that his DNA was found on Stites because they were having an intimate relationship before she was killed.

The inmate, who is black, claims he was wrongfully convicted in the murder of Stites, who was white, and insists Fennell, who served a 10-year sentence for raping a woman while on duty, is responsible.

‘I’m innocent of this case, absolutely innocent,’ he said in a jailhouse interview with NBC, saying he’s living ‘one day at a time’ and ‘as well as to be expected,’ with time running out on his impending execution. 

The new evidence to be considered in a retrial, includes testimony from eyewitnesses who have implicated another man in the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites (pictured)

The new evidence to be considered in a retrial, includes testimony from eyewitnesses who have implicated another man in the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites (pictured)

Reed and others say the real killer is the victim's former police officer fiance Jimmy Lewis (pictured), clashing with prosecutors who convicted Reed two years after the murder on DNA evidence

Reed and others say the real killer is the victim’s former police officer fiance Jimmy Lewis (pictured), clashing with prosecutors who convicted Reed two years after the murder on DNA evidence

Lewis’ lawyer Robert Phillips has maintained his client’s innocence in relation to Stites’ murder and dismissed the appellate court’s decision, given the other allegations against Reed.

‘It’s a travesty really because the Court of Criminal Appeals is completely ignoring the seven women who are victims of this monster and who’ve had their lives ruined in his sociopathic [sic] criminal career,’ says Phillips, reports KEYE.

‘Two of them were raped and abducted on the very same road that Stacey Stites was killed’.

Despite the previous accusations made against Reed, the inmate’s claims of innocence won the attention and support of several celebrities, including Kardashian, Dr. Phil, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Meek Mill, Questlove and other well-known personalities. 

Several big names took to social media to plead for Reed’s life, and encouraged supporters to sign a petition demanding his execution be stopped. The online petition signed by more than 1 million people had urged Texas Governor Greg Abbot to save Reed from death. 

Kardashian also went to speak with Reed on death row and leveraged her legal resources to help him. 

Despite the previous accusations made against Reed, the inmate's claims of innocence won the attention and support of several celebrities, including Kim Kardashian (pictured), Dr. Phil, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Meek Mill, Questlove and other well-known personalities

Despite the previous accusations made against Reed, the inmate’s claims of innocence won the attention and support of several celebrities, including Kim Kardashian (pictured), Dr. Phil, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Meek Mill, Questlove and other well-known personalities

The reality TV show star even claimed she was with Reed when he was granted the 120-day stay of his execution. 

‘It was emotional; it was extremely emotional,’ Kim, 39, said in a teaser clip from an interview with the Today Show. ‘And he said, ‘Praise Jesus”. 

Kardashian spoke in a segment slated to air Monday on Today, and says she felt ‘honored’ to meet with the inmate.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was thrilled to come face-to-face with the man she has been campaigning to get released from prison.  

She had already helped more than a dozen other inmates win their freedom. Kardashian, who is now aspiring to become a lawyer, drew significant attention last year for visiting with President Donald Trump at the White House and successfully advocating to secure a pardon for Alice Marie Johnson.

Johnson, a great-grandmother, had served more than 20 years in prison for a nonviolent drug offense before being released in June 2018. 

Kardashian Tweeted Friday about her latest success. 

‘Today, I had the honor of meeting #RodneyReed in person and the privilege of sitting with him when he got the news that the highest court in Texas had issued a stay of execution and remanded the case back to the trial court for further consideration,’ she wrote.

Kardashian added that ‘words cannot describe the relief and hope that swept over the room in that moment’ as ‘hope had been building over the last few weeks around Rodney’s case. 

‘We have seen Democrats and Republicans come together. We have seen grassroots activists and lawmakers link arms,’ she continued.

‘We have heard people all around the globe speak up. And all because of a deep belief that every man or woman accused of a crime – especially one punishable by death – deserves the chance to have all available evidence considered’.

Amid the decision to grand Reed a stay of execution, Kardashian tweeted she was ‘so grateful for the commitment and passion of everyone who voiced their support, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for their recommendation to issue a 120 day reprieve, and the courts for issuing a stay’!

Dr Phil, also has followed Reed's case for some time and even secured a prison interview with the inmate (pictured). Dr. Phil has insisted that Reed is innocent

Dr Phil, also has followed Reed’s case for some time and even secured a prison interview with the inmate (pictured). Dr. Phil has insisted that Reed is innocent

Dr Phil, who also has followed Reed’s case for some time and even secured a prison interview with the inmate, has insisted that he is innocent.

When the appellate court ruling came down, Dr. Phil also posted the news on social media.

‘Breaking News: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has now stopped Rodney Reed’s execution indefinitely. The case is being sent back to the trial court. There will now be a chance to present all of the evidence to a fair judge. Rodney Reed can finally prove his innocence. Thank you all for your support!’ 

When Reed (pictured) had his execution suspended indefinitely, Dr. Phil tweeted 'there will now be a chance to present all of the evidence to a fair judge. Rodney Reed can finally prove his innocence. Thank you all for your support!'

When Reed (pictured) had his execution suspended indefinitely, Dr. Phil tweeted ‘there will now be a chance to present all of the evidence to a fair judge. Rodney Reed can finally prove his innocence. Thank you all for your support!’

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