An American will spend the rest of his days behind bars after he cold-bloodedly murdered a couple who were renting his home in 2020.
• Also read: Teen takes photo of himself after allegedly killing his mother
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.
When he was arrested five days later, Reed told authorities that he had acted to “defend himself” against Joseph Soule and accused him of swinging a knife in his direction.
The defendant's account was quickly rejected in court.
Reed was charged with first-degree murder of Joseph Soule and second-degree murder of Jaclyn Lepird and received a life sentence without parole.
Photo from Law&Crime Network
Joseph Soule was shot at the end of the backyard while his wife was killed after trying to defend her boyfriend. The couple's house was also set on fire.
“We were very satisfied with the verdict. Nothing compares to two life sentences. We are very relieved that he can no longer harm anyone,” said Lepird’s sister in an interview with the Law&Network channel.
This is not Reed's first run-in with the American justice system, as he was accused of sex crimes and armed assault in 2003 and 2005.