Celebrities have taken to social media to leverage their influence on Rodney Reed’s sentence. Rodney Reed is a Texas man convicted of the rape and murder of Stacey Stites, set to be executed on November 20, despite growing evidence of his innocence. Reed has been imprisoned since 1998, maintaining his innocence ever since.
According to Statesman, Reed was convicted based on DNA found on Stacy Stites’s body. However, Reed himself and witnesses attest to the fact that Reed and Stites were having an affair, explaining the DNA sample.
New DNA evidence, testimonies, and expert claims have shed more light onto this case, demonstrating Reed’s innocence. Kim Kardashian West, whose efforts have helped free Cytoia Brown and Alice Maria Johnson, pleaded in a tweet, “PLEASE @GovAbbott How can you execute a man when since his trial, substantial evidence that would exonerate Rodney Reed has come forward and even implicates the other person of interest. I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.”
The Innocence Project, a non-profit organization committed to justice reform and exonerating the innocent, posted “10 Facts to Know About Rodney Reed, Who Is Scheduled to be Executed November 20”, which explain key components of evidence in the case that could exonerate Rodney Reed.
New evidence points to Jimmy Fennell, the fiancee of the murder victim. As listed by the Innocence Project, Jimmy Fennell’s prison mate claimed he confessed to killing Stites in a sworn affidavit on October 29.
With only weeks left until Rodney Reed’s execution date, and clear evidence coming to light, several more celebrities have spoken up in opposition to the ruling. Rihanna tweeted, “One Click!!! SIGN this petition if you don’t believe the Government should kill an innocent man!!! @GovAbbott https://www.Freerodneyreed.com” Meek Mill tweeted to the same petition, “16 days left and he will be executed for a crime he didn’t commit .. get more info here! #freerodneyreed http://freerodneyreed.com”
On November 5, 26 Texas lawmakers wrote a letter to Governor Abbott and the Texas Board of Paroles and Pardons found here. The letter asks Governor Abbott to grant Reed a reprieve. The Texas lawmakers argued that, “Granting Mr. Reed a reprieve until the new developments in his case are fully resolved will allow the cloud of doubt surrounding his guilt to be lifted. Only then should our justice system proceed, one way or the other, with decisions that cannot be undone”
Over one million people have signed the Innocence Project petition to free Rodney Reed. Click here for the petition.