Todd Alan Reed

Overview

Todd Alan Reed was convicted of murders after three homeless women were found dead in wooded Forest Park in Portland, Oregon, within less than one month.

Victims

• Lilla Moler, 28, was found on May 7, 1999.
• Stephanie Russell, 26, was found the next day, with her body located only 80 yeards from where Moler was found.
• Tomorrow Ison, 17, was found on June 2.

All three women were prostitutes and drug addicts. The women were found nude and strangled, and investigators described the bodies as bearing a striking resemblance to one another.

Investigation

Police formed a task force after the discoveries. The Forest Park Task Force sent out an undercover officer who fit the killer’s physical preferences. On July 7, the task force began to focus on Todd Alan Reed, a convicted sex offender who had been in prison for three years following a 1992 sexual assault during which he attempted to strangle a prostitute.

After Reed approached the undercover officer, police began surveillance and obtained a DNA sample saved from the 1992 assault. Police said the sample matched DNA samples found at the Moler and Russell dumpsites. Reed was quickly arrested and charged with both murders and the slaying of Ison as well. Police also indicated that the investigation would continue in case there were more victims or evidence in Forest Park, which was described as heavily used by joggers, bicyclists and hikers.

Arrest and charging

On July 19, 1999, police announced the arrest in Oregon serial killings.

Todd Alan Reed, 32, was arrested at Rinella Produce late Sunday and charged with aggravated murder.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Cheryl Kanzler said:

"There's a certain fear and undercurrent when something like this is going on,'' said police spokeswoman Sgt. Cheryl Kanzler. "Now, the community and the police bureau can breathe a sigh of relief.''

Reed was accused of killing Lilla Moler, 28; Stephanie Russell, 26; and Alexandria Ison, 17.

Fred Pittman, manager of Rinella Produce, said:

"It's a shocker to us, of course,'' Pittman said.

Police said officers searched Reed’s house and car.

Trial and plea

Reed pleaded guilty to all three slayings in February 2001.

Sentencing

Reed was sentenced to life in prison with no parole in February 2001.

Other suspected killings

Reed was described as being a suspect in several other slayings, including the Gresham killings of Mindi Thomas, 12, and Jennifer Tchir, 15, in 1987. Both girls were last seen with Reed’s ex-wife and were discovered strangled and dumped in wooded areas. DNA tests were rumored to link Reed to the two killings.

Other details

Police said the three victims lived on the street. They described the victims as drug users, and said two were involved in prostitution. Kanzler said:

"It was a certain lifestyle this man was targeting,'' Kanzler said.