Former Michigan landlord sentenced to life without parole for double murder of tenants
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A Calhoun County landlord who admitted to killing his tenants was given a life sentence Friday morning without the opportunity of parole.
Chad Reed was convicted of killing Joseph Soule, 34, and Jaclyn Lepird, 31, on Oct. 15, 2020, eight days after the couple was originally reported missing.
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He was sentenced on the following charges: first-degree murder, second-degree murder charge, and four firearm-related charges, according to court records.
During an argument on Oct. 7, 2020, Soule allegedly pulled a knife on Reed.
In self-defense, Reed shot and killed the 34-year-old, according to Calhoun County Detective Sgt. Joel Case.
"He said they were on the porch and Joey had...he didn't say what brought any of this up," Lynn Marie Pemberton, Reed's aunt, said during questioning Oct. 3. "He just said they were on the porch, Joey had a knife pointed at him and he pulled a gun and shot him."
When Lepird tried to run away, Reed ran after her. He allegedly "pounded" Lepird's face, tried to slit her throat and eventually found something to wrap around the 31-year-old's neck, strangling her in her backyard.
"He said Jackie came through the door and all he could think of was leave no witnesses," Pemberton said. "She ran off the porch and she ran toward the backyard and he grabbed the knife off of Joey and he went and followed her to the backyard and he shot her again...then he said she wasn't gone so he hit her in the head with something."
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Lepird and Soule's bodies were later found wrapped in plastic and stored in Reed's truck at the couple's home on 203 Post Ave., according to Case.
"Just on behalf of my family we are very pleased with the sentencing and we are very happy that this part is behind us. We'll never have to see him again... we'll never have to hear about him," Trinity McAlliste, Lepird's sister, said.
They were reportedly at the property for several days, and the truck had been moved to a nearby abandoned garage when family members came looking for the couple, Case said.
Reed later turned himself in.
"I feel like a lot of people that didn't really know here that well knew her other spicy side, but Jackie's a very loving and caring person, amazing sister friend, cousin, daughter. I mean she's awesome and I'm thankful that she is and always will be my sister,"McAllister said.
Before the murders, Reed had been found guilty of felony assault with a dangerous weapon in 2005, according to a criminal history report obtained by News Channel 3.
Two years prior to that, Reed had pled no-contest to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct after originally being charged with felony sexual conduct with individuals under 13.
