Todd Alan Reed
Serial Killer of Homeless Women
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Portland, Oregon
TIME PERIOD
April – June 1999
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Miller, a 19-year-old who disappeared under suspicious circumstances, and the second was a 16-year-old girl whose remains were never found. Both cases involved young women with troubled backgrounds, similar to Reed's confirmed victims. Investigators are currently examining cold case files for any additional links to Reed, who has a documented history of violence against women. As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies are urged to remain vigilant for any further evidence that may connect Reed to other unsolved cases in the region.
Many believe that Todd Alan Reed may be connected to additional unsolved murders of homeless women in the Portland area, as well as two similar murders in Gresham from 1987. Some speculate that his early history as a registered sex offender and his troubled upbringing contributed to his violent behavior. There are also theories suggesting he may have had accomplices or that his crimes were part of a larger pattern of violence against vulnerable individuals in the community.
The Forest Park Killer: The Chilling Tale of Todd Alan Reed
Early Life and Background
Todd Alan Reed, a name that would later send shivers down the spine of Portland, Oregon, was born as Todd Alan Thomas on May 22, 1967. His early life seemed like a complex tapestry woven with threads of instability and crime. Raised by Ronnie Thomas and Marine Sgt. Alfred Thomas, the family began to unravel soon after his birth, with his parents divorcing by 1971. Following this, his mother remarried Robert Reed, who adopted Todd and his brother, only for another divorce to follow when Todd was just 12. By the tender age of 14, Todd had already found himself on the wrong side of the law, becoming a registered sex offender. Despite this, he was deemed not dangerous enough to remain in a residential program and was released back into society.
In 1986, Reed's life took a turn when he met Gail Bennett, whom he married two years later. The union produced two children, but it ended in 1997, with Gail divorcing Reed. He was subsequently ordered to pay child support and was granted visitation rights. During this period, Reed worked at Rinella Produce, where he was considered a reliable employee. Yet, beneath the facade of normalcy, a sinister pattern was beginning to emerge as several homeless women started disappearing around Portland.
The Murders
Confirmed Victims
Between April and June of 1999, Reed embarked on a chilling killing spree that would earn him the moniker "The Forest Park Killer." His first confirmed victim was Lilla Faye Moler, a 28-year-old homeless prostitute battling manic depression and a history of drug use and prostitution. Lilla vanished in April 1999, and her body was discovered on May 7 by a couple walking their dog. The gruesome discovery was made in Forest Park, her body hidden beneath tree branches and leaves. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, with a condom containing the perpetrator's DNA found 28 feet away from her corpse.
Next was Stephanie Lynn Russell, aged 26, an acquaintance of Moler and also a homeless prostitute. Her body was unearthed by police while investigating the area where Moler was found. Abandoned a mere quarter-mile from Lilla's resting place, Stephanie too had suffered sexual assault and strangulation. Unlike Lilla, Stephanie's death was suspected to be relatively recent, potentially within the week of discovery.
The final confirmed victim in this sinister series was Alexandria Nicole Ison, a 17-year-old runaway grappling with substance abuse and a criminal past. Her body was discovered on June 2 by a hiker on a trail in Forest Park. Alexandria had been missing since May, and like the others, was sexually assaulted and strangled, her body carelessly discarded down a steep hill just a quarter-mile away from the previous victims.
Suspected Victims
Reed's connection to murder wasn't new. He remained the sole suspect in two eerily similar cases from 1987 in Gresham. The first was Jennifer Lynn Tchir, a 15-year-old who disappeared on July 3, 1987. A year later, a biology student and Explorer Scouts unearthed her remains, leading to a positive identification by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner, with asphyxiation cited as the cause of death. Like Tchir, 12-year-old Mindi Coleen Thomas vanished from her apartment on August 3, 1987. Her remains were found in October near a trail by Mt. Hood Community College, and she too fell victim to strangulation.
The Gresham Police Department had described the suspect in these cases as a white male in his late teens to early 20s, with distinct features such as very dark, short hair, thick eyebrows, and a stud-type earring. Witnesses also noted his metallic blue 1970s Dodge Charger. Despite Reed fitting this profile, he has not been charged in these cases.
Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment
The authorities' net closed around Reed when, on July 7, a female police officer posed as a prostitute to lure the then-unknown killer. Reed, who had a previous conviction for burglary and assault, was recognized by lookouts. He was arrested on July 18 at Rinella Produce after his DNA was matched to the crime scenes. Facing overwhelming evidence, Reed pleaded guilty on February 23, 2001, to avoid the death penalty. He received three consecutive life sentences for the murders of Moler, Russell, and Ison, yet remains uncharged for the Gresham murders.
As of June 2020, Todd Alan Reed resides in New Jersey State Prison, a chilling reminder of the horrors he wrought in Forest Park, while the shadows of his suspected earlier crimes linger unresolved.
Sources
For further details, visit the Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder
Lilla Faye Moler, a homeless woman, goes missing.
Body Found
Lilla Faye Moler's body is discovered in Forest Park.
Second Murder
Stephanie Lynn Russell's body is found near Moler's.
Third Murder
Alexandria Nicole Ison's body is discovered in Forest Park.
Arrest Made
Todd Alan Reed is arrested for the murders after DNA matches.
Guilty Plea
Reed pleads guilty to the murders to avoid the death penalty.
Sentenced
Reed is sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole.
Miller, a 19-year-old who disappeared under suspicious circumstances, and the second was a 16-year-old girl whose remains were never found. Both cases involved young women with troubled backgrounds, similar to Reed's confirmed victims. Investigators are currently examining cold case files for any additional links to Reed, who has a documented history of violence against women. As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies are urged to remain vigilant for any further evidence that may connect Reed to other unsolved cases in the region.
Many believe that Todd Alan Reed may be connected to additional unsolved murders of homeless women in the Portland area, as well as two similar murders in Gresham from 1987. Some speculate that his early history as a registered sex offender and his troubled upbringing contributed to his violent behavior. There are also theories suggesting he may have had accomplices or that his crimes were part of a larger pattern of violence against vulnerable individuals in the community.
The Forest Park Killer: The Chilling Tale of Todd Alan Reed
Early Life and Background
Todd Alan Reed, a name that would later send shivers down the spine of Portland, Oregon, was born as Todd Alan Thomas on May 22, 1967. His early life seemed like a complex tapestry woven with threads of instability and crime. Raised by Ronnie Thomas and Marine Sgt. Alfred Thomas, the family began to unravel soon after his birth, with his parents divorcing by 1971. Following this, his mother remarried Robert Reed, who adopted Todd and his brother, only for another divorce to follow when Todd was just 12. By the tender age of 14, Todd had already found himself on the wrong side of the law, becoming a registered sex offender. Despite this, he was deemed not dangerous enough to remain in a residential program and was released back into society.
In 1986, Reed's life took a turn when he met Gail Bennett, whom he married two years later. The union produced two children, but it ended in 1997, with Gail divorcing Reed. He was subsequently ordered to pay child support and was granted visitation rights. During this period, Reed worked at Rinella Produce, where he was considered a reliable employee. Yet, beneath the facade of normalcy, a sinister pattern was beginning to emerge as several homeless women started disappearing around Portland.
The Murders
Confirmed Victims
Between April and June of 1999, Reed embarked on a chilling killing spree that would earn him the moniker "The Forest Park Killer." His first confirmed victim was Lilla Faye Moler, a 28-year-old homeless prostitute battling manic depression and a history of drug use and prostitution. Lilla vanished in April 1999, and her body was discovered on May 7 by a couple walking their dog. The gruesome discovery was made in Forest Park, her body hidden beneath tree branches and leaves. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, with a condom containing the perpetrator's DNA found 28 feet away from her corpse.
Next was Stephanie Lynn Russell, aged 26, an acquaintance of Moler and also a homeless prostitute. Her body was unearthed by police while investigating the area where Moler was found. Abandoned a mere quarter-mile from Lilla's resting place, Stephanie too had suffered sexual assault and strangulation. Unlike Lilla, Stephanie's death was suspected to be relatively recent, potentially within the week of discovery.
The final confirmed victim in this sinister series was Alexandria Nicole Ison, a 17-year-old runaway grappling with substance abuse and a criminal past. Her body was discovered on June 2 by a hiker on a trail in Forest Park. Alexandria had been missing since May, and like the others, was sexually assaulted and strangled, her body carelessly discarded down a steep hill just a quarter-mile away from the previous victims.
Suspected Victims
Reed's connection to murder wasn't new. He remained the sole suspect in two eerily similar cases from 1987 in Gresham. The first was Jennifer Lynn Tchir, a 15-year-old who disappeared on July 3, 1987. A year later, a biology student and Explorer Scouts unearthed her remains, leading to a positive identification by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner, with asphyxiation cited as the cause of death. Like Tchir, 12-year-old Mindi Coleen Thomas vanished from her apartment on August 3, 1987. Her remains were found in October near a trail by Mt. Hood Community College, and she too fell victim to strangulation.
The Gresham Police Department had described the suspect in these cases as a white male in his late teens to early 20s, with distinct features such as very dark, short hair, thick eyebrows, and a stud-type earring. Witnesses also noted his metallic blue 1970s Dodge Charger. Despite Reed fitting this profile, he has not been charged in these cases.
Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment
The authorities' net closed around Reed when, on July 7, a female police officer posed as a prostitute to lure the then-unknown killer. Reed, who had a previous conviction for burglary and assault, was recognized by lookouts. He was arrested on July 18 at Rinella Produce after his DNA was matched to the crime scenes. Facing overwhelming evidence, Reed pleaded guilty on February 23, 2001, to avoid the death penalty. He received three consecutive life sentences for the murders of Moler, Russell, and Ison, yet remains uncharged for the Gresham murders.
As of June 2020, Todd Alan Reed resides in New Jersey State Prison, a chilling reminder of the horrors he wrought in Forest Park, while the shadows of his suspected earlier crimes linger unresolved.
Sources
For further details, visit the Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder
Lilla Faye Moler, a homeless woman, goes missing.
Body Found
Lilla Faye Moler's body is discovered in Forest Park.
Second Murder
Stephanie Lynn Russell's body is found near Moler's.
Third Murder
Alexandria Nicole Ison's body is discovered in Forest Park.
Arrest Made
Todd Alan Reed is arrested for the murders after DNA matches.
Guilty Plea
Reed pleads guilty to the murders to avoid the death penalty.
Sentenced
Reed is sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole.