By John Ogunsemore
A prison inmate in the United States, Jasper Reed, risks the death penalty after strangling his cellmate at the prison system’s Federal Transfer Centre (FTC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti, and US Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma, made the announcement on Wednesday.
According to the announcement, a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City returned a three-count indictment charging 27-year-old Reed with first degree murder, attempted murder, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to court documents, Reed entered the federal prison system on December 27, 2023, to serve a four-year sentence after a firearms conviction and was sent to the prison system’s FTC in Oklahoma City on April 19, 2024.
Prosecutors alleged that on April 27, 2024, a correctional officer found Reed strangling his cellmate.
The officer attempted to stop Reed by spraying him with oleoresin capsicum, commonly referred to as “pepper spray.”
“The pepper spray had no impact on Reed, and multiple officers had to restrain him. Reed was evaluated in a medical examination room and was cleared with no injuries.
“However, the victim was rushed to a local hospital and was diagnosed with several fractures to his nasal bone, orbital bone, maxillary sinus anterior wall, maxillary sinus lateral wall, and hyoid bone,” the statement reads in part.
It is further alleged that, on May 8, 2024, Reed murdered a different FTC cellmate.
“Correctional officers found this victim lying on the cell floor housed by only the victim and Reed.
“After an autopsy was performed, a medical examiner determined the cause of death to be homicide by manual strangulation.
“This victim suffered fractured thyroid and hyoid bones and severe hemorrhaging to the chest,” the statement further reads.
Noting that the maximum penalty for the first-degree murder charge is death, the Justice Department said Attorney General Pamela Bondi has authorised the United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma to pursue capital punishment in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.