Prosecutors Rest Their Case Against Man Accused Of Being A Serial Killer

The state rested their case against a suspected serial killer. The state called about 20 witnesses over eight days in order to present their case against William Reece.

The final testimony came from Texas Ranger Jim Holland. Holland talked about a taped, March 2016 interview with the defendant. 

In that interview, Reece admitted to taking the clothes off of all four alleged victims, intentionally killing Kelli Cox, and raping Tiffany Johnston.

Previously, Reece told another investigator, Det. Doug Bacon with Friendswood Police, in several recorded interviews he left the four victims clothed. 

Reece also said Kelli Cox died accidentally when he pushed her down. Reece claimed she broke her neck on his door when she fell. 

In the Holland interview, Reece said he took the victims' clothes and threw them away and he strangled Cox.  

The last victim discussed in that interview was Tiffany Johnston. Reece said they got in an argument at a carwash in Bethany. In the recording, Reece said he threw Johnston in the back of his horse trailer, took off her overalls and tried to rape her. 

Reece said in the previous interview with Bacon, Johnston tried to initiate relations with him. 

Johnston then hit Reece in the back of the head with a horseshoe she found in the trailer, according to the tape. Reece said he then began to strangle Johnston. In the interview, Reece said he grabbed a rope and "pulled it real tight."  

"By the time you leave, it's just numb because you've emotionally gone through so much during the day, and you have to go home and [be with] family (and) be normal," said Misty Witt, Johnston's cousin, after Wednesday's trial.  

Holland testified he purposely didn't tell Reece what Johnston wore that day. He stated that only the person responsible for her death would have known she wore overalls. Reece said he threw those shorts in a ditch at a different location.

Holland testified Reece's description of the carwash, and the route between the carwash and the place searchers found Johnston's body also corroborated with information only investigators and the killer would know.  

Reece's defense team will not call any witnesses. Closing arguments are expected to begin Friday morning.