GRAND BLANC TWP, MI — The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a man who murdered his girlfriend in 2018 in Grand Blanc Township.
David Allen Reed, 53, was sentenced in August 2021 to 50-100 years for second degree murder, 15-30 years for preparing to commit arson and 4-15 years for torturing an animal.
Reed strangled Ranee Marie McKelvey to death on Feb. 11, 2018 at her home in the 2300 block of Southampton Avenue, between Fern and Frank avenues, off Saginaw Street.
He then attempted to burn her house down with her body and her dog in it.
Reed was found guilty of second-degree murder, preparing to commit arson to a dwelling and third-degree animal cruelty by a Genesee County Circuit Court jury in July 2021.
McKelvey’s body was found when her niece and a neighbor did a welfare check when she didn’t show up at work.
They entered the home to find McKelvey face down on her bed with an overwhelming smell of natural gas and candles burning in the home.
Reed told police he was practicing self-defense techniques on McKelvey and that the gas leak in the home must have occurred when they moved the gas stove in order to get better access to the refrigerator in order to defrost it.
Reed was on parole for assault with intent to do great bodily harm when he met McKelvey on the Plenty of Fish online dating site and had moved into her home a few months before the murder took place.
Evidence of Reed’s prior conviction for strangulation against another woman was also entered into evidence during his trial. He had also served prison time for aggravated stalking, according to prior MLive reporting.
“It was a grievous crime and I’m pleased Reed will remain incarcerated for a very long time for his actions,” said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton after the Appeals Court’s decision was issued.
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