Man charged with with murder-domestic violence after Kentucky cops find body in vehicle
The Florida man who led Kentucky police on a multi-county chase with a dead female in a plastic tote in the back of his car has been charged with murder-domestic violence, according to Kentucky State Police.
David Reed, 54, from St. Petersburg, Fla., also faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, wanton endangerment, criminal mischief, fleeing or evading police, careless driving, resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle with no license, according to state police. Reed was being held at the Laurel County Correctional Center.
According to state police, the victim is 53-year-old Rachel Carder from Huntington, W. Va. The cause, manner and location of Carder’s death are still under investigation, but foul play is suspected.
The incident began shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday when state police troopers attempted to pull Reed over after he was observed driving carelessly in Madison County near mile-marker 83, according to Trooper Scottie Pennington. Court documents say Reed was weaving in the road and not visible to troopers because the seat was reclined back
Reed did pull over but took off in the southbound lanes of I-75 when troopers approached his vehicle, according to Pennington.
The chase went through multiple counties and Reed hit four state police cruisers, according to court documents. Pennington said no troopers were hurt during the chase.
Reed reached speeds of 120 miles per hour during the chase, according to court documents.
After several unsuccessful attempts to stop Reed with spike strips, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department deflated the front two tires of Reed’s vehicle with spike strips at mile-marker 49, according to court documents. The vehicle rolled on its rims for a couple more miles until it came to a stop near mile-marker 45.
Reed was detained after being removed from his vehicle and not complying with officer demands, according to court documents. After the chase, investigators located a dead body inside a plastic tote in the back hatch of the vehicle, according to court documents.
According to court documents, Carder had trauma to her facial area as well as wounds that appear to have come from an edged object, court documents said. Reed also had red stains on his pants, believed to be blood.
While speaking with investigators, Reed admitted to getting into a physical altercation and choking Carder at a motel room near the interstate, according to court documents.
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 7:06 AM.
