Lexington man pleads guilty to murder, sodomy of toddler. Second victim brings more charges
A man charged with killing a 3-year-old in Lexington has pleaded guilty to murder and sodomy.
Andrew Charles Buster, 37, was arrested for murder and sodomy in connection to a December 2018 incident that left Lillyann Grace Reck dead. He pleaded guilty Monday afternoon. Buster faces the possibility of 40 years in prison if Fayette Circuit Judge Lucy VanMeter decides to accept his sentencing conditions from the guilty plea.
Buster was formally charged and arrested in January 2020, according to court records. He’s been held at the Fayette County Detention Center ever since. Buster could have faced the death penalty if convicted, but VanMeter ruled previously that he had developmental and intellectual disabilities and was not eligible for capital punishment. Her ruling came before Buster pleaded guilty.
Buster also faced four separate sodomy charges of a victim under 12, according to court documents. The charges involved a different victim. Buster agreed to plead guilty to amended charges Monday — two charges were reduced to criminal abuse and two were dismissed.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kathryn Webster said the cases were pleaded on the same day to spare the surviving victim — who now lives out of state — from having to participate in criminal proceedings.
According to court testimony, this victim was 3 years old when she told her parents that Buster had tried to get her to perform oral sex. At the time, police felt there was not enough evidence to file charges. Several other sexual offenses allegedly occurred against the victim after that.
Charges were pursued 10 years later after the victim spoke with the Child Advocacy Center and gave more details about the assaults.
Victim’s father: ‘Nothing good about it.’
Lillyann’s father, Joshua Reck, was present for Monday’s hearing with his wife Shannon. He said the potential sentence was not good enough.
“There’s nothing good about it. This don’t bring back a 3-year-old,” he said. “You lose everything — graduation — you lose everything.”
Reck said he was stressed, emotional and still angry about the death of his young daughter. Shannon Reck said the first time she met Lillyann was on her death bed.
“There’s nothing you can do to resolve this,” Reck said. “I don’t think I should say what justice should be but release him to the family (of the victims).”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Todd Willard said he was glad the case was resolved because it can give closure to the families.
“It is never going to be over for them,” Willard said. “Lillyann will never come back but hopefully this will get them started on a path to healing now that there is a definitive end.”
Willard said the surviving victim was doing well.
“She is very strong and we are proud of her for coming forward again,” he said.
Buster is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 14. Defense attorney Josh Miller declined to comment until sentencing.
