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Jack Reeves
Born
Jack Wayne Reeves

(1940-06-20) June 20, 1940 (age 84)
Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
Conviction(s)Murder (2 counts)
Manslaughter
Criminal penalty99 years imprisonment
Details
Victims3-4
Span of crimes
1967–1994
CountryItaly and the United States
State(s)Texas
Imprisoned atWallace Pack Unit

Jack Wayne Reeves (born June 20, 1940)[1] is currently serving a ninety-nine year prison sentence for murdering his second and fourth wives.

Early life

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Reeves was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on June 20, 1940.[1] He retired from the Army in 1985 as a master sergeant.[2]

First wife

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Reeves' first marriage was at 18 to a 15-year-old.[3] The marriage was annulled in 1960.[4][5]

Manslaughter

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Reeves married Sharon Vaughn in 1961. In 1967, while stationed with his wife in Italy, Reeves killed a man and served four months in prison for manslaughter.[3] After his release, the couple returned to the United States and settled in Copperas Cove, Texas.

Second wife

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Reeves was married to his second wife Sharon Vaughn for 18 years. They had two sons, Ricky and Randall, while in Italy. In 1977, Sharon pursued an extramarital relationship with John Behneman. She filed for divorce in February 1978 while Reeves was stationed in South Korea. On July 20, 1978, a week after divorcing Reeves, she died of a shotgun wound to her chest that was originally believed to be self-inflicted.[6] The case was re-examined in 1994 and it was determined that she had been murdered. The prosecution demonstrated in court how difficult it would have been for her to shoot herself.[7] A blood spatter expert concluded that Sharon had been wearing a bra and underwear at the time of her death, but when her body was found, she was completely naked.[8] She was 34.[9]

Third wife

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Reeves married Myeong-Hi Chong on December 31, 1980, in South Korea. She drowned in Lake Whitney in Texas in 1986.[10] Her family said Myeong-Hi was unable to swim and had a strong aversion to water. Bruises on Myeong-Hi's face made her sister suspicious and she requested an autopsy.[8] Reeves had Myeong-Hi cremated.[11]

Fourth wife

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Reeves met his fourth wife, Emilita Villa, through a mail-order bride service when she was 18.[6] Reeves was 28 years her senior. Emilita was reportedly reluctant to marry him, but felt obligated due to monthly payments Reeves sent to her family in the Philippines.[8] When Emilita became pregnant, Reeves sent her back to her family as he did not believe he was the father. He changed his mind when she sent him a photograph of their son. She was last seen alive October 11, 1994.[2] She disappeared shortly after telling friends she intended to divorce Reeves. In October 1995, her remains were found by a hunter in a shallow grave near Lake Whitney, where Reeves' third wife had drowned eight years previously.

Investigation and arrest

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Emilita's friend reported her missing. The police became suspicious when they found out Reeves had two dead wives,[6] both of whom died after making plans to leave Reeves and after complaining to friends about being mistreated by Reeves.[12] He was arrested on March 21, 1995, for the murder of his second wife and his bail was set at $500,000.[13]

Trial

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He was convicted on January 3, 1996, for the 1978 murder of Sharon Reeves and received a 35-year prison sentence. On August 20, 1996, he was convicted of murdering Emilita Reeves and sentenced to an additional 99 years. Reeves appealed against both convictions; his appeals were rejected.[14][15] His sentences are being served concurrently.[16] He will be eligible for parole in 2026.[17]

Media Coverage

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The case has featured in episodes of Exhumed,[18] Forensic Files[19] and 'Mail Order Murder' by Patricia Springer.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Jack Wayne Reeves | Texas Prison Inmates | The Texas Tribune". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  2. ^ a b "REEVES v. STATE | 969 S.W.2d 471 (1998) | Leagle.com". Leagle. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  3. ^ a b "TEXAN LEAVES A TRAIL OF DEAD OR MISSING WIVES". DeseretNews.com. 1996-01-07. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  4. ^ PRODIS, JULIA (1996-01-07). "Deaths of Three Wives Casting Suspicion on 'Luckless' Widower". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  5. ^ "TEXAN LEAVES A TRAIL OF DEAD OR MISSING WIVES". DeseretNews.com. 1996-01-07. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  6. ^ a b c "Man Is Convicted, Again, of Killing a Wife". The New York Times. 1996-08-20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  7. ^ "Man Guilty In Wife's Death, Originally Ruled Suicide". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  8. ^ a b c writer, Julia Prodis, Associated Press. "Man leaves trail of dead wives". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2017-03-06.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Attorney Blasts Witness". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  10. ^ "Wife's Death Ruled Murder Man Married Four Times, Two Wives Are Dead, One Is Missing". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  11. ^ "Texan Who 'Lost' Three Wives Guilty of Murder". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 1996-02-04. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  12. ^ "Star-News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  13. ^ "3rd Wife Disappears - Man Charged With 1st's Death". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  14. ^ "Reeves v. State, 969 S.W.2d 471 – CourtListener.com". CourtListener. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  15. ^ "Jack Wayne Reeves v. The State of Texas--Appeal from 52nd District Court of Coryell County". Justia Law. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  16. ^ "Jack Wayne Reeves | Texas Prison Inmates | The Texas Tribune". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  17. ^ "REEVES, JACK WAYNE Inmate 05416735: Texas Prisons (DOC)". bailbondcity.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  18. ^ "Jack Reeves Guilty Of Murdering 2 Wives After Exhumation". Oxygen. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Forensic Files Episodes Season 7". TV Guide. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  20. ^ Patricia Springer (1999). Mail Order Murder. Onyx. ISBN 978-0-7860-0640-3. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
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