Jury Selection Continues For Accused Serial Killer

Prosecutors said last week they planned to give opening statements Monday. Lawyers are instead still working to fill the jury box for the trial of suspected serial killer William Reece.

Monday, May 17th 2021, 6:05 pm

By: Brittany Toolis

OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Oklahoma -

Jury selection is taking longer than expected in the trial of the man prosecutors say killed Tiffany Johnston more than 20 years ago.

Prosecutors said last week they planned to give opening statements Monday. Lawyers are instead still working to fill the empty seats in the jury box, about 40 potential jurors are still under consideration.

William Reece is on trial for the 1997 killing of Johnston.

According to police, her car was found abandoned at a Bethany carwash, but Johnston was nowhere to be found. Her body was found two days later. Investigators said she had been raped and murdered.

In 2015, DNA evidence tied Reece to the killing. He was already in a Texas prison, serving a 60-year rape sentence.

After investigators linked Reece to Johnston, he confessed to killing a 12-year-old child and two other women in Texas.

Texas prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table in exchange for the confession, and to be taken to where he dumped the two women's bodies.

However, capital punishment is still an option for the jury in Oklahoma City.

Reece faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Johnston's death.