Man Found Dead in Home, Son Believed to be Killer

**LocalCelebrity** · March 3rd, 2009, 03:52 PM

HOLLY HILL -- An elderly man was found dead in his home Tuesday, and police said they believe the victim's son may be the killer.

The body of James Reid, 73, was found Monday night at his home on Jarecki Avenue.

The investigation turned to the man's son, Juan Luther Reid, 28. He was picked up at the STAR shelter for the homeless in Daytona Beach before noon Tuesday.

Police said Juan Reid, who lived with his father, has a history of drug arrests.

Neighbors said there were signs of trouble.

"I feel like this has been going on for quite some time, and you can basically see trouble was brewing, because this guy -- his son, Juan, had no regard for anyone," said neighbor Dan Hodges. "He strong-armed his dad. He'd been stealing from his mama. It's just to the point he really needs to be off the street."

Police said in the days before James Reid's death, Juan Reid pressed his father for money.

The killing is the first murder in Volusia County this year.

**KiKi** · March 3rd, 2009, 04:01 PM

You can already tell that Juan killed his father thinking he would get money out of him...what a dumbass..

**Jaded** · March 3rd, 2009, 04:14 PM

Link me?

**LocalCelebrity** · March 3rd, 2009, 04:17 PM

Oooopppppsssss

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2...be_killer.html

**twinklestars** · March 4th, 2009, 03:13 AM

Police Say Son Used Chisel To Kill Father

Posted: 10:12 am EST March 3, 2009Updated: 5:22 pm EST March 3, 2009
HOLLY HILL, Fla. -- A 73-year-old man was found beaten to death Monday night in his house on Jarecki Avenue in Holly Hill (see map) and police arrested the victim's son Tuesday. The motivation in the case, police said, was money for drugs.

Police have described 28-year-old Juan Reid as someone with a "raging" drug habit, so intense he was willing to kill his father using a chisel and a candlestick.

Juan wore an orange jumpsuit on his way from the police department to the jail Tuesday. Police took his clothes to collect blood evidence from the brutal murder of his own father.

James Reid, 73, was found dead in the bedroom of his Holly Hill home, allegedly hit by his son nearly 70 times.

"If someone would do this to his own father, he'll do this to my father, anybody else's father or anybody else period. He needs to be gone, man, and he's not going to change," neighbor Dan Hodges said.

Neighbors said Juan had been stealing things from the neighborhood to support his drug habit for years. Monday night, a family member came to check on James and found his body.

Police said evidence pointed immediately to Juan. He evaded them through the night, but was arrested at a homeless center just before noon Tuesday.

"He's a long time resident here, a fixture in that neighborhood. We are outraged and our community is shocked by what has occurred," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker said.

Police called it one of the most brutal crimes they had ever seen and Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators carried out bags of evidence. The victim was well-known in the neighborhood and residents said he did everything he could to help his son.

"I know for a fact he never hurt anybody. He's a gentle old man. He just made a little side money selling lawn mowers that he'd fix up, you know?" neighbor Patrick Monroe said.

Police said the murder was something Juan planned to do. It's the first murder in Holly Hill in two years.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18842377/detail.html#-

This cat is crazy!! He told the news reporter "Don't do drugs" while being escorted to the police car..ya hear that kids? Don't do drugs