every once in a while, there is real justice

[BERIGAN]

This Hotel is just a block from a Golds Gym I work out at from time to time....

Rape suspect flees police, dies in wreck

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Beau Christian Reed, 23

A 23-year-old career criminal identified as the man who raped and set afire a Peachtree City hotel clerk was killed Friday afternoon when he wrecked a car while being pursued by police.

Beau Christian Reed of Sharpsburg was driving a stolen car at speeds topping 100 mph when he crashed on Major Road in east Coweta County while being chased by the Coweta County Sheriff's Department. Reed was ejected from the car and died at the scene.

From her hospital room, the victim of Wednesday's assault positively identified Reed as her attacker, said Peachtree City Police Chief Jim Murray.

Reed had a long criminal record and was wanted for arson, felony theft and eluding police and parole and probation violations. He has a previous arrest record in Peachtree City, authorities said. He worked at a Fayetteville restaurant and had just moved into a split-level house in Sharpsburg, about five miles from the motel where the woman was attacked.

The crime shocked the quiet Fayette County community 35 miles south of Atlanta. The victim, who police haven't named, was bound, raped and set ablaze at the Hampton Inn front desk office just after midnight Tuesday. Police said the woman's attacker was there to rob the hotel and made off with $300.

After being treated for second- and third-degree burns at Grady Memorial Hospital, the victim helped police come up with a composite drawing of her attacker.

Several people who saw a sketch of the suspect called police.

"Once the detectives processed the information, they were directed to a suspect who was known to have previous arrest records in Peachtree City, as well as a number of other areas," Murray said.

Police called Reed on Thursday and asked him to come in for questioning.

"He said, 'Sure, I can come by,'" Murray said. "When he didn't show up, detectives went to his residence. He wasn't there."

Authorities said Reed instead stole his roommate's Acura Legend and fled. The roommate called the Coweta County Sheriff's Department, which figured Reed was the person Peachtree City officials were looking for.

By Friday afternoon around 2 p.m., Peachtree City officials felt they had enough evidence to charge Reed with the assault. At the same time, a Coweta deputy spotted Reed at a convenience store on Fisher Road in east Coweta County, several miles from his home and the Hampton Inn. Reed jumped into the stolen car and fled as the officer followed.

"It wasn't a bumper-to-bumper chase," said Coweta Sheriff Mike Yeager. "He kept him [Reed] in his sight."

But as Reed reached speeds of nearly 110 mph, he lost control of the car as it turned a curve on Major Road. The car flipped, ejecting Reed into a field. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"It was unfortunate how it ended," Murray said.

Murray called the victim and her family and gave them the news around 4:30 p.m. "They were upbeat and very supportive," he said.

Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown called it a great day for his town.

"A victory against crime in metro Atlanta," he said. "We got the man and we're very pleased."

-- Staff writers Brenden Sager and Rochelle Carter and news researcher Sharon Gaus contributed to this article.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fay...03/25clerk.html

[JSngry]

Karma's a bitch.

[Alexander]

What a fool. Normally, I don't take any pleasure in another person's suffering or death. I don't take any pleasure now, but I do think that he was amazingly stupid to try and run like that (not to mention the robbing, the raping, and the setting people on fire). In trying to avoid the consequences of his actions, he ended up dead. I can understand what would drive a person to steal, and I have pity for such people. But I don't understand what would make a person commit violence against another person. That's one thing I just can't fathom.

[Guest Chaney]

Police called Reed on Thursday and asked him to come in for questioning.

[Jim Alfredson]

Police: "Hey, we're doing this investigation on this woman that someone raped, beat, and then set on fire and we think you're the guy. Would you mind coming down to the police station and talking with us a bit?"

Suspect: "Oh yeah, no problem. 3:00pm good for you?"