On a summer evening in LaPorte, Indiana, 14-year-old Darrin Reed was walking to his girlfriend's house, a simple, youthful act that ended in an unimaginable tragedy. It was Thursday, June 16, 1983, the last day of his young life. Darrin, a Male, would not make it to his destination. His journey was cut short by a predator who had recently been paroled and was already preying on the youth of LaPorte County.
Darrin’s family, parents John and Constance "Connie" Reed and his sister Dawn,
were left to face a devastating loss. For three days, his whereabouts were unknown. The search ended in heartbreak on Sunday, June 19, when a local woman discovered his body. He had been sexually assaulted and strangled, his hands bound with wire. The discovery sent a wave of fear through the small Indiana community, a fear that would only intensify as the scope of the killer's crimes came to light.
The investigation into Darrin’s murder quickly connected to a string of other violent assaults on teenage boys in the area. The perpetrator was identified as Frank R. Davis, a man who had been released from prison in 1982 after serving time for burglary and robbery. Davis had a history of violence that stretched back years, including the 1971 murder of 13-year-old Duane Bush. In the months leading up to Darrin's murder, Davis had attacked another 15-year-old boy in a cornfield, who survived and later identified him.
Davis’s spree of violence culminated in the days surrounding Darrin’s death. Just two days after killing Darrin, on June 18, Davis came across two 15-year-old boys, Jeff Lopez and his friend, who were camping at the Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Park. Under the guise of friendliness, Davis shared marijuana with them and even gave them rides on his motorcycle. Later that night, he returned to their campsite, abducted Lopez at knifepoint, and murdered him. He then brutally attacked Lopez's friend, who miraculously survived and was able to provide police with the killer's name.
The survivor's testimony was crucial. Frank R. Davis was arrested on June 22, 1983. In custody, he gave a full confession to the murders of Darrin Reed and Jeff Lopez, as well as the 1971 murder of Duane Bush. He also admitted to two counts of attempted murder for the victims who had survived his vicious attacks. His confession detailed a horrifying pattern of luring and overpowering his young victims.
In January 1984, to avoid a trial, Frank R. Davis pleaded guilty to two counts of murder for the deaths of Darrin and Jeff Lopez, and two counts of attempted murder. He was initially sentenced to death for the murders and given two consecutive 50-year sentences for the attempted murders. However, his death sentence was later commuted. On July 7, 1996, he was resentenced to a total of 220 years in prison, ensuring he would never again be free.
The legal resolution brought a measure of justice, but it could not erase the pain and loss inflicted on the families of his victims. Darrin Reed's life was stolen just as it was beginning. Over the years, his family carried the heavy burden of his absence. His parents, John and Connie, and his sister, Dawn, have all since passed away, and are now reunited with Darrin in death.
Frank R. Davis died in prison on January 22, 2008, taking the full story of his depravity with him. For the community of LaPorte, the summer of 1983 remains a dark time, a stark reminder of the vulnerability of innocence and the profound impact of a single, malevolent life on so many others. Darrin Reed is remembered not just as a victim of a serial killer, but as a son and a brother whose future was senselessly stolen.
