In Oklahoma City, a day in February of 2016 turned tragic with the discovery of the violent deaths of 78-year-old James Earl Reed and his wife, Sharon Reed. The couple was found in their home, which also served as an in-home daycare center. The children in their care were discovered unharmed in a separate garage area and had apparently not witnessed the horrific events that had unfolded.
Concern for the couple's welfare arose after a neighbor had a conversation with their grandson,
20-year-old Quinton Dashawn Laster, who also resided at the home. This conversation prompted the neighbor to call 911. When police arrived to conduct a welfare check, they found James and Sharon Reed deceased inside the residence. The investigation would later reveal that the couple had been both shot and decapitated.
Officers encountered Quinton Laster at the scene and he was subsequently arrested. He was later charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his grandmother and her husband. Family members expressed their shock and devastation, with one relative suggesting that Laster may have been under the influence of drugs at the time, though they noted he had no known history of mental illness.
