A western Iowa man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Tuesday for the death of his former landlord. Scott Lee Reed of Council Bluffs entered a plea of guilty to second-degree murder in Pottawattamie County District Court.
The 44-year-old Reed was originally charged with first-degree murder in the August 16th death of Richard Griffin, but agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge. Griffin, who was 68, was found dead in his Council Bluffs home after Reed turned himself in to authorities in Nemaha County, Nebraska on August 18th.
Reed told police he had previously lived with Griffin and asked to move back in and pay rent money he owed. When Griffin refused, Reed hit him with an aluminum bat and strangled Griffin with a ceiling fan cord. Investigators found the bat in a lake, with the handle sticking out of the water. Reed was sentenced to 50 years in prison Tuesday and must serve at least 35 before becoming eligible for parole.