The Murder of Captain Lynn Reister
For this case, I watched an episode of Shadow of a Doubt. It’s season 1 episode 2, titled ‘The Affairs of Soldiers.’
A pregnant Army captain is killed in her home.
Background
Lynn Ann Armstrong was born on April 4, 1971. She met her husband, Roger Reister, at a club in 1994, while they were both stationed in Germany. It was against the rules for Lynn, who was a higher rank than Roger, to be involved with someone ranked lower than her. Less than a year after meeting, the two snuck off to Denmark, and got married. Lynn was already pregnant with their first son, Triston, who was born in August 1996.
After their son was born, Lynn was deployed to Hungary. In the fall of 1996, the couple asked permission to be stationed in the U.S., so that they could raise their son. It was granted, and both Lynn and Roger were stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
Lynn made her way up to Captain. By this point, the marriage between Lynn and Roger wasn’t great. There were accusations of infidelity on both ends. The two stayed together, and went to counseling, in hopes of improving their marriage.
Captain Lynn Reister
The Murder
On May 24, 2001, Roger left for work around 4:30am, and took their son with him. Lynn, who was 6 months pregnant at the time, stayed in bed.
Roger and their son returned home around 4:30pm. Lynn’s car was in the driveway. Roger went inside the home, and found Lynn dead in their bedroom.
When Roger called 911, he told the dispatcher that it looked like someone had “cut her throat out.” Lynn had been stabbed in the neck all the way down to her spinal cord, and had been nearly decapitated. The crime scene was described as very grisly.
The Affair
The police spoke to Roger, who told them about his day. He said he left with his son for the base around 4:30am, but his truck wouldn’t start. Roger said he called his younger brother, Rodney, who was able to start the truck.
Roger had an alibi. He had been on base all day, and returned home at 4:30pm.
The police asked Roger if he knew of anyone who’d want to hurt Lynn. Roger said yes. In August 2000, Roger had an affair with a woman, only referred to as April in the episode. Roger had told everyone that April babysat his son. If anyone had found out about his affair, he could have been court marshaled or even imprisoned.
Roger said that April became obsessed with him after he decided to go back to Lynn. He said she left him threatening messages, and even slashed his tires.
The police went to speak to April, and discovered that she was also pregnant with Roger’s child. April was stunned to learn that Roger was accusing her of killing Lynn. April said she didn’t do it, and that the police should actually look into one of Roger’s friends named Mo. The police were able to clear April as a suspect.
Friends Help Out Friends
The police spoke to Mo, a solider, who was known for getting into trouble. Mo told the police that he didn’t kill Lynn, but had some information for them. He was granted immunity.
Mo told the police that Roger wanted Lynn dead. Mo said that Roger wanted him to stab Lynn in the throat, so that she couldn’t scream. Roger buttered Mo up by saying things like, I love you, man, and friends do things for friends. Roger also offered to pay Mo, and to split Lynn’s life insurance policy with him.
Mo told the police that he agreed to do it. But, when he arrived at the Resiter home, he was spooked when a neighbor was outside and saw him. Mo said that Roger was pissed when it wasn’t done.
Mo had an alibi for the day Lynn was killed, and was ruled out.
Another Attempt
The police had one final suspect to interview: Rodney, Roger’s brother. Rodney had been in trouble when he was younger for various things like stealing and setting fires.
In January 2001, Rodney moved in with Lynn and Roger, after being released from a jail in Florida. He was able to transfer his parole from Florida to Texas, after Lynn wrote a letter saying she’d take care of Rodney, and provide him with a place to live.
Rodney repaid Lynn by laying around the house, not going out to look for a job, and calling her various names like bitch. Rodney was kicked out, and went to live with his girlfriend.
During his interview with police, Rodney admitted that he killed Lynn because Roger asked him to. The police had also found Rodney’s fingerprint on Lynn’s arm that had been left in blood.
Rodney told the police that Roger’s signal to him was to call him to say he needed help with his truck. Roger let Rodney into the house, and showed him where the knife was.
Rodney said he snuck upstairs to the bedroom, but had second thoughts, until Lynn woke up. Rodney said he then started stabbing Lynn until she died.
Rodney said he did it because Roger was always there for him. Roger offered to pay him $1,000, and split Lynn’s life insurance policy with him.
The Convictions
Rodney Reister was arrested, and charged with capital murder. He was facing the death penalty if it was proven that he was paid to commit the murder. He avoided the death penalty, and was sentenced to life in prison.
Roger Reister was charged with four solicitations of murder. On September 14, 2001, the jury deliberated for over 2 hours. Roger was found guilty on all four counts. He was sentenced to 4 concurrent life terms.
Roger denies hiring anyone to kill Lynn, and said that Rodney did it all on his own.
It’s believed that Roger didn’t want to just divorce Lynn because he feared that she would get custody of their son because she had a higher rank than him.
Rodney Reister
Roger Reister in prison
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think that Roger was involved. He was interviewed in this episode from prison, and I just didn’t believe that he cared about Lynn. I think Roger was fearful that he would lose their son, but I also think he hated her for ruining his relationship with a much younger woman.
Roger knew he could manipulate Rodney, and asked him to do it after all the other attempts failed. Rodney was 25, Roger was 27, and Lynn was 30. They not only took Lynn's life, but ruined their lives, and took a young boy away from both of his parents.
Sources
https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Man-gets-life-for-sister-in-law-s-murder-8764741.php
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-09-na-briefs9.4-story.html
https://apnews.com/article/74e7a59cd4d76cd07d0efe5c1251dd75
https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/eighth-court-of-appeals/2005/63247.html
https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/eighth-court-of-appeals/2003/62308.html
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111604807/lynn-ann-reister
