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Three DUI's and a Murder Charge Save Email Print
Posted: 12:49 AM Jan 18, 2008
Last Updated: 12:49 AM Jan 18, 2008
Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com

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Should a man facing his third DUI charge get his license back? The answers a grieving family aches for many not be what they want to hear.

Before going to court, Mary Church and her sons placed a memorial cross at the intersection where husband and father Ronnie Church took his last breath. “He was a well liked, hard working man who loved his family,” Church said.

In the packed courtroom, a judge must decide if a capital murder charge against Billy Dwayne Reed should go to a grand jury. Police say the 31 year old was under the influence on January 7, when his pickup truck recklessly hit Ronnie Church’s motorcycle.

The 43 year old coal truck driver died after the collision.

Police officer Jason Merlo was on the scene that day. “He smelled of alcohol, was staggering, speech slurred,” Merlo said.

The judge did send the DUI murder case to the grand jury. But what was not mentioned today was this is Billy Reed’s third DUI charge in less than a year.

“The system failed us. A man did not have to die,” Church said.

Court records show Reed was awaiting trial on a DUI when he got his second DUI, but without prior conviction, the penalties do not increase.

A judge suspended Reed’s license for 12 days, the maximum allowed on a first offense DUI. Records show a few days later he was charged with the murder of Ronnie Church.

Reed’s attorney says he will show his client did not cause Church’s death. Reed remains jailed without bond.

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Posted by: KELLEY BONDY on Oct 9, 2008 at 10:58 PM
I FEEL FOR THE FAMILY. MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED 8/10/08 BY A DENTIST WITH 5 DUI'S AND BEING CHARGED WITH MISDAMEANOR??? HOW MANY CHANCES DO PEOPLE GET? OUR LOVED ONES ARE DEAD AND DON'T GET CHANCE AFTER CHANCE. OUR LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED. THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS NEED TO BE STOPPED BEFORE THEY KILL MORE PEOPLE. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF OUR LOST LOVED ONES. WE WILL FIGHT TO MAKE A CHANGE. YOU MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE TO DRINK AND DRIVE. STAY HOME AND DRINK OR TAKE A CAB! KELLEY BONDY CHICAGO

Posted by: k on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:10 PM
eastern kentuckians please in the next judges election when you walk up to that voting booth remember ronnie church.

Posted by: friend of the chuch family on Feb 27, 2008 at 02:16 AM
i think doctors should also be held lialble for the actions of over prescribing meds also a dr in ky killed my mom by overprescribing too much meds mixed. and this man will get out aand do it again because the law in ky sucks i used to be a deputy and got jump on too to jumping onto reckless drivers. it is all a polieticial issue. judges, lawyers, and sheriff is afraid of family getting mad at them and losing votes and giving them slaps on the wrist. billy knew he was under the influence and the outcome that could happen. pike co needs to straighten up and not worry who gets mad at them and let the deputies and ksp volunteer or not do there job and stop this before it happens again. i was hit by a drug head and it got as my fault and now i suffer with back problems and they didnt have insurance. my belief i have feelings for billys kids but i see it this way if the churches had to lose a dad husband over a 3rd dui. then his family should suffer also. god will punish him in the end.

Posted by: k on Feb 20, 2008 at 01:04 PM
nobody gets indicted for murder by grand jury for being a good man

Posted by: Someone on Feb 19, 2008 at 02:20 AM
Some of you are indeed Hypocrites.. BOTH families are in great pain and greiving. Not only was there a death but also another family who lost a son and brother and Uncle and a Dad. One loss is no more than the other. No one in this forum has the right to judge anybody. That is left to the Judge the Jury and God. I know one of these families personally yet I pray for both and point no fingers. Its not for us to decide. IF Mr. Reed did or does have a alcohol or drug problem I can speak from personal expierence that NOBODY can make someone get treatment. It is only up to that person to do so. You cant make someone take something they dont want. I agree that something needs to be done about the problems here in Pike County but until they crack down on the handful of crooked people that run this county and the Doc's that right these scripts then nothing will be done. My heart goes out to BOTH families of this terrible accident. ACCIDENT means it was not done on purpose. My prayers to all.

Posted by: sharon on Feb 14, 2008 at 04:43 AM
good men aren't out on the roads driving way too fast while high on several different drugs and alcohol killing other good men.this was no accident though he purposely ran over this man.somebody tell us why.

Posted by: steve on Feb 13, 2008 at 11:09 AM
well Debra Reed Spicocchi An accident is a specific, identifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external event which occurs in a particular time and place, without apparent cause but with marked effects. It implies a generally negative probabilistic outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its occurrence. so maybe if the courts or you as the family members acted on his drug and drinking problem your son could have been at his daughters birthday party and not in jail for murder and ronnie would still be alive maybe you can get his attorney to explain that to his baby anyway ronnies kids have to go to mountian view cemetery to see him she can go to P.C.D.C and see and talk to him anyway ive known him for 30 years from when we was kids always good friend to anyone who knew him alot of people and voters at funreal hope Billy Dwayne Reed gets what is coming to him rest in peace ronnie

Posted by: billy dwayne reed on Feb 12, 2008 at 07:20 PM
unlike most of you all that post your "views" about the accident that happened between Billy Dwayne Reed and Ronnie Church, I will gladly post my name. It is Debra Reed Spicocchi and yes Billy Dwayne is my son. You all act like Ronnie was a good man and a hard worker, well let me tell you something, my son has worked since he got out of school. He has a wife and a beautiful daughter that just turned 6 years old on the 21st day of January. How do you explain that to a baby!!!!!!She didn't have her daddy with her on her birthday either. There are two sides to this story and unlike most of you we are good people too!!! Dwayne would not hurt anyone and he is a good hard working man too. I am proud and so is his father to stand up and say that we believe this was an accident and it will be proven that it was. Wonder who will be getting hugs from the Judge in the hallway then????

Posted by: Jessica on Jan 28, 2008 at 07:20 PM
I do not consider myself a hipocrite, Kiovisto, you see, Billy Dwayne Reed was in fact driving the truck that killed my uncle Ronnie, this alone makes him his killer, It is also a fact that he was intoxicated while driving this truck, so no matter what the courts say yes he is guilty of killing my uncle, an innocent man. He is also guilty of tearing the hearts right out of our whole family that night....so are we hypocrites? I have to say no!

Posted by: Barbara on Jan 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM
As I sit here reading these comments, and I know there are two sides to every story. One actually says that we are hypocrits. He has no idea what actually happened. If he had been there and seen what this man did he would understand. There are too many DUIs in Pike County. I pray for both families, because I know this hard for his family as well. You cant take this lightly though, he did kill Ronnie. If you had seen what this man did to him and the extent of the injuries that he recieved from this accident you would understand how so many can feel this way. This man needed help after the 1st DUI, he never should have gotten his license back and it also should not have been delayed. Their delays on these case are to long and something needs to be done. Maybe once they have a DUI make them test so manhy times a month. Something has to be done, before another family has to endure this same tragedy.

Posted by: sharon on Jan 21, 2008 at 01:38 AM
i don't know this family,but i saw his wife and boys on the news and i'm so sorry this happened to them. accidents caused by sober people are often hard to live with and have lasting, often consuming grief. anything we can do for them keep posted. always in our prayers.

Posted by: sharon on Jan 20, 2008 at 02:06 PM
how can we as citizens ask for investigation of pike county courts system

Posted by: lisa on Jan 20, 2008 at 01:39 PM
My heart goes out to the Church family! They are a great bunch of people. Its ashame that we lose the good people and let the bad people survive. I hope this man gets what he deserves. He killed a innocent person .I hope he spends the rest of his life behind bars. This family has to be without a husband and the kids without their daddy who they loved dearly.. I hope they keep him in jail maybe it will keep him from killing someone else. And to his wonderful lawyer you need help because this man would have not lost his life if your client was not driving DRUNK!!!!!! What dont you understand someone is Dead because of this man. And hrs before he killed this man he damaged property at a local grocery store by being DRUNK. I hope he stays in jail, and thats not good enough.. We want justice for this Family.. Ilove you guys

Posted by: the innocent will always pay on Jan 20, 2008 at 09:46 AM
our laws are too soft,& protect the guilty

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 20, 2008 at 09:07 AM
The first line in the story is the question. Should a man facing his third DUI charge get his license back? The answer is NO. NEVER.

Posted by: concerned on Jan 20, 2008 at 01:38 AM
I wonder how many doctors he was seeing to get prescriptions, and the doctors probably never bothered to really check and see if he really needed them. but hey why should we hold the people who presribe the drugs non chalantly, when we won't even prosecute DUI's in a timely manner

Posted by: CONCERNED on Jan 19, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Several years ago there was an accident at the very same intersection, involving a lady on her way to the hospital to deliver her child and a repeat DUI offender. If I am not mistaken he SERVED 18 months for the crime. It seems to me the court system in Pike Co. just CANNOT get a grip on their "case backload".

Posted by: Koivisto on Jan 19, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Has this man been proven guilty yet? Or can you people convict him without due process? Hypocrites!

Posted by: KRS 189A on Jan 19, 2008 at 05:32 PM
This happened in KY right? Who said that the maximum suspension for a 1st offense DUI is only 12 days? I think the minimum is 45 and the max is 120 for a first offense. If this guy had 3 offenses in the past year he should have been in jail. Somebody really messed up on this one. The penalties for impaired driving are not stiff enough and we are all in danger everytime we get on the road. Mr Reed will hopefully be convicted of vehicular manslaughter. My condolences go out to the Church family.

Posted by: Barbara on Jan 19, 2008 at 02:25 PM
I don't think he should ever get them back because he had the right to choose whether to drive that way or not, he chose wrong. I am sorry but this attorney is wrong, Reed hit Ronnie and did cause his death. I dont understand how he could say this was not Reed's fault. I understand he is a defense lawyer but if this was his family I guarantee he would not feel this way. I think it is very easy if he hadnt been on the road, under the influence this would not have happened. He has destroyed not just Ronnie's family but his own. Why is when they get drunk or high that they dont understand having those keys are like having a loaded gun in your hand regardless if you meant to do it or not.

Posted by: Denise on Jan 19, 2008 at 12:24 PM
The court don't care what these drunks or druggies get out here and due as long as they can fine them and get a little money off them . Its a shame that they care more about the money then a human life.

Posted by: annoyed on Jan 19, 2008 at 10:56 AM
WOW It only took three dui's and him killing somebody for the courts to do something. There is no justice, the law is seriously flaud.

Posted by: unknown on Jan 19, 2008 at 10:27 AM
no he shouldnt get his license back and he should get time for killing that man.....i had an accident in Dec and the guy that hit me was drunk and the vehicle didnt belong to him...the owner is saying now he took it without permission and he made a report but not a theft report now the owner of the truck isnt responible to pay for my jeep and its totalled ...so no he shouldnt and he should go to jail...i was injured and so was my passenger what would have happen if he had killed us????probably the same thing...NOTHING....after 2 DUI i think they should be allowed license ever again...

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 19, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Wait and see it will be the motorcycles fault thats why Mr. Church died!!!!! When it was indeed Mr. Reed's fault! He should faces charges for all three DUI's and for murder as well, but he will not get what he deserves!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Bev on Jan 18, 2008 at 11:44 PM
This makes me sick. I'm so tired of hearing stories about DUI suspects being released to kill or maim. Is the drug problem so bad that we can't have money to fight these idiots too. Even if it's proven that he didn't cause the death of Mr. Reed(as his lawyer states) it's still a miscarriage of justice for him to be out of prison. I mean he has 3 charges against him already. How many do we get before we are given a jail sentence???

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 18, 2008 at 09:17 PM
THIS REINFORCES WHAT I THINK....THE LAW IS FOR THE DRUNKS AND DRUGGIES....THE INNOCENT HAS NO RIGHTS.....

Posted by: Chase on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:36 PM
It's pitiful that a man gets in more trouble for shooting a problem dog than someone does for driving under the influence and killing someone.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 18, 2008 at 04:59 PM
yeah lets hang him,then we will have the trial.Ever hear innocent till PROVEN guity???

Posted by: sharon on Jan 18, 2008 at 01:19 PM
what has happened to people being responsible for their own actions if you are addicted to drugs and alcohol you made a choice. the first dui is a wake-up and if the behavior continues your a menace and should be put away.no excuses

Posted by: Mary Ann on Jan 18, 2008 at 09:16 AM
I recently lost my daddy to a car wreck. The guy who hit him listed on the report that he had been drinking. He is not in jail, not charged and I can get NO return calls from the Mingo County Sheriffs office. I wonder if there is any law? Is there any justice? Does anybody care? It seems as though his death will go unpunished. I understand your pain and frustration. Please know your family are in my prayers. Waiting on judgement....

Posted by: sandy on Jan 18, 2008 at 09:15 AM
thes people who drink and drive put everyones life at risk. they shouldn't get a second chance to injure or even kill someone. Do something about it the first time.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Stick it to these drunk drivers. I just went to trial against a drunk driver that hit me and my family two years ago. He walked out with ten days in jail after we have suffered w/bodily injuries, bills, vehicle loss, etc. for the last two years. The court system MUST make these laws more strict on DUI's. These people with no insurance, etc. keep getting by time after time. The first offense of DUI is enough! No one deserves to be a DUI victim and no one should lose their life because of someone elses carelessness and negligence. These repeat offenders are getting away with too much. The Magistrates and Judges need to focus on what the DUI victims and their families have to go through. Nobody knows what this is like until you go through it......it's a shame!!!! What is it going to take get something done?

Posted by: Debbie on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Hmmmm, whta are they going to argue, that Reed did not cause his death, his injuries did? Oh, I know, he'll argue if Mr. Church had not been riding a motorcycle he'd still be alive! Imean really WTH?

Posted by: reader on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:07 AM
what jail? not in wv jail.

Posted by: Scott on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Why is this even a question for the judge. Heck yes he should be charged with capital murder. Get these idiots of the streets and behind bars before they kill more innocent people. The judicial system needs to quit slapping DUI offenders on the wrist, and start making them serve hard time. Until they do people will continue to drink and drive, and continue to put everyone else at risk.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 18, 2008 at 07:20 AM
How can you say your client did not cause the death? He was drunk and at fault. He shouldn't have had his license after the first DUI!

Posted by: Concerned on Jan 18, 2008 at 07:11 AM
Watch the lies begin to get this man out of jail and his license restored. How many deaths before we, as judicary, get it? Keeping him out of prison can the attorney really believe if his cliemt's license is revoked that he will not drive-let alone not drive under the influence? To him can you make such a committment? Honestly? I respect the family who has stayed within the law and not sought personal revenge. I salute your strength and belief in our court system. I hope the system does not let you down and keep your faith restored. May God continue to give you strength and we pray this young man become saved and beat his abuse problem and abide by the law.

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