Thursday, April 26, 2001

DANVILLE (AP) -- A man charged in a 1999 decapitation has pleaded guilty to manslaughter rather than risk another trial in the case.

Gregory Strother and Charles Jester were originally charged with capital murder in the July 15, 1999, death of Randy Reed of Rover. Reed's decapitated body was found in the Fourche LaFave River near the Perry County community of Houston.

Prosecutors said that, after a fight between Reed and Strother, Reed was strangled and his throat cut. His headless body was discarded over the side of a bridge, according to medical examiners. His hands were also severed.

In September, a jury deadlocked in Strother's case.

Jurors told a judge that they had ruled out convicting Strother of capital murder and first-degree murder and were split on whether to convict him of second-degree murder. Eventually, Circuit Judge Paul Danielson declared a mistrial.

For his guilty plea on Monday, Strother received a sentence of 10 years in prison with credit for the 480 days he has spent in custody since his arrest. Strother also was ordered to pay fines, restitution and court costs amounting to $10,000.