JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Eyewitness News Investigators have learned that two murder suspects never completed court-ordered anger -anagement programs meant to control their rage.
Police said William Wells and James Reed committed horrible murders. Wells is charged with five murders, including his wife's. Police said Reed shot and killed his wife and then turned the gun on himself.
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Both men had a history of violence. Both were convicted and placed on probation.
"One of the conditions of that probation will be that they complete an anger-management or some type of domestic-intervention type of program," said Jay Plotkin, of the State Attorney's Office.
The Eyewitness News Investigators obtained records showing Wells was first ordered to a 6-month-long program at Hubbard House called First Step. The batterers intervention program is supposed to change abusive behavior. Wells enrolled three times but never finished.
When Wells' probation time was coming to an end, a judge ordered him to complete a similar program, this time with the Salvation Army. He did not finish that program either.
"I have no records of him completing the Salvation Army Anger Management program," said Loretta Brienza, from the Salvation Army. The situation with Reed is similar. In 1997 he was ordered to attend the same Salvation Army program. Records show he attended three of 24 classes. He was kicked out three months later, arrested and ordered to serve jail time by a judge.
Now, some are questioning the judicial system. Both men were ordered to attend classes to help them deal with their violence but were never ordered to complete the classes.
"If you commit a crime, then there has to be repercussions," said Ellen Siler, of Hubbard House.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says anger-management programs can alter violent behavior.
Previous Stories:
- July 17, 2003: High Number Of Domestic Homicides Causing Alarm
- June 6, 2003: Mayport Murder Suspect: 'I Can't Live With What I Did'
- May 28, 2003: 5 Mayport Victims Were Shot To Death