A LANDLORD allegedly confessed to killing his two upstairs tenants because they “liked to party” and “kept him up late at night.”
Chad Reed, 53, was arrested on Thursday after he confessed to killing the couple following an argument, WWMT reported, citing cops.
Michigan police had asked for help in finding Joseph Soule, 34, and Jaclyn Lepird, 31.
The duo had not been seen since October 7.
“Details surrounding their disappearance are largely unknown at this time,” Battle Creek police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Lepird’s family organized a search party on Thursday to help search for the missing couple, according to a Facebook post from her cousin, Sylvia Villeneuve.
Detective Sergeant Joel Case said that on Thursday, police found the couple’s bodies – and the landlord confessed to killing the duo, WWMT reported.
Reed came to the police station, where he allegedly described killing the duo, Case said at a press conference, as reported by People.
Case said when speaking of the landlord and tenants that according to their investigation, “it sounds like they had an ongoing dispute where they could not get along,” People reported.
The detective said that Case allegedly said Soule and Lepird “liked to party” and “kept him up late at night.”
On October 7, however, Reed claimed that Soule pulled a knife on him, Case said, as reported by WWMT.
He allegedly shot and killed Soule, then shot Lepird as she tried to run away, police said.
Reed then allegedly confessed to beating and strangling Lepird in the backyard until she died, Case said.
Cops alleged Reed claimed self-defense in shooting Soule, WWMT reported.
The detective said the couple’s bodies were wrapped in plastic, and kept in Reed’s truck that was parked at Lepird and Soule’s house, WWMT reported.
Case said as the couple’s friend began to check on them however, Reed allegedly drove the truck to an abandoned garage, People reported.
The landlord now faces two charges for open murder.
Reed pleaded no contest in 2003 to a charge for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct – although he originally faced a charge for felony sexual conduct for persons under 13, WWMT reported.
Two years later, the landlord was found guilty of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, according to the news outlet.
Jaclyn’s aunt, Robin Lepird Mantle, shared a Facebook post after her niece’s body was found.
“They found my niece and her boyfriend. They have been murdered by her landlord. I really don’t know how any of this could have happened,” Mantle wrote.