Rush Township Man Admitted to Beating, Strangling Wife to Death, Police Say

A Rush Township man arrested Saturday for homicide admitted that he beat and strangled his wife to death during a confrontation over a nude photo, according to state police at Rockview.

Alan K. Reed, 74, had blood on his shirt and hands and Dawn M. Reed, 57, was dead when troopers arrived at the 703 North Front Street residence on Saturday, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Police were dispatched at about 11:15 a.m. after a family reported receiving text messages from Reed saying he had beaten his wife.

Reed told police that he had a nude photo of himself and his wife that he used “for leverage against her,” according to the affidavit. The photo was missing and he believed she hid it from him, police wrote.

An argument ensued and he told police that he began punching Dawn Reed in the face and head, then followed her through the house and continued striking her as she tried to flee, according to the affifdavit.

He said forced her to the floor and used his forearm to strangle her until she stopped moving, police wrote. Fearing she was dead, he attempted to wake her and poked her with a knife but received no response.

An autopsy was performed on Dawn Reed and the cause of death is pending further investigation and toxicology results, Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers said on Sunday.

Reed is charge with criminal homicide and a felony count of strangulation.

He was arraigned on Sunday morning by District Judge Don Hahn, who denied bail citing flight risk.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Alan and Dawn Reed were married in July 1995, according to Clearfield County records.

The Angel Project, a Philipsburg-based nonprofit organization, wrote on Facebook that many in the community knew Dawn Reed “for the many years she worked at Weis in Philipsburg.”

“Always eager to help everyone with whatever you needed,” the organization wrote. “What happened was absolutely horrific.”