KSP identifies murder victim found in backseat of SUV on I-75

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - We are learning new information after a body was found in the backseat of the vehicle involved in a police chase that ended on Interstate 75, according to Kentucky State Police.

According to KSP, the victim has been identified as 53-year-old Rachel Louise Carder of Huntington, W.Va.

PREVIOUS: Man facing murder charges after multi-county chase ends with body found in car

State police arrested 54-year-old David Maurice Reed of St. Petersburg, Fla. after a multi-county chase Wednesday morning. Carder’s body was found in his SUV.

A KSP citation lists the relationship of a Florida man to the West Virginia woman he's accused of killing as a that of a "stranger." We're learning more about the chase that led to the discovery of a murder victim in the back of his SUV in Laurel County. More at 5pm @WKYT @WYMT pic.twitter.com/KGj5gAY3dn
— Phil Pendleton (@philtvnews) January 19, 2023

Reed has been charged with murder-domestic violence, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, fleeing or evading police, criminal mischief, wanton endangerment, careless driving, resisting arrest, and having no operator’s license.

According to an arrest citation, Reed was driving in Madison County when police say they were alerted to him weaving in the roadway. He stopped at first, then sped off.

Authorities eventually forced him to stop on Interstate 75 in Laurel County. When checking Reed’s SUV, they discovered Carder’s body in a plastic tote. They say there was facial trauma and other injuries to her body, including evidence of something caused by an edged weapon.

Police say Reed had red stains on him, believed to be blood.

Police say Reed admitted to fighting with Carder in a hotel room near the interstate but didn’t say where exactly that was. Police say they aren’t sure where she was killed.

This is a developing story.

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