A Florida man, Todd Reichert, 56, is facing the death penalty for the murder of Laura Willsey, a Rhode Island native and confidential informant. Police claim Reichert murdered Willsey in West Palm Beach, Florida, in July after she assisted in a North Palm Beach burglary investigation in which Reichert was a suspect.
Attorney Austin Dana spoke with NBC 10, highlighting that it is unusual for a defendant to murder a confidential informant, especially when their identity is made public. Dana explained that under Florida law, killing a confidential informant can serve as an aggravating factor that could lead to the death penalty.
Police found “blood spatter and droplets” inside Willsey’s residence on Garden Avenue during a search. Security footage revealed an argument between Willsey and Reichert on July 29, and a witness claimed to have seen Reichert physically assaulting Willsey. After hearing suspicious sounds from the bedroom, the witness observed Reichert leaving the scene in his Volkswagen, with Willsey’s blood found inside the vehicle.
Willsey’s body has yet to be recovered. Although the lack of a body is a potential weakness in the case, Dana suggests that Reichert’s motive as a suspect in the burglary investigation—along with Willsey’s role as an informant—strengthens the case, potentially bringing the death penalty into play.
Reichert faces a first-degree murder charge and is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail while awaiting further proceedings.
