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An 11-year-old girl's desperate attempt to run away from home unravels a horrific, years-long pattern of sexual abuse by her father, leading to his conviction and a 391-year prison sentence.
An 11-year-old's school disclosure and subsequent runaway attempt initiated the investigation into her father.
The daughter's forensic interview detailed years of monthly sexual abuse, beginning at age five, and her father's use of birth control and pregnancy tests.
Despite the father's denials and attempts to evade, a jury convicted him on 31 charges, resulting in a historic 391-year sentence.

Summary

The episode details the investigation and conviction of Ryan Reese, a 40-year-old father from Otero County, New Mexico, who sexually abused his daughter for years. The case began on August 23, 2022, when an 11-year-old girl reported to her school that her father had been raping her. She fled her home, expressing fear for her life and stating she did not want to return. During initial questioning, Reese denied any wrongdoing, attributing his daughter's distress to a disciplinary incident over inappropriate clothing. However, a forensic interview with the daughter revealed a disturbing history of sexual abuse that began when she was five, occurring almost monthly. She described specific details, including her father coercing her to sit on him, removing their clothes, and forcing her to take birth control pills and use pregnancy tests. Despite Reese's continued denials and attempts to evade law enforcement (including disposing of a firearm he was illegally possessing due to a prior aggravated battery conviction), the detailed testimony from his daughter, corroborated by the presence of specific items in his home, built a compelling case. After a period of investigation, Reese was indicted in August 2023 and, in February 2025, a jury found him guilty of 18 counts of first-degree criminal sexual penetration, seven counts of criminal sexual contact, and six counts of incest. He received the longest prison sentence in the district's history: 391 years, making him ineligible for parole until 2357.
This case highlights the critical role of child forensic interviews in prosecuting child sexual abuse, demonstrating how detailed victim testimony, even without immediate physical evidence, can lead to conviction. It underscores the importance of believing children who disclose abuse and the complex psychological manipulation perpetrators employ, such as Ryan Reese's attempts to control the narrative and his daughter's fear for her life. The severe sentence reflects society's condemnation of such heinous crimes and the justice system's commitment to protecting vulnerable minors.

Takeaways

  • An 11-year-old girl reported sexual abuse by her father to school staff, prompting a police investigation.
  • The daughter's initial distress call to 911 revealed her fear of returning home and allegations of abuse.
  • Ryan Reese, the father, initially denied any sexual contact, attributing his daughter's behavior to a dispute over clothing.
  • A forensic interview with the daughter detailed sexual abuse that began when she was five and occurred almost monthly.
  • The daughter disclosed her father made her take birth control and use pregnancy tests after sexual encounters.
  • Police found items consistent with the daughter's testimony (feminine cleaning products) and evidence of an illegally possessed firearm at Reese's home.
  • Reese attempted to evade police questioning and later sought legal counsel, refusing to answer further questions without an attorney present.
  • Reese was eventually indicted on 31 sexual abuse and incest charges.
  • A jury found Reese guilty, leading to a 391-year prison sentence, the longest in the district's history.

Insights

1Initial Disclosure and Runaway Attempt

The case began when an 11-year-old girl, upset by her father's return home, confided in a friend via Snapchat and phone that her dad had been 'raping her.' She subsequently ran away from home, expressing profound fear and unwillingness to return.

911 call from assistant principal reporting the girl's disclosure; daughter's phone call to dispatch stating, 'I'm scared to go home. I don't want to go back.'

2Father's Denials and Misdirection

Ryan Reese consistently denied any sexual abuse, attempting to explain his daughter's distress as typical teenage moodiness or a reaction to being disciplined for wearing inappropriate ripped jeans. He claimed she had never run away before and that their relationship was 'real good.'

Reese's statements to officers: 'No, I haven't' (re: running away) (); 'This is not an abusive situation at all' (); 'No, sir. Not like that' (re: sexual contact) ().

3Forensic Interview Reveals Years of Abuse

During a forensic interview, the daughter provided graphic and consistent details of sexual abuse by her father, stating it began when she was about five years old and occurred 'almost every month.' She described a pattern where her father would ask her to sit on him, then remove their clothes.

Daughter's statement: 'He got me back when I was when I was about to turn five, which that's when the sexual started happening when I was five.' (); 'Happens almost every month.' ().

4Evidence of Control and Concealment

The daughter's testimony included her father forcing her to take birth control pills and use pregnancy tests after sexual encounters, and that he kept condoms. Police later found feminine cleaning products and a gun case (Reese was prohibited from owning a firearm) during a search, corroborating parts of her story.

Daughter's statement: 'He gives it to me' (birth control) (); 'He also has, you know, those things that um to tell if you're pregnant, he also has those.' (); Police finding feminine cleaning products and a gun case ().

5Father's Evasion and Eventual Conviction

After the initial interviews and search, Reese vanished for two days, later refusing to speak further with police without an attorney. Despite his continued denials, the compelling evidence from his daughter's testimony led to his indictment and subsequent conviction on 31 counts, resulting in a 391-year sentence.

Reese's landlord reporting his disappearance (); Reese stating, 'I'd rather not talk' (); Jury finding him guilty of 18 counts of first-degree criminal sexual penetration, seven counts of criminal sexual contact, and six counts of incest ().

Lessons

  • Educate yourself and others on the subtle and overt signs of child sexual abuse, as victims often fear disclosure or retaliation.
  • If a child confides in you about abuse, prioritize their safety and report the allegations to appropriate authorities (e.g., child protective services, law enforcement) immediately.
  • Understand that child forensic interviews are specialized processes designed to obtain accurate information from child victims in a sensitive, legally sound manner, and their detailed testimony can be crucial evidence.
  • Support organizations that provide resources for child abuse victims and their families, as the long-term impact of such trauma requires extensive care.
  • Recognize that perpetrators often attempt to manipulate narratives, deny allegations, and evade justice; persistent investigation and victim support are essential.

Quotes

"

"He got me back when I was when I was about to turn five, which that's when the sexual started."

Reese's Daughter
"

"I don't want to go back here. It's not safe."

Reese's Daughter
"

"I don't want to live with him anymore. I don't want to go with my mom either."

Reese's Daughter
"

"He has threatened to take my life away. He says, 'I I can end your life as easy as that. As easily as I brought you into this world, I can take you to the um the your mother and just leave you there.'"

Reese's Daughter
"

"Has anything ever happened between you and your daughter sexually?"

Detective
"

"No. No, sir. Not like that. Not what you're explaining. No."

Ryan Reese
"

"I've worked over a hundred cases involving stuff like this and I've never seen a more compelling interview. You you can make what you want of that. Okay. This is by far one of the most compelling interviews I' I've ever been a part of."

Investigator

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