Rees’ first murder victim and two members of the Jackson family were found in Maryland, while the other two victims in the Jackson family were found in Virginia. Because Rees’ victims’ bodies were found between two states, there was difficulty charging Rees at first. Rees was first charged with the murder of Margaret Harold and then charged with the murder and kidnapping of all four members of the Jackson family in Richmond, Virginia shortly after. After these charges, “A Federal indictment in Baltimore charge[d] the Hyattsville musician only with the kidnap-murders of Jackson’s 27-year-old wife, Mildred, and their older daughter, Susan Ann. It was obtained last Tuesday under the so-called Lindbergh kidnap law, which involves the crossing of state lines”.[1] This case became a federal murder case investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, because the murders crossed state lines.
After being charged and arrested with the five murders, Rees was placed in a Baltimore jail, “where he will spend the summer awaiting trial”.[2] Rees’ attorney Walter L. Green visited Rees often and continually stated that the man was a nice, polite man who remained in good spirits despite his circumstances. After only a short time of representing Rees, Green dropped his case. Rees claimed to have no money, so the court appointed him with two lawyers, William J. Evans, former assistant U.S. Attorney and William J. O’Donnell, former assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore.[3] Rees’ wife, Pat, also visited him often and remained her stance that her husband was innocent and set up by a jealous friend.[4] Along with Rees’ wife, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rees Sr., were adamant that their son was innocent of all the murder charges against him.[5]
After being held in Baltimore awaiting Trial, Rees “was turned over to Virginia from the Federal authorities on a writ of habeas corpus. Under terms of that writ he’ll be taken to Spotsylvania County” to await trial.[6] Rees has already been “under a life sentence for the kidnap-murder of the mother and another daughter” of the Jackson family.[7] During Rees’ Virginia trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to the death penalty in Virginia for the murders of the Jackson family. After this sentence, Rees’ attorneys chose to appeal the death penalty, so the execution was postponed until they filed the appeal.[8] After his appeal was placed and reviewed, the court denied it and maintained their sentencing to the death penalty for the four murders.[9]
Four years after the Rees’ sentence to the death penalty, the Supreme Court called for a mental examination of Rees, who decided that he wished to go to the electric chair.[10] Rees had given up on appealing the death sentence and chose to simply accept the penalty; this concerned the courts and caused them to determine whether Rees was mentally stable enough the make this decision on his own. The psychiatric tests concluded that Rees was schizophrenic and that he was “in on condition to decide rationally whether to give up the legal fight to save him from the electric chair”.[11] After being ruled mentally unstable, Rees was ultimately sentenced to life in prison and served this sentence until his death in 1995.
[1] By Alfred E Lewis and Harry Gabbett,Staff Reporters. "Virginia Police Link 'Evidence' with Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 02, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141161191?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[2] "Rees Visited by Lawyers, Girl Friend." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 09, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141264709?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[3] "Court Appoints Lawyers to Defend Melvin Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 12, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141270516?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[4] "Rees is Defended by His Wife." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jun 25, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141231776?accountid=12085 (accessed April 21, 2014).
[5] By Connie Feeley, Staff Reporter. "Parents Visit Melvin Rees in Jail, Avow His Innocence of Murders." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 08, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141222941?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[6] "Rees Awaits Virginia Trial." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), May 24, 1961. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141523066?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[7] ibid
[8] "Rees Execution is Postponed." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Feb 16, 1962. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141584459?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[9] "Court Upholds Death Sentence on Melvin Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Oct 09, 1962. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141703101?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[10] "High Court Orders Mental Exam for Convicted Slayer Melvin Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jun 01, 1966. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/142684210?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[11] By John P MacKenzie Washington Post,Staff Writer. "Federal Judge Reports Melvin Rees Not Rationally Able to End Legal Fight." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jan 12, 1967. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/143304382?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
After being charged and arrested with the five murders, Rees was placed in a Baltimore jail, “where he will spend the summer awaiting trial”.[2] Rees’ attorney Walter L. Green visited Rees often and continually stated that the man was a nice, polite man who remained in good spirits despite his circumstances. After only a short time of representing Rees, Green dropped his case. Rees claimed to have no money, so the court appointed him with two lawyers, William J. Evans, former assistant U.S. Attorney and William J. O’Donnell, former assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore.[3] Rees’ wife, Pat, also visited him often and remained her stance that her husband was innocent and set up by a jealous friend.[4] Along with Rees’ wife, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rees Sr., were adamant that their son was innocent of all the murder charges against him.[5]
After being held in Baltimore awaiting Trial, Rees “was turned over to Virginia from the Federal authorities on a writ of habeas corpus. Under terms of that writ he’ll be taken to Spotsylvania County” to await trial.[6] Rees has already been “under a life sentence for the kidnap-murder of the mother and another daughter” of the Jackson family.[7] During Rees’ Virginia trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to the death penalty in Virginia for the murders of the Jackson family. After this sentence, Rees’ attorneys chose to appeal the death penalty, so the execution was postponed until they filed the appeal.[8] After his appeal was placed and reviewed, the court denied it and maintained their sentencing to the death penalty for the four murders.[9]
Four years after the Rees’ sentence to the death penalty, the Supreme Court called for a mental examination of Rees, who decided that he wished to go to the electric chair.[10] Rees had given up on appealing the death sentence and chose to simply accept the penalty; this concerned the courts and caused them to determine whether Rees was mentally stable enough the make this decision on his own. The psychiatric tests concluded that Rees was schizophrenic and that he was “in on condition to decide rationally whether to give up the legal fight to save him from the electric chair”.[11] After being ruled mentally unstable, Rees was ultimately sentenced to life in prison and served this sentence until his death in 1995.
[1] By Alfred E Lewis and Harry Gabbett,Staff Reporters. "Virginia Police Link 'Evidence' with Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 02, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141161191?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[2] "Rees Visited by Lawyers, Girl Friend." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 09, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141264709?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[3] "Court Appoints Lawyers to Defend Melvin Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 12, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141270516?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[4] "Rees is Defended by His Wife." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jun 25, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141231776?accountid=12085 (accessed April 21, 2014).
[5] By Connie Feeley, Staff Reporter. "Parents Visit Melvin Rees in Jail, Avow His Innocence of Murders." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 08, 1960. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141222941?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[6] "Rees Awaits Virginia Trial." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), May 24, 1961. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141523066?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[7] ibid
[8] "Rees Execution is Postponed." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Feb 16, 1962. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141584459?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[9] "Court Upholds Death Sentence on Melvin Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Oct 09, 1962. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/141703101?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[10] "High Court Orders Mental Exam for Convicted Slayer Melvin Rees." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jun 01, 1966. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/142684210?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).
[11] By John P MacKenzie Washington Post,Staff Writer. "Federal Judge Reports Melvin Rees Not Rationally Able to End Legal Fight." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jan 12, 1967. 1, http://search.proquest.com/docview/143304382?accountid=12085 (accessed April 20, 2014).