(Killingly, CT) - John F. Fahey, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Windham, announced that Michael Reese, age 40, was sentenced today by the Honorable Ernest Green, Jr., to 50 years in prison for the 2023 murder of Joyce Grayson, age 63, of Brooklyn, Connecticut.
Reese pleaded guilty in Superior Court to Murder, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a.
Grayson, a longtime visiting nurse, went to 160 Chapman Street in Willimantic, a halfway house for sexual offenders, on October 28, 2023, to care for the defendant. An investigation showed she was strangled and suffered blunt-force injuries to her head and body while at the residence. Her body was found in the basement area of the house after she missed several later appointments and her phone continued to ping at that location. The defendant was apprehended by police leaving the residence after tampering with his Global Positioning System device shortly before her body was found. He had in his possession the victim’s car keys, as well as several other personal items of the victim. Further investigation revealed Reese had taken the victim’s car after killing her and moved it to a different location and withdrew money from her bank account with a stolen debit card.
State’s Attorney Fahey praised the diligent work of the Willimantic Police Department as well as the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad.
“I want to commend both agencies on their diligent investigation into the death of Ms. Grayson,” State’s Attorney Fahey said. “While no sentence ever brings a loved one back to their family, some sense of justice was done today, in large part due to the hard work and tireless efforts of the Willimantic Police Department and the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad.”