Man representing himself at trial in South Carolina mom’s death withdraws from plea deal

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) – The trial for the man accused of kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend continued on Wednesday in Chesterfield County.

Wednesday, June 18, was day three of the Emanuel Bedford trial in Chesterfield County. Bedford is accused of kidnapping and killing 41-year-old Deidre Reid, his ex-girlfriend in 2021.

He is also the father of Reid’s youngest child.

Bedford was also charged after escaping from the Chesterfield County Detention Center in 2023.

From 2022:New evidence introduced against man at center of kidnapping, murder case for Pageland mother

On day three of the trial, Bedford, who is representing himself, discussed a plea agreement with the state where he would have plead to one count of murder to one count of escape, but he withdrew the plea and continued moving forward with the trial.

Several more witnesses took the stand including several South Carolina Law Enforcement Division special agents, law enforcement agents from Aiken, South Carolina, and people from this community who knew Reid.

“Well, we’re hoping that we’re able to get justice today or closer to what we was yesterday,” said Deidre Reid’s brother James Reid. “We’re just grateful and thankful that we’re all here as a family and the voice for Deidre. And I’m just glad that her daughter is here too.”

Reid was last seen four years ago when her family says she was taking Bedford to a Greyhound Bus Station in Charlotte.

Authorities said that Bedford never got on the bus at the station and Reid wasn’t seen again. Bedford was charged with Reid’s murder shortly after.

The trial is expected to wrap up on Thursday

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