Top suspect in PTC hotel attack dies in Coweta Friday

A Sharpsburg man suspected of sexually assaulting and setting afire a hotel clerk in Peachtree City early Wednesday morning is dead after he tried to evade a Coweta County sheriff's deputy Friday.

Beau Christian Reed, 23, was pronouced dead at the scene of the accident on Fisher Road Friday, said Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager. The victim of the attack, still recovering from the burns to her back, positively identified Reed as the person who assaulted her, said Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray.

Murray said the case would not officially be closed until DNA, fiber and other evidence is processed confirming that Reed committed the assault.
Murray said detectives had contacted Reed just prior to the convenience store incident, asking him to come to the police station to give an interview and he indicated he would

Instead of going to Peachtree City, however, Reed stole his roommate's car, which is what the Coweta deputy wanted to question Reed about when he encountered Reed at a convenience store, Yeager said.

Reed sped away and lost control of the vehicle about a mile down the road, Yeager said. He was ejected from the vehicle after it ran off the road into a field, the sheriff added.

Reed had recently moved to Sharpsburg after living in Peachtree City for a time, Murray said. Reed was also wanted by the state of Nebraska for parole violation, the chief added.