COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — A Plano man will spend the rest of his life in prison after attacking and severely injuring girlfriend with an ax in 2021, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced.
Gregory Reed, 57, was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury to a family member.
On June 9, 2021, Plano police officers were called to a home on Buckle Lane in response to an assault. When officers arrived, family members said that they believed Reed had used an ax to attack his girlfriend and left the home with her.
Officers said they saw obvious signs of trauma, including a lot of blood and the ax.
Plano PD said Reed and the victim were located at a nearby hospital and said the victim had significant injuries to her hand and arm.
When officers were able to separate her from Reed, she told police that she was sleeping when Reed woke her up wielding an ax and swung it at her.
The victim said she had to use her hands and arms to defend herself, and Reed eventually stopped attacking her as she was begging for her life.
The victim had to have multiple surgeries, which resulted in permanent disfigurement, police said.
The victim, who is not being identified, faced Reed in court during his trial.
“This brave woman survived a deadly attack by fighting for her life against an ax-wielding abuser, who scarred her permanently. She then had the courage to face him in court. In return, this violent habitual offender deserved nothing less than the maximum sentence,” said DA Willis after Reed was sentenced.
Collin County Judge Benjamin Smith presided over the case, found Reed guilty and handed down his life sentence. Reed had been previously sentenced to prison for five years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 19 years for assault family violence with previous conviction, officials said.
