'Displaying Weakness': Unyielding Murderer, Nicknamed 'Mountain Dew Man' for Soda Bottles Near Campsite, Receives 100-Year Sentence for Elderly Couple's Murder

 

A young man from New Hampshire, Logan L. Clegg, is set to spend his life behind bars for the senseless murder of an elderly couple, Stephen Reid, 67, and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid, 66, who were fatally shot during a routine hike. 

Logan, aged 27, was found guilty on all charges, including four counts of second-degree murder, four counts of falsifying evidence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The motive for the murders remains unclear. Superior Court Judge John Kissinger Jr. expressed doubt about the possibility of rehabilitation, stating that Clegg is a "stone-cold, violent murderer." The court sentenced him to two consecutive terms of 50 years to life in prison, in line with prosecutors' recommendations.

The Reids, described as a dynamic humanitarian duo in their obituary, went for a walk on April 18, 2022, but never returned. Their bodies were discovered on April 21, 2022, in a wooded area near the Marsh Loop Trail, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Family members expressed their ongoing grief and anger during the sentencing hearing. Sister-in-law Barbara Reid remarked, “Despite this passage of time since their murders, waves of grief continue to crash over me with the same intensity as the moment we learned they were both dead.”

Clegg, who has consistently maintained his innocence, accused detectives of attempting to undermine a fair trial. However, Judge Kissinger dismissed claims of police misconduct. Clegg insisted on the possibility of a new trial, expressing confidence in proving his innocence if given another chance.

Clegg was homeless when arrested on warrants from Utah in October 2022 at a public library in South Burlington, Vermont. Dubbed "Mountain Dew Man" by authorities due to the empty Mtn Dew Code Red cans at his campsite, Clegg initially identified himself as "Arthur Kelly." 

He became a person of interest in the Reid murder case, and formal charges were filed less than a week later when investigators couldn't find records for an Arthur Kelly.

The case underscores the tragic loss of a beloved couple and the legal challenges surrounding the accused, whose chosen alias was inspired by his beverage preference.

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