Reed gets two life sentences for Bloomfield bowling alley murders

CENTER, Neb. — A northeast Nebraska man will spend the rest of his life in prison for a pair of first-degree murder convictions.

Knox County District Court Judge James Kube sentenced 27-year-old Alias Reed to a pair of life sentences on Tuesday. Reed previously pleaded no contest to two first-degree murder charges for the killings of Curtis Strom and William Reffett.

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The case dates back to February of 2024 when police say Reed entered Curt’s Lanes bowling alley in Bloomfield. According to court documents, Reed told Nebraska State Patrol investigators that he walked into the bowling alley with a shotgun concealed in a cardboard box and planned to kill Strom and Reffett. He told investigators that he told Reffett he was going to rob him. When Reffett turned and walked to the back of the business, Reed shot him in the head and then shot Strom in the head.

Reed’s girlfriend, Kaylynn Sweazy, was accused of helping Reed dispose of the murder weapon. She made a plea deal and received a sentence of 3-7 years in prison.

NCN will update this story with full coverage from the courtroom.