Preachers Son Turned Gangbanger: Rueben Reed's Story

🚨 WARNING: This episode contains explicit language, depictions of violence, and adult themes. Viewer discretion advised.

In this raw, unfiltered episode of Behind the Bars, we dive into the turbulent life of Rueben Bennie Reed Jr. (Inmate #02021938), a man whose journey from East Texas preacher’s kid to hardened gangster reads like a Shakespearean tragedy.

The Unseen War Within
Rueben’s life began in Palestine, Texas, a town split by race and religion. Born to a Pentecostal pastor and a missionary, he was ordained as a minister at 13—yet simultaneously initiated into the Crips. His childhood was shattered at age 4 when he became a victim of sexual abuse, a secret he buried for 35 years after authorities dismissed his cries. "I loved her," he admits about his abuser, whose recent death reopened old wounds. This abuse warped his understanding of love, leading him into a spiral of drugs, violence, and a relentless pursuit of power [Trigger Warning: Graphic Content].

Double Lives & Deadly Choices
The Scholar & The Street King: Rueben taught himself to read at 4, aced nursing exams by chance, and dreamed of engineering—yet sold meth, orchestrated drive-bys, and danced with death.

Football Star to Fugitive: Once scouted by Texas A&M, his dreams crumbled after a failed drug test. Instead of cleats, he picked up crack pipes and pistols.

Love, Betrayal, & Bloodshed: His marriage to a devoted wife collided with a life of orgies, meth-fueled violence, and a near-fatal car crash that left him addicted to painkillers. "I choked my wife, shot my friends, and cooked meth in the hood," he confesses.

Behind the Door: Texas Prison’s Gladiator
After a 2014 SWAT standoff—sparked by a botched robbery setup—Rueben was sentenced to 20 years in TDCJ. But prison became his reckoning. "The system doesn’t play fair," he warns, detailing gang politics, survival codes, and a haunting reflection: "I played God... until God played me."

A Testimony of Chaos & Grace
Rueben’s story isn’t just about crime—it’s a battle for identity. From meth kingpin to self-proclaimed "love incarnate," he grapples with faith, racism, and the ghost of his military father, whose icy silence drove Rueben to extremes. "I wanted to hear ‘I love you’... so I became a monster."

🚨 WARNING: This episode contains explicit language, depictions of violence, and adult themes. Viewer discretion advised.

"Can a man who’s lived as both saint and sinner find peace in a cell? Or is the truth too heavy to carry alone?"

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell to follow Rueben’s journey and more gripping stories on Behind the Bars. Drop a comment: Would you forgive the unforgivable?

This account is based on Rueben Bennie Reed Jr.’s firsthand testimony.

If you would like to write to Rueben please send correspondents here:

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Rueben Reed Number: 02021938
PO Box 660400
Dallas, Texas 75266-0400.

**Behind the Bars** takes you inside the walls of prisons worldwide, featuring raw and honest interviews with men and women who have done time or are currently incarcerated. Hear their stories, gain insight into their lives, and explore the realities of life behind bars.

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