The man charged with killing a popular equestrian who owned a North Fork horse farm was sentenced to 22 years in prison yesterday, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
According to the DA, Brett Knight hid in the bushes next to the Ross Reisner’s house on Upper Sheep Pasture Road on the evening of September 24, 2013 and fired his .40 caliber Smith & Wesson 11 times through the kitchen window, killing Reisner, 50, and grazing the arm of Reisner’s companion, Kevin Murray.
The Utah native, 47, met the victims in the early 1990s and moved into their home after American Express fired him after 18 years of employment, Spota said. Knight’s relationship with the pair deteriorated when he became convinced they interfered in his wrongful termination lawsuit filed against American Express, Spota added.
Knight settled out of court with the company and was eventually evicted from his basement apartment after he assaulted Murray in 2010, Spota said; Knight told homicide detectives Reisner and Murray betrayed him and destroyed his life, according to the DA.
In December, he pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and three counts of aggravated harassment.
In October, 2013, Spota said Knight sent disturbing texts — and a dead pigeon — before the murder.
Spota released the texts, along with a note, which read: “Woe upon them that have betrayed those that have shown them only love and kindness, for they shall suffer the remaining days of their lives. Their lying, deceitful tongues shall be seared, their flesh shall be burnt to purify them of their misdeeds. Their eyes shall be pierced and plucked, never again to look upon this world or see the disfigurement that they will become. Their stealing hands shall be nailed to the tree and they shall suffer the crucifixion, then their limbs severed like Muslim thieves. All that brought them joy and happiness will be swept away, and they shall be disfigured, unbearable to look upon like their wretched souls. And the thirst of justice upon hearing their screams of pain and torment shall be quenched!”
In addition, Spota said at the time that Knight texted a quote from the movie “Pulp Fiction,” a line by actor Samuel L. Jackson’s character before a murder:“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and tyranny of evil men. And I shall strike down upon thee with great vengeance an d furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. . . prepare yourself for a painful end.”
Reisner was a familiar face among the East End’s equestrian community, who estblished Maple Lane Farm in Mattituck.
At a press conference in 2013, Murray spoke. “I lost my partner,” he said. “We shared a beautiful life together.”
