Portsmouth man arrested again for DUI, 25 years after crash that killed Katie DeCubellis and her best friend’s mom, Marsha Bowman

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — A Portsmouth man with a deadly history of drunk driving is back in trouble with the law. Stephen M. Reise, 64, was arrested Monday afternoon after crashing his car on Donna Drive. Police say Reise was heavily intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit.

Officers who responded to the scene around 3:30 p.m. reported that Reise smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, and showed signs of impairment. According to police, he admitted to drinking earlier in the day and later failed a field sobriety test. Authorities said he had been driving on a flat tire before the crash.

Police say Reise took a chemical breath test, which showed blood alcohol levels of .269% and .264%—more than three times the legal limit.

Reise is no stranger to DUI charges. In 1999, he was responsible for a drunk driving crash in East Greenwich that claimed the lives of 13-year-old Katie DeCubellis and 44-year-old Marsha Bowman. That crash occurred when Reise’s vehicle slammed into Bowman’s car from behind on Route 4, sending it across the median and into oncoming traffic.

The tragic collision devastated two families and deeply impacted the Rhode Island community. Katie, an eighth-grade student was riding with Bowman, her friend’s mother, on their way to the Warwick Mall when the crash happened.

In 2000, Reise pleaded no contest to multiple charges of driving under the influence, including two counts that resulted in death. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation.

Now, more than two decades later, Reise faces new DUI charges, reigniting painful memories of the lives lost in the 1999 crash. The case is currently under investigation.

Reise was released on $10,000 surety bail and is prohibited from driving.

In Katie’s memory, her family established the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation (KDMF), which continues to honor her life by promoting youth leadership, supporting education, and raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and substance abuse.

If you would like to donate to the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation go to kdmf.org