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Reginald Reed Jr., affectionately known as Reggie, has spent over 20 years grappling with the tragic death of his mother, Selonia Reed. He was just 6 years old when Selonia, a 26-year-old bank teller, was discovered lifeless in her car in Hammond, Louisiana.
One of Reggie’s fleeting memories from that fateful day is of Selonia buying him a chocolate chip cookie at Hammond Square Mall. He remembers her kissing him goodbye, but the details that followed remain hazy.
The case takes center stage in the “48 Hours” episode titled “The Day My Mother Never Came Home,” featuring investigation by contributor Vladimir Duthiers and is available for streaming on Paramount+.
On a sweltering August day in 1987, Selonia’s body was found inside her blue Chevy Sprint, parked a mile and a half from their home. Police reported that she had been brutally attacked, suffering multiple stab wounds and signs of sexual assault.
Selonia’s husband, Reginald Reed Sr., initially reported her missing shortly before her body was found. He claimed that she had gone out with a friend the previous night, a statement that was contradicted when the friend later said they had “no plans” to meet. Despite these inconsistencies, Reginald maintained his account of the events.
As the investigation progressed, law enforcement uncovered allegations that Reginald had been abusive towards Selonia and that she had contemplated divorce. Although he emerged as a prime suspect, Reggie, still a child at the time, was completely unaware of the implications.
After receiving his father’s consent, police interviewed Reggie, capturing his responses on video while Reginald Sr. sat beside him, reinforcing his father’s alibi. In the years that followed, Reggie was deeply moved when he later watched the footage of his younger self, sobbing for his “mommy” and “daddy.”
“Looking at that, it’s still hard to believe that that’s me,” Reggie reflected. “It’s painful because I see me crying.” He eventually penned a memoir detailing his turbulent experiences, titled “The Day My Mother Never Came Home.”
It wasn’t until 2012, when he was 31, that Reggie learned of his father’s status as the primary suspect in his mother’s murder. He was living in San Antonio, having graduated college and begun a career in the pharmaceutical industry when a Texas Ranger unexpectedly knocked on his door.
“I was like, where’s this coming from?” Reggie shared. “I remember asking, is there any new evidence that surfaced?”
As time passed, the case’s lead investigator, Lt. Barry Ward of the Louisiana State Police, gathered new evidence adequate enough to indict both Reginald Reed Sr. and his alleged accomplice for second-degree murder. This accomplice, Jimmy Ray Barnes, agreed to testify against Reginald in exchange for a reduced sentence. By November 2022, Reginald Reed Sr. was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for Selonia’s murder.
In discussions with officials, Reggie learned that detectives theorized Reginald likely murdered Selonia in their bedroom while the young boy was asleep. Evidence indicated that Reginald later transported her body to the location where it was discovered. Testimony from Barnes corroborated seeing Reginald at the crime scene near Selonia’s remains.
Even now, Reggie grapples with the reality of his father’s conviction. “I want justice, but I didn’t think justice would require my dad going to prison for life,” he divulged when questioned about his beliefs regarding his father’s guilt. “I don’t know … perhaps he had some involvement, but… I don’t know.” This uncertainty has created a tug-of-war within him.
Reggie finds it challenging to reconcile the image his father presented as a loving parent with the role of a murder suspect. He recalls the nurturing environment Reginald provided, his investments in Reggie’s education, and the care he received throughout his upbringing. “I can’t just turn a page and call my father a complete monster,” Reggie expressed, highlighting the internal conflict he continues to face as he seeks closure in a long-buried trauma.
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