Naman Shrestha
In August 1987, the life of a 6-year-old boy named Reginald “Reggie” Reed Jr. turned upside down when his mother, Selonia Reed, was found brutally murdered inside her car in Hammond, Louisiana. With the police trying their best to search for the perpetrator, they were unable to find any substantial evidence or lead. The episode titled ‘The Day My Mother Never Came Home’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ takes us through the gruesome murder case and how it took the authorities decades to apprehend the killer. It also features an exclusive interview with Selonia’s son, who talks about the tragedy from his point of view.
Selonia Reed’s Remains Were Found Near a Convenience Store in Hammond
Lovingly referred to as Loni by her family and friends, Selonia Ophelia Smith was a spirited woman who lived life on her own terms. Born on December 13, 1960, she was raised alongside her loving sisters, Gwen and Jacqueline “Jackie” Smith, with whom she shared a tight-knit bond. The trio of sisters were best friends who harbored a pure connection fueled by understanding and mutual respect. As years went by, everyone got busy with their lives — Selonia had tied the knot with a man named Reginald Lathan Reed Sr. However, the sisters managed to be a part of each other’s lives. On December 24, 1980, Selonia and Reginald welcomed a baby boy whom they named Reginald Reed Jr. AKA Reggie. Following the birth of little Reggie, Selonia embraced motherhood with open arms. Her world revolved around her baby boy, and she showered her kid with tender love and care.
A reputed member of the community in Hammond, Louisiana, the mother of one was a generous and affectionate individual who minded her own business and never shied away from offering a helping hand to those in need. It was due to her caring nature that she had bagged employment at the Seventh Ward General Hospital. After working there for a few years, Selonia decided to switch jobs in 1986 and went on to assume the role of a teller at Citizen’s National Bank. In August 1987, Jackie had come down from New Orleans to visit her sister and nephew and stayed at their place for a week until Reginald — who was out for some work — got back. The day of August 22, 1987, started as a regular one for Selonia. She met with Gwen after the latter left work and spoke to her about going out with Reginald and Reggie to the mall later, which the trio did. According to her son, when they got back from the mall, Selonia left the house again. Unfortunately, that was the last he ever saw of his beloved mother.
After not getting ahold of her anywhere, Reginald called Gwen around 6:30 am on August 23 and asked for the whereabouts of the 26-year-old. An hour later, Hammond Police Department received a call from Reginald requesting to file a missing persons report. It had only been around 60 minutes when she was found dead inside her blue-colored 1986 Chevrolet Sprint parked not far from John’s Curb Market, a local convenience store at East Thomas Street, just about one and a half miles from their house. According to the authorities, Selonia endured blunt force trauma to her face and had multiple stab wounds. Taking into consideration other details obtained from the crime scene, they deduced that she was sexually assaulted. The cause of death of Selonia Smith Reed was determined to be multiple stab wounds. After discovering her remains, the police swiftly launched an investigation into her murder.
Selonia Reed’s Killer Evaded Justice For Decades
As part of the investigation, the authorities first interviewed Selonia Reed’s husband, Reginald Reed, on the day her remains were recovered. According to him, she had gone out with one of her girlfriends the night before. He claimed that he and his son, Reggie, stayed in and spent the evening playing video games before sleeping in the same sofa bed. However, when the police asked the girlfriend if it was true, she denied having any plans to go out that night. After talking to Selonia’s loved ones, the detectives learned about the alleged physical abuse she had been suffering at the hands of her husband. They also claimed that she was thinking of getting a divorce. Thus, he became a person of interest and a potential suspect in the eyes of the police.
Upon obtaining permission from Reginald to interview the 6-year-old, they asked him about his version of the night before. During the videotaped interview, he testified that Reginald’s account of the evening was true and ended up becoming his father’s alibi. Despite being the primary suspect in the case, Selonia’s husband allegedly made the most of his political ties and avoided getting formally charged at the time. Decades later, in the early 2010s, the investigators finally caught a break in the case when DNA was found on a cigarette left inside the deceased woman’s car. The renewed interest in the case and several witness accounts pointed the authorities in the direction of a suspect named Jimmy Ray Barnes. In order to interrogate Jimmy and find some answers, the police traveled to Georgia.
Although initially denying any involvement in the murder, he eventually confessed to his role, claiming that Reginald offered him $50,000 to help him get rid of his wife. By then, the authorities believed that the husband had killed Selonia in their bedroom while 6-year-old Reggie slept. According to their theory, the alleged killer then placed her remains in her car and drove down to the site where she was found the following day. The detectives also learned about the five life insurance policies Reginald had bought, three of which were issued just a few days prior to the murder. Amounting to over $700,000, the policies also included an accidental death benefit rider. Following Jimmy’s confession, the police had gathered enough evidence against Reginald to arrest him. Finally, after more than three decades, in June 2019, Selonia’s husband was arrested for killing her in August 1987.
Reginald Reed Sr. is Currently Incarcerated at a Louisiana Prison Facility
Three years later, in 2022, Reginald Reed Sr. finally stood trial for the horrific murder of his wife, Selonia Reed, in 1987. During his trial, Jimmy Ray Barnes, who had pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and sentenced to five years in prison, testified against the defendant. The prosecution also presented other key evidence, such as DNA evidence and other eyewitness accounts, in front of the jury. On the other hand, the defense tried to argue with the prosecution’s evidence, but only in vain.
On November 18, 2022, the jury deliberated and found him guilty of second-degree murder. A couple of months later, on January 30, 2023, Reginald Reed Sr. was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of death. In the same month, Jimmy was released for time served, and within a year, he passed away in an accident. Now that Jimmy was not alive anymore, Reginald and his defense counsel filed an appeal. As of today, he is serving his life sentence at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, while maintaining his innocence.
Read More: Reginald Reed Jr: Where is Selonia Reed’s Son Now?
