“The Day My Mother Never Came Home”: 48 Hours Reports on Selonia Reed Homicide April 12 2025

CBS’s 48 Hours returns on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 10:00 PM ET/PT with a haunting episode titled “The Day My Mother Never Came Home,” reported by Vladimir Duthiers. The episode explores the decades-long mystery surrounding the 1987 murder of Selonia Reed in Hammond, Louisiana—a case that eventually led to the shocking indictment and conviction of her husband, Reginald Reed Sr. The story is told through the eyes of their son, Reginald “Reggie” Reed Jr., who was just six years old when his mother died and who only learned the full truth decades later.

Through interviews with Reggie himself, law enforcement officials, and the defense team who represented Reginald Sr., the episode provides insight into how a seemingly cold case unraveled and forced a son to question the very foundation of his upbringing.

A Mother’s Murder: What Happened to Selonia Reed

On the morning of August 23, 1987, 26-year-old Selonia Reed’s body was discovered inside her blue Chevrolet Sprint in a vacant parking area near a gas station—just over a mile from her family home. Her body had been beaten, stabbed multiple times, and stripped. She had also been sexually assaulted. The scene was gruesome and confusing for investigators.

Her husband, Reginald Reed Sr., reported her missing earlier that same day, claiming she had gone out the previous night with a friend. But when that friend denied they had any plans, inconsistencies in Reginald’s account started to raise questions. Police began to suspect that Selonia’s murder was more than just a tragic, random act of violence.

A Child Becomes an Alibi

At the time of the murder, Reggie Reed Jr. was only six years old. In the hours after his mother’s death, he was interviewed by detectives while sitting next to his father. On camera, young Reggie confirmed his father’s account of the previous evening: that the two had stayed home, played video games, and fell asleep on the couch together. In effect, Reggie became his father’s alibi.

Reggie would not learn until adulthood that his father had been the primary suspect from the beginning. Nor was he aware of the domestic abuse allegations that Selonia had previously shared with family members. At the time, the case went cold, leaving Reggie to grow up with questions that no one seemed able—or willing—to answer.

The Case Reopened: New Evidence and a New Witness

More than two decades later, in 2012, a Texas Ranger arrived at Reggie’s home with questions about his mother’s murder. By then, Reggie was an adult working in the pharmaceutical industry. This unexpected visit sparked a renewed investigation into Selonia’s death. Detective Barry Ward of the Louisiana State Police led the effort to reexamine the case.

Crucially, a piece of DNA evidence from a cigarette butt found at the crime scene was re-tested and matched a man named Jimmy Ray Barnes—a friend of Reginald Reed Sr. Barnes eventually agreed to testify against Reginald in exchange for a reduced sentence. He told investigators that he had seen Reginald with Selonia’s body in her car and that Reginald had offered him $50,000 to help her “disappear.” In 2019, a grand jury indicted both men. The prosecution believed Selonia had been killed in the couple’s bedroom while Reggie slept nearby.

The Trial and Conviction of Reginald Reed Sr.

In November 2022, after a long-awaited trial, Reginald Reed Sr. was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His defense, led by attorneys Vanessa Williams and LaToia Williams-Simon, argued the evidence was circumstantial. Still, Barnes’ testimony and the cumulative weight of the forensic and witness evidence led to a unanimous verdict.

The trial was a pivotal moment for Reggie, who attended the proceedings with mixed emotions. Although he sought justice for his mother, watching his father—who had raised him alone—be convicted as her killer was emotionally devastating. The sentencing marked a conclusion to the legal case but left Reggie with lasting internal conflict.

A Memoir and a Lifelong Search for Closure

In his memoir, The Day My Mother Never Came Home, Reggie Reed Jr. recounts his journey to uncover the truth about his mother’s death. The book is both a personal narrative and an investigative work. He shares how he filed public records requests, analyzed forensic documents, and confronted conflicting accounts from family and law enforcement.

Reggie’s memoir reveals new evidence, including multiple life insurance policies taken out shortly before his mother’s death, and interviews with relatives who recalled a history of domestic violence. These findings added further layers to the already complex case and raised troubling questions about motive and premeditation.

But Reggie also writes about the emotional toll of learning that the man he idolized may have committed the crime. Despite the verdict, he still wrestles with doubt. He acknowledges that while he believes his father may have been involved, he cannot fully reconcile the man who raised him with the one described in court.

Living With the Aftermath

Now a father himself, Reggie continues to navigate the emotional consequences of the case. He maintains a relationship with his imprisoned father, despite criticism from some. He explains that their bond is complicated, filled with love, confusion, and pain. Reggie has made peace with not having all the answers but continues to seek understanding through dialogue, therapy, and storytelling.

In interviews, Reggie has expressed that forgiveness does not equate to forgetting or excusing. Rather, it’s about finding peace in the face of trauma. The impact of his mother’s murder, and his father’s conviction, continues to shape his life and how he parents his own children.

Conclusion

“The Day My Mother Never Came Home” is more than a cold case finally solved—it is a story of generational trauma, resilience, and the enduring quest for truth. Through detailed reporting and emotional testimony, 48 Hours captures the devastating ripple effect of a violent crime on a family and a community. For Reggie Reed Jr., the journey continues—not just to understand what happened on that summer night in 1987, but to come to terms with the complicated legacy of love, loss, and justice.