A Louisiana author has revealed he maintains a close relationship with his dad – despite his father’s recent conviction over the brutal cold case murder of his mom.
On August 23, 1987, Selonia Reed’s lifeless body was found in her 1986 Chevrolet Sprint at a local convenience store in Hammond, Louisiana.
The gruesome scene revealed her body covered in lotion, her face mutilated by blunt force trauma, and dozens of stab wounds, including one inflicted by an umbrella between her legs.
The incident took an even darker turn nearly 40 years later, on November 18, 2022, when Reginald Reed Sr., the father of the author, was found guilty of second-degree murder in Selonia’s death.
Now as Reginald Reed Sr. serves a life sentence in prison – his son, Reginald ‘Reggie’ Reed Jr., 64, is releasing his memoir, ‘The Day My Mother Never Came Home.’
In an exclusive interview with Dailymail.com, Reed Jr. explained how despite the horrifying circumstances of her death, he has clung onto his relationship with his father, whom his four-year-old son refers to as ‘paw paw.’
‘This is the man that raised me. I can’t just flip the script that he’s a monster,’ he said.
On August 23, 1987, Selonia Reed’s lifeless body was found in her 1986 Chevrolet Sprint at a local convenience store in Hammond, Louisiana. Nearly 40 years later, on November 18, 2022, Reginald Reed Sr. was found guilty of second-degree murder in Selonia’s death
In an exclusive interview with Dailymail.com, Reed Jr. (pictured as a child) explained how he maintained his close relationship with his father, whom his four-year-old son refers to as ‘paw paw’
Now Reginald Reed Sr. is serving a life sentence in prison and his son, Reginald ‘Reggie’ Reed Jr. is releasing his memoir, ‘The Day My Mother Never Came Home’ (Pictured)
In an emotional interview he recounted the moment his life changed forever – the last time he saw his mother alive and the subsequent police investigation into his murder that initially yielded no results.
‘I was six years old, I recall us being at home, my mother had gone out, we were at home playing Nintendo,’ he said. I just remember waking up and she never came home, realizing it was my last time seeing her.’
‘The town did a thorough investigation at the time. They turned over every stone, they interviewed a plethora of people – nothing came of it. Life just went on.’
Reed Jr’s father continued to raise him as he tried to move on with little physical or emotional support from his extended family.
‘I came to terms that no matter if we found the perpetrator or the suspect, it wasn’t going to bring my mother back. I wasn’t just going to live my life trying to find out who did it or why they did it,’ he explained.
However, after a push from his mother’s side of the family, pressure mounted to reopen the case. Eventually, new evidence emerged, leading to the arrest and testimony of a man connected to the crime scene.
Police tested a cigarette bud found at the scene through their investigation, and charged the man who had since become homeless. Then as part of a plea deal the man testified against his father.
And in 2019, Reed Jr. received a phone call that shook him to his core: ‘I got this call over thirty years later saying my dad got indicted.’
In 2019, Reed Jr. received a phone call that shook him to his core: ‘I got this call over thirty years later saying my dad got indicted’
Still, Reed Sr. is involved in his son’s life and an involved grandfather to two of Reed Jr.’s children, one of whom is named after him
Despite these revelations, Reed Jr. maintained his relationship with his father, acknowledging his central role in his upbringing and questioning his role in his mother’s murder.
‘I don’t feel resentment to my father. I think it’s going to be hard for a lot people to understand my situation as far as still having that relationship with my dad,’ he said.
‘I don’t think people take the time to understand. This is the man that raised me, and a lot of my learning and teaching – my upbringing came from him. And all of a sudden I’m exposed to this revelation that my dad murdered my mom – I can’t just flip the script that he’s a monster.’
‘He continued to be a dad, a father, a provider.’
Still now, Reed Sr. is involved in his son’s life and an involved grandfather to two of Reed Jr.’s children – a two-month old and a four-year-old who is named after him.
He discusses Spiderman and Transformers with his grandson on calls from prison. Reed Jr. doesn’t believe his father would ever be considered a danger to his sons.
He admits the evidence against his father doesn’t look good but can’t believe his father could have murdered his mother in that gruesome manner – and he still struggles with the lack of closure regarding his mother’s death.
‘There’s no concrete evidence. There’s no video of him stabbing my mom. I’m a realist – I know it doesn’t look good,’ he said.
‘The defendant testifying against him, the life insurance money – but at the same token this is the parent that I interacted with the majority of my life.’
Reed Jr. and his father did not discuss his mother’s tragic death in their home growing up. He referred to the incident as ‘the elephant in the room.’
He only became aware of the graphic details of his mother’s murder in his teenage years when he became curious and went to research the details in the local library.
Even after learning the gruesome truth of his mother’s murder, Reed Jr. found it difficult to reconcile it with the reality of her death.
‘I felt like I was reading about somebody else,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to read that and think that’s my mother. I felt like I was reading something that didn’t align with me.’
After the indictment of his father, Reed Jr. questioned the evidence against him.
‘It’s all circumstantial, all these years nothing came out.
‘There’s still an unhappiness with the outcome of how this played out with my dad. I was hoping to get full closure, but at the end of the day I still don’t have a clear answer as to who killed my mother.
‘Hypothetically, if he really did actually do everything and he’s the same person who raised me – that’s crazy.’
He also expressed disappointment in the lack of support from his mother’s family throughout the ordeal.
His family on his mother’s side did not reach out to him for years, later blaming it on his father saying he wouldn’t let them see him. But Reed Jr. believes that that isn’t a valid excuse.
He said they could have reached out when he was 18-years-old or a 30-year-old man, but they never did.
‘The support wasn’t there .. where was the support,’ he said.
‘I don’t share this story for sympathy reasons,’ Reed Jr emphasized. ‘I got through my whole life without a pat on my back but even after trial, after he was indicted, nobody reached out.
‘But my dad, the only parent I had left was convicted of second degree murder and will spend life in prison and nobody had the nerve to reach out – not nobody, but it wasn’t the dynamic support one would expect.’
Looking back at the few years he enjoyed with his mother and father living together as a family, Reed Jr, recalled: ‘I was a mama’s boy. My memories – I wish I had more – they’re very slim of all of us together as a family. But I don’t remember anything out of the norm.’
Reed describes the act of forgiving his father and how it ‘didn’t erase the pain or justify his actions,’ but rather allowed him to ‘release the burden of resentment and focus on healing and moving forward’
His new book, available in May, recounts the ‘real-life emotional rollercoaster’ as he describes the tragedy that ‘shook his world’ at just six years old.
Reed describes the act of forgiving his father and how it ‘didn’t erase the pain or justify his actions,’ but rather allowed him to ‘release the burden of resentment and focus on healing and moving forward.’
‘I underwent a painful process of coming to terms with the duality of his character. The caring father I knew who was very charismatic, involved within the local community and heavily involved in the political arena was the same person capable of committing a crime that tore our family apart,’ he said in a piece he wrote for Newsweek.
He added: ‘Our relationship, though changed forever, evolved into something different yet still meaningful. We communicate through letters and occasional visits, discussing mundane aspects of life and occasionally delving into deeper topics.
‘There are moments of shared laughter and tears, acknowledging the past while trying to find moments of connection in the present’.
‘Growing up, my father was a central figure in my life—a source of love, guidance, and support. He taught me valuable life lessons, instilled important values, and showed me what it means to be responsible and caring. Our bond was strong, built on years of shared experiences and mutual respect,’ Reed wrote in Newsweek.
He also seeks to break down stigmas surrounding mental health in the Black community and pave the way for future generations to navigate life’s challenges with courage.
‘I’ve also been given the chance to spark dialogue and promote positive change in society by shedding light on important issues such as forgiveness and redemption, as well as the intricacies of the criminal justice system.’
‘It’s important to encourage conversations about empathy, understanding, and the power of second chances.’
Even after the indictment of his father (pictured), Reed Jr. questioned the evidence against him
‘It’s also crucial to address the challenges Black men face in navigating their mental health. By opening up conversations about mental well-being, I aim to break down stigmas and barriers that hinder access to support and resources.
‘Through my advocacy, I strive to promote a culture of empathy, understanding, and empowerment, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive and seek help when needed.’
The Day My Mother Never Came Home is available for pre-order.