Home / Crime and Justice / Mother's Murder: Son Finds Truth Decades Later
Mother's Murder: Son Finds Truth Decades Later
28 Jun
Summary
- DNA linked twin brother to murder scene after 30 years.
- Husband offered $50,000 to friend to kill his wife.
- Son convicted of murder after decades of unanswered questions.
The unsolved murder of Selonia Reed in 1987 haunted her family for over three decades. Her son, Reggie Reed Jr., was only six years old when his mother was killed, leaving him with profound emotional scars and unanswered questions. The initial investigation focused on Selonia's husband, Reginald Reed Sr., and his friend, Jimmy Ray Barnes.
In 2011, Louisiana State Police Lt. Barry Ward reopened the case, pursuing new leads. DNA evidence later linked Billy Ray Barnes, Jimmy Ray's identical twin, to a cigarette butt found at the crime scene. This breakthrough led Jimmy Ray to confess that Reginald Reed Sr. had offered him $50,000 to murder Selonia.
In 2019, Reginald Reed Sr. and Jimmy Ray Barnes were indicted for second-degree murder and conspiracy. Barnes pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact. Reginald Reed Sr.'s trial began in November 2022, with the prosecution arguing he killed his wife for insurance money amid marital problems.
On November 18, 2022, Reginald Reed Sr. was found guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on January 30, 2023. Selonia's son, Reggie Reed Jr., named his newborn daughter Selonia, honoring his mother and seeking a positive legacy.
