Reggie Reed Jr.

I feel numb. Yeah, I feel numb. This is where it all started. You know, this is the halls I used to run. This is the TV room. This was the TV room.

That was in this room.

He told me why he was here, and it was to discuss my mother's murder.

I was like, where is this coming from? Like, it's been over three decades. You're talking about my dad, like, killed my mom. I'm like, seriously? I remember asking, is there any new evidence that will surface? And it was nothing new.

He showed me a graph, a timeline that showed these insurance policies that were taken out close to her death.

It was eye-opening because I'm like, well, that doesn't look good. I got to learn more, like, what's all this? Reggie struggled to make sense of it all. I did talk to my dad about it over the phone and His response was, he took out policies on everyone.

I look back, I'm like, man, he really did do some great stuff for me. He was a great provider.

I don't trust the law no more.

I got a call that my father was indicted for second degree murder and conspiracy, along with a co-defendant for my mother's murder.

My dad being my rock for so many years, I felt the need to try to help him.

Yeah, I asked him. I asked him, and he maintains his innocence.

I want to know what happened.

And that was... I was interviewed after she was murdered as a six-year-old. When I watched that video over and over again, what I see is a six-year-old boy that

He says, completely BS. He says, it's no way. We were at home playing Nintendo.

And it really struck a chord by just seeing my mother there, lifeless and just alone and dead.

When he was found guilty, I feel like he died without dying. And I saw myself at that scene, six-year-old, crying out for my dad as I did in that video. I just wanted to end.

My father grabbed me up into a big hug. I wanted to stay there forever. He pulled back for a moment, looked me in the eyes, and kissed me on the forehead. We embraced once more, and then they took him away from me.

And you're asking me, you're trying to find out who killed my mother.

This is my parents' room.

In this room. I just go back thinking of the manner and the way in which she was killed. If she was killed here, how is it possible that they couldn't find anything? Where was I? Did you leave the house after I fell asleep?

You know, I want justice, but I didn't think justice was gonna come at the price of my dad going to prison for life.

I don't know. Another question, do I think my dad had some involvement? Maybe. I don't know, though. I don't know. So that's where I'm just, it's like a tug of war game. Just knowing the type of father He is. I can't just turn a page and just look at my father as a complete monster.

Absolutely. And I think about that she's in a place where she's consistently watching over me.

When our daughter was born, we both agreed there's no other name that we should name her except Salonia. You know, give that name an opportunity to live life and be recognized in a positive way.

It just begs the question, why?

After my mother was murdered, things moved fast. Couldn't really understand, like, why would somebody kill her? Like, what did she do?

I feel like I missed out on a huge part of life that I'll never get back.

What does that feel like? When I think about how my mother's life was shortened and how my experience was shortened, I feel empty. If somebody says to you, who is Salonia, what do you say? If someone asks me who is Salonia, I would say, you're looking at her. Because based on the description, the memories, and what things people have shared, when I look in the mirror, I see my mother.

Within these pages, you will find the memories of a six-year-old boy whose mother was murdered, a 15-year-old young man searching for his place in the world without the guidance and encouragement of his mother. The night my mother went out and never came home, life for me and my father It's basically flipped upside down.

My name is Reggie Reed. Salonia Reed is my mother. And Reginald Reed Sr. is my father. My mother, she was the love of my life, my first love. And I was her everything. It was very rare I wasn't by her side. Take me back and tell me what you remember about that day. That day, we went to the mall.

That's one of the things to do in Hammond, just go to the mall, even though if you're not buying anything. Window shop, if you will. Went to the mall, came home, and my mom went out. And she never came home.

Looking at that, it's still hard to believe that that's me. Watching that video just brings back so many questions and pain because I see me crying.