He was 6 when his mom disappeared. Decades later, his dad was arrested in her murder. | Forensic Files

We want to begin this hour with an emotional 48 Hours investigation. Reggie Reed Jr. was only 6 years old when his
mother, Salonia, was killed. His father used him as an alibi, but new evidence has thrown that into doubt. Reggie Reed
Jr. spoke to Vladimir Duthiers for 48 Hours about what he remembers from that night. Here's an early look.
It's been decades since Reggie Reed Jr. last saw his mother, Salonia. I feel like I missed out on a huge part
of life that I'll never get back. Reggie was only 6 years old on August 22nd, 1987. He remembers his mother
kissing him goodbye when she left the house that night, but the rest, he says, is a blur.
Life for me and my father basically flipped upside down. Charles Muse, now retired, was the
police officer who found Salonia's body after taking the initial missing persons
report from her husband, Reginald Reed. I noticed the car and noticed Salonia's body inside the
car. Reginald Reed Sr. told Officer Muse that his wife had gone out with a friend and
never returned home. He told investigators he stayed home and played video games with Reggie.
Tell me what you remember about that night. Reginald Sr. gave police permission to
speak with his son. Don't be afraid. Just, you know, when she talked to you Don't be Don't Don't be afraid.
I don't want to talk to you. What's the matter, baby? He said he don't want to talk to you.
That's all right. Look. Didn't I tell you before that I'm I'm your friend? Oh, he's here, baby.
Okay, darling. Watching that video just brings back so so many questions and and pain.
Reggie wrote a memoir about his mother's murder, The Day My Mother Never Came Home.
The murder was in 1987, but Reggie had no idea his father was a prime suspect until decades later.
A detective taking a fresh look at the case arrested Reginald Reed in part because a witness had placed him near
the crime scene and because he'd taken out several life insurance policies on Solonia only days before the murder.
Do you believe that your father murdered your mother? I don't know. Yes. Vlad joins us now from Culberson County,
Texas. Vlad, that video of Reggie Jr. is just heartbreaking. Was there a trial for Reggie Jr.'s dad and then what did
Reggie Jr. make of the case against his father? There was a trial for Reginald Senior
Reggie Jr. testified at the trial. His father did not. He was defended by a mother-daughter duo
criminal defense attorneys who are incredibly compelling. What was heartbreaking Dana and Adriana as you
saw in that video of Reggie as a 6-year-old child being interrogated by the police crying for his father. I want
my daddy. I want my daddy. Well, when the jury came back with a conviction and found Reginald Senior guilty of the
murder of his mother, Reggie collapsed to his knees in that courtroom and essentially cried out exactly as he did
as a 6-year-old, I want my daddy. I don't I want my daddy. Please don't take my daddy away. You have to understand
his father raised Reggie from the time he was 6-years-old. He credits all the success that he's had in life to his
dad. Oh my goodness, Vlad. Each detail is just harder to hear than than the last.
Um, so is there anything else that he was able to share with you about what he might have remembered about the night
his mom died? You know, he was 6-years-old. He has some fleeting memories of of the night
that his mother never came home as he as he writes in his book Uh, the day my mother never came home. But he really
doesn't remember all that much from the day. He says he remembers that they went
to the mall, that his mom bought him a cookie. But when you listen to the prosecutor
Taylor Anthony in the discussions that I had with him over the course of many many hours, at one point I came away
thinking that the state did have a very strong case against his father. He took out life insurance policies on Solonia
just a few days before she died. But when I spoke to the mother-daughter duo who defended Reginald Senior, they make
a very compelling case why they think the wrong man is in jail. All right, Vlad. Absolutely compelling.
Thank you. You can watch Vlad's 48 Hours report The Day My Mother Never Came Home
tomorrow at 10:00 9:00 Central right here on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus.

Reggie Reed says his life "flipped upside down" when his mom disappeared on Aug. 22, 1987, and was found dead, when he was 6 years old. Decades later, his dad, Reginald Reed Sr., was arrested for her murder. CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers delved into the story for "48 Hours."

Each weekday morning, "CBS Mornings" co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson bring you the latest breaking news, smart conversation and in-depth feature reporting. "CBS Mornings" airs weekdays at 7 a.m. on CBS and stream it at 8 a.m. ET on the CBS News app.

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Brief Summary

Reggie Reed Jr. recalls his mother's murder and the trial of his father, who was convicted of the crime.

Key points

The Day My Mother Never Came Home. Reggie Reed Jr. shares his painful memories of his mother's murder and his father's trial.

Episode highlights

The Day My Mother Never Came HomeReggie Reed Jr. shares his painful memories of his mother's murder and his father's trial.“I want my daddy. Please don't take my daddy away.”3:25Apr 11, 2025

Episode quotes

I want my daddy. Please don't take my daddy away.

Reggie Jr. cries out in court after his father's conviction.

3:22WatchApr 11, 2025

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