HAMMOND, La. — It has been over three decades since the tragic night of August 22, 1987, when Selonia Reed, a young mother and bank teller, never returned home, leaving her family embroiled in a mystery that would span generations. Her six-year-old son, Reggie Reed Jr., vividly remembers his final moments with his mother—they shared a chocolate chip cookie at the Hammond Square Mall before she left him with a loving kiss that evening.
The sudden and brutal end to Selonia Reed’s life came as a shock to those who knew her. Described as a kind and dedicated mother, her violent death raised questions that remained unanswered for years. Found between the bucket seats of her car, Reed had been stabbed multiple times and sexually assaulted—an image that haunted both family members and law enforcement.
In the subsequent investigation, law enforcement faced numerous dead ends. A curious detail emerged early on—a Winston cigarette butt found in Reed’s car, potentially indicating someone else’s presence at the crime scene. However, definitive leads were scant, and the case gradually went cold, leaving Selonia’s family yearning for justice.
The investigation took a startling turn years later when new forensic technologies came into play. DNA testing of the cigarette butt eventually matched Billy Ray Barnes, initially throwing investigators off due to his being the identical twin brother of Jimmy Ray Barnes, both acquaintances of Selonia’s husband, Reginald Reed Sr.
Reginald, who had previously run for mayor and portrayed the family patriarch, faced scrutiny as detectives unearthed troubling elements, including multiple life insurance policies taken out on Selonia shortly before her death that amounted to over $700,000. Despite these suspicious circumstances, the complexity of the case muddled the investigation, with no charges being immediately brought forward.
The persistence of law enforcement finally paid off when an old acquaintance of Reed, Jimmy Ray Barnes, disclosed significant information decades later. He claimed that Reginald had once offered him $50,000 to kill his wife—a shocking allegation that reignited the investigation.
Armed with new evidence and testimonies, the case was brought before a grand jury, resulting in second-degree murder indictments for both Reginald Reed Sr. and Jimmy Ray Barnes. On June 21, 2019, more than 30 years after the murder, Reginald was arrested, sparking a mix of relief and renewed grief among relatives and friends.
The trial unearthed more than just the grim details of a cold case; it highlighted the enduring pain of a son who had grown up shadowed by tragedy. Reggie Reed Jr., who supported his father through the trial and even posted his bail, grappled with the juxtaposition of the father he knew and the man accused of such a heinous act.
Despite the decades that had passed, the emotional toll of the case on everyone involved remained palpable. Selonia’s sister, Gwen Smith, and others close to the case expressed a deep-seated desire for closure and justice, reflecting the community’s need to reconcile with the past.
In a poignant reflection of his loss and in an attempt to find peace, Reggie named his daughter after his late mother, hoping to restore positivity to a name overshadowed by tragedy. As the community of Hammond looked on, the Reed case served as a somber reminder of the profound impacts of crime on families and the relentless pursuit of justice, no matter how much time has passed.