A New Jersey woman will likely spend the rest of her life in prison now that a jury has convicted her ofthe 2018 killing of her 17-month-old son, PEOPLE learns.
Heather Reynolds, 44, was found guilty last Thursday of murder, possession of methamphetamine and endangering the welfare of a child,according to a statement from prosecutorsin Camden County.
The Sicklerville womanwill be sentenced in October for smothering her son, Axel, on May 10, 2018.
Gloucester Township Police responded to the scene, and “the child was pronounced deceased a short time later,” a statement explains.
A year after the boy’s death, medical examiners determined he had died from asphyxia, and Reynolds was arrested on June 13, 2019.
Heather Reynolds and her son, Axel.Facebook
Reynolds was married at the time of the murder, but her husband was mostly out of town for work.
The Philadelphia Inquirerwas in the court roomwhen the verdict was read, and reports that Reynolds started crying after the jury’s decision was announced.
The paper reports that jurors deliberated for six hours before convicting Reynolds.
The woman’s attorney, Richard “Skip” Fuschino, told theInquirerReynolds maintains her innocence and plans to appeal the verdict.
Officials had also accused Reynolds of conspiring with her boyfriend, Jeffrey Callahan, to kill one of her exes, Domenic Caruso, after learning Caruso had spoken to the police investigating Axel’s death.
However, jurors acquitted her of conspiracy to commit murder and witness tampering chargesfiled last year.
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At trial, Fuschino argued in court that it was Caruso who smothered Axel while Reynolds was asleep. But prosecutors countered Caruso had no motive to kill the boy.
Along with Reynolds, Callahan was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and witness tampering. Prosecutors dropped the conspiracy count after he agreed to plead guilty to witness tampering.
A date for the 45-year-old Callahan’s sentencing has not been set.
source: people.com
