NJ mother, Heather Reynolds remanded to stay behind bars as she faces trial for the alleged suffocation murder of her toddler son, Axel cause he got in the way of an extramarital affair.
A Gloucester Township, NJ mother appearing in court has been alleged to have suffocated her 17-month-old toddler son after holding a cleaning wipe over his nose and mouth because the boy was getting in the way of an extramarital affair.
Heather Reynolds, 41, who also struggles with addiction to crystal meth, sobbed as her attorney denied charges of murdering and endangering her son Axel on May 10 last year during a detention hearing, Wednesday.
She was remanded in custody at Camden county superior court, New Jersey, pending trial where she could be sentenced to life in prison CBS Philly reported.
The mother studied Health Science at the University of Florida before taking developmental psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
‘This is an absolutely brutal murder and a helpless victim,’ assistant prosecutor Peter Gallagher said reported nj.com.
NJ mom guilty of smothering toddler to death cause he was obstacle to extra-marital affair
He also asserted it would required ‘commitment’ to carry out the killing because of the time it would take.
Retorted Reynold’s defense attorney, Michael Testa, ‘She adamantly denies that she has anything to do with the death of her child’.
Axel Reynold’s murder ruled a homicide:
Notice of the toddler’s death came when on May 10, 2018, police were called to Reynolds’ home in Gloucester Township where responding officers found the woman screaming for help while holding the lifeless body of her son.
The boy was observed having bruises around his mouth and nose and smelled of alcohol, the prosecution said.
Officers found the boy on the lawn of the family home.
Medical Examiner Gerald Feigin ruled the death a homicide by asphyxia on June 7 after traces of a substance used in detergents and antiseptics was found in the boy’s body.
Reynolds was indicted by a grand jury on June 13 after hearing evidence.
Her husband, Joseph, who died in November was away for work when Axel died.
Axel Reynolds remembered as the ‘sweetest little boy.’
A regard of Reynolds’ social media profile showed the mother in many pictures with Axel, her two young sons and husband.
Tributes to Axel said he was the ‘sweetest little boy’ who had a smile ‘that made the room glow and everyone around you feel the innocence and peace that you radiated’.
Posted a relative on Facebook: ‘One of my FAV pics of my lil 🦃!! I miss him more everyday! We Will never forget you sweet boy and never stop being your voice! Your justice is coming soon!! I will cherish all the memories, pics and videos of you for the rest of my life! We will meet again my baby! Continue to fly high and Rest easy! Give your daddy xtra loves for all of us! Two absolutely beautiful souls, taken way to soon!’
A judge eventually ruled that Reynolds will remain jailed until her trial, noting she faces a possible life sentence.
