Loved ones gathered to remember Axel Reynolds and call for justice on what would have been his second birthday Dec. 17, 2018.
A 44-year-old New Jersey woman has been convicted of killing her 17-month-old son more than four years ago by suffocating him with a cleaning wipe, authorities said.
A jury on Thursday found Heather Reynolds guilty of murder, possession of methamphetamine and endangering the welfare of a child, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Reynolds, of the Sicklerville section of Gloucester Township, was found not guilty of conspiracy in an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill her ex-boyfriend, according to Inquier.com.
“A lot of people worked very hard to get justice for this child,” said Peter Gallagher, who prosecuted Reynolds for the state. “I’m grateful for their efforts and appreciate the time and attention that the jury gave this case.”
Reynolds suffocated her son — named Axel — by holding a cleansing wipe over his nose and mouth in May 2018 because she felt the 17-month-old boy was getting in the way of her extramarital affair, according to prosecutors. She was arrested and charged in an indictment in June 2019.
Police and EMTs were called to Marcia Court in Gloucester Township on the morning of May 10, 2018 because Reynolds was holding her lifeless son in her arms and screaming for her neighbors to call for help, according to police reports.
He had bruises around his mouth and nose, but she told EMTs he smelled like rubbing alcohol and said maybe he drank something poisonous, Gallagher said. She also said she had fed him around 6 a.m., but changed her story when an EMT told her that her son had clearly been dead for much longer, authorities said.
Another EMT said the death seemed suspicious, he said.
“Although no one had accused the defendant of any wrongdoing, she blurted out, ‘It’s not suspicious. I didn’t do anything wrong,’” Gallagher said at a 2019 detention hearing.
Witnesses told police Reynolds had used methamphetamine the previous night and into the early morning, which was supported by residue found in a bag in her purse, he said.
Her cell phone was nonfunctional because it was wet, Gallagher said, but police were still able to get text messages between Reynolds and the man with whom she was having an extramarital affair while her husband was working out of state.
Blood tests showed trace levels of isopropyl alcohol, often used in detergents and antiseptics, and acetone in Axel’s body.
Reynolds faces up to life in prison at her sentencing scheduled for October. Her attorney told Inquirer.com that Reynolds plans to appeal her conviction.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Rebecca Everett contributed to this report.
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).
© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.