Mother Allegedly Killed Her 17-Month-Old Baby for the Sake of Her Affair with a Man

A New Jersey woman is currently awaiting trial for the death of her toddler son. Her boyfriend has also been charged in the case that actually occurred more than years ago.

On May 10, 2018, little Axel Reynolds passed away at the tender age of 17-months-old. Police have finally made some headway in the case with two arrests of the people closest to the child.

Heather Reynolds, 43, of Sicklerville, is awaiting trial concerning the death of her son, according to Jill S. Mayer, the Acting Camden County Prosecutor, and David Harkins, Gloucester Township’s Police Chief.

Besides Heather, her boyfriend, Jeffrey Callahan, 44, from Clayton, has also been charged in the murder-for-hire plot. Both suspects have been charged with a first-degree Conspiracy to Commit Murder charge.

However, Heather was being detained on multiple other charges. On May 18, 2021, the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division took Callahan into custody at his Clayton home.

The following day, Heather was charged at the Camden County Correctional Facility, and both suspects are currently awaiting detention hearings. Alex’s mother has been in jail since 2019.

At the time, she was charged with murder, possession of methamphetamine, endangering the welfare of a child, and hindering apprehension. Heather pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Investigators believe Heather suffocated her son in 2018. Prosecutors alleged that she ran from her Gloucester Township home, carrying the little child in her arms while screaming to neighbors for help.

Axel was pronounced dead soon after the police’s arrival. Medical examiners then determined that the child had died from asphyxia, and his mother was officially arrested on June 13, 2019.

Authorities alleged that Heather murdered her son because he impeded the ongoing extramarital relationship she had with Callahan. Now detectives were able to charge them both due to new evidence.

While investigating, authorities discovered evidence that the deceased’s mother and Callahan were involved in another conspiracy. They were allegedly planning to kill another person.

During her 2019 trial, Heather’s lawyer, Michael Testa Sr., said his client struggled with drug addiction. He, however, said she was innocent with regards to the charges brought against her concerning her child’s death.

Testa Sr. said Heather adamantly denied having done anything concerning her child’s death. Alex’s mother had been suspect from the beginning of the case, but it took the prosecutor’s office a year to charge her.