Wilmington mother convicted in death of 2-month-old son

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – A Wilmington mother who investigators say killed her two-month-old son due to unsafe sleeping conditions has been sentenced to prison.

According to District Attorney Rebecca Donaldson, 25-year-old Mackenzie Reed was sentenced to 16 to 29 months (one year and four months to two years and five months) in prison after Reed pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

In addition, Reed will be placed on four years of supervised probation.

“An investigation by the Wilmington Police Department revealed that Reed, 25, had smoked marijuana and ingested THC gummies before sleeping with her two-month-old son in October 2023. Reed had been advised by hospital staff and the Department of Social Services about the dangers of co-sleeping. According to the medical examiner, Reed’s infant son died as a result of asphyxiation resulting from an unsafe sleeping environment,” the news release said.