Mom Charged After Baby Allegedly Died During Co-Sleeping — a Year After Other Child's Similar Death: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Mackenzie Katlyn Reed.Photo:Wilmington NC Police Department

Wilmington NC Police Department

Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, 24, is also charged with felony child abuse serious injury and child abuse/neglect serious physical injury in connection with the death of her 7-week-old son Zhen.

Wilmington police responded to the 800 block of Castle Street for an unconscious infant who was not breathing shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2023.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation

According to an autopsy report from the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, “the mother was smoking THC and using THC gummies during the day and evening on (Oct. 2, 2023),” per theWilmington Star News.

The boy died from “asphyxia due to unsafe sleep environment,” the autopsy report states, theStar Newsreported.

The infant was also suffering from “human rhino/enterovirus infection,” also referred to as the common cold, per the report.

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In 2022, Reed had another child who died that she had been co-sleeping with, police said. A spokesperson with the District Attorney’s office determined there wasn’t enough evidence to charge her with that child’s death, perWECT.

Reed is being held in jail on a $500,000 secured bond.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com