Dorchester parents charged in death of five-week-old infant
BOSTON, November 24, 2025 – A Dorchester man and woman were indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury Friday for the death of their five-week-old infant in January, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
RAYNELL REED, 31, and GERARD WINN, 52, both of Dorchester were arraigned today and charged with manslaughter for the death of their five-week-old baby girl in January.
Clerk Magistrate Ed Curley ordered both Reed and Winn held on $100,000 bail. Both are due back in court on December 18.
Prosecutors said Reed gave birth at home to a girl on December 5, 2024. The child’s father is Winn. At the time, both were residing in Dorchester, along with one other tenant on their floor. Reed first learned she was pregnant in September 2024 and was advised that her expected due date was February 7, 2025.
During the five weeks of the infant’s life, she failed to gain or maintain weight and was severely malnourished. Despite knowing that their baby was born at least two months premature and observing the newborn was unable to gain or maintain weight, Reed and Winn never sought any medical care for the infant as her health continued to significantly deteriorate.
On January 9, at approximately 10 a.m., Reed called 911 reporting that the baby was not breathing. Boston Police and Emergency Medical Services responded, and the infant was transported to Boston Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased. At the time of her death, the infant weighed only 2.5 pounds.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the infant died due to acute intoxication from the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, in a premature infant with
malnourishment and sepsis. Toxicology confirmed the presence of both fentanyl and cocaine in the infant’s heart blood and liver blood. Prosecutors further allege that Reed and Winn used illegal substances in the infant’s presence, resulting in her exposure to these substances.
“It's difficult to conceive of something more tragic than a child being born and then ignored to the extent it leads to death by malnourishment and sheer neglect. The allegation that the parents were using dangerous drugs in the newborn’s presence only adds to the terrible aspects of this crime,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications