Manuela Morgado of Mamaroneck Pleads Guilty in Smothering Death of Her Son: Report

Manuela Morgado, who was accused of smothering her then four-year-old son to death in 2012, pleaded guilty to the crime Thursday, according to a report in The Journal News.

Morgado will serve 20 years in prison for pleading guilty to the felony charge of second-degree murder for killing Jason “Jake” Reish.

Before killing Jake, Morgado had been involved in a custody battle with the boy’s father, Dr. Timothy Reish, an orthopedic surgeon.

Morgado will be formally sentenced in December, writes reporter Greg Shillinglaw.

Below is the press release from Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore detailing the case:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Manuela Morgado (DOB 01/01/66) of 1035 East Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck Village, New York, pled guilty today to the sole count of the indictment charging her with:

• one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A-1” Felony,

relating to the death of her four year old son.

On October 1st, 2012, at approximately 10:43 am, Mamaroneck Village police responded to 1035 East Boston Post Road where they found the defendant in her bedroom in a semi-conscious state with an unresponsive four old child.

The defendant was taken to Sound Shore Medical Center for treatment.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police secured the scene initiating an investigation.

Search warrants were executed for various items in the apartment and at the hospital.

He defendant was subsequently arrested at the hospital.

“This defendant, over an extended period of time, methodically planned, purchased the materials used and carried out the murder of her four year old child all in the horribly misguided attempt to make sure the child’s father would not have anything more to do with their lives. As a result of her actions, an innocent child is dead and she will live with that for the rest of her life,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Sentencing will be on December 3rd, 2014.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty five years to life in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Christine Hatfield and Assistant District Barbara Egenhauser of the Special Prosecutions Division are prosecuting the case.