By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The mother of Koralynn Fister was informed yesterday she would be charged with a crime, following the court hearing for her former live-in boyfriend that led to his lengthy prison term in the death of the toddler.
James M. Reeder, 26, went before a Lewis County Superior Court judge yesterday morning where he was given a sentence of at least 37 and a half years and up to life for the rape, assault and death of 2-year-old Koralynn last May at her Centralia home.
Becky Heupel was warned Reeder was an abuser and chose to put her relationship with him first, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said.
Meyer said Heupel wasn’t arrested, but informed she would be summonsed by mail to court to face a charge of second-degree criminal mistreatment. It’s a class C felony.
He, two of his deputy prosecutors and a law enforcement officer met with her after the 10:30 a.m. hearing, he said.
Meyer said the decision to charge Huepel wasn’t made until after Reeder pleaded guilty to the crimes in January.
Prosecutors wanted to make sure she was available as a witness in Reeder’s case, he said. Had she been charged and then called to testify against him, she could have invoked her fifth amendment right not to make statements that might incriminate her, according to Meyer.
The prosecutor said he also understands she is a grieving mother, and wanted to wait until she had a chance to make any statements yesterday at Reeder’s sentencing.
Prosecutors said yesterday Reeder moved into the household about 10 weeks before the child’s death, that the couple had not been together very long.
Meyer said she wasn’t warned Reeder was specifically a child abuser, but that they came to their conclusions after looking at all the evidence and talking with people.
“We believe she knew of the risk and chose to ignore it,” Meyer said this morning. “And obviously her inaction had tragic consequences.”
At the time of Koralynn’s highly publicized death, the state Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration issued a statement saying they had no record of history involving the child, nor any previous allegations of abuse or neglect against the mother, Heupel or her boyfriend.
However, Heupel’s 4-year-old daughter was taken out of the home as a protective measure, police said at the time.
Meyer said he doesn’t believe the Heupel has gotten the child back.
Koralynn’s father, David Fister, has described Heupel as always a loving mom, who would jump through hoops to do anything for her girls and never laid a finger on them.
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For background, read “Centralia man gets maximum prison term for sexual abuse, death of toddler” from Wednesday March 6, 2013 at 12:10 p.m., here
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Kirotv.com posted raw video of a jail interview with James Reeder. Watch it here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
BOTH OF THESE MONSTERS SHOULD OF GOTTEN THE DEATH PENALTY,.,.BUT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GET THEIRS IN PRISON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Btw I certainly hope I’m not “good enough” by ur family’s standards to know all about Becky…ur right I don’t know her because I don’t associate with trash. She would walk to the ends of the earth for her kids but she won’t break up with her chimo baby killer BF to save their lives. Good arguement.
I think u are confused as to who I am… my half sister that no one in my family speaks to is the one writing the book…ah u n ur twisted facts
FamilyOfBecky I find it odd that u are just now looking at these stories about her…butisn’t that the theme with ur family; too little too late? Becky cares now that sges going to prison what happens to her babies…too little too late for Koralynn. About 15 years too late for the grade school taunts of my name to bother me lol. I guess in ur family u consider settling down with one man and keeping ur kids alive old but I think what normal people would call me is mature. Also my niece must be a bit smarter than Becky because she got herself and her kid the hell away from Jimmy which is why her child is alive today.
Dominhooooooo bag and the rest of you. You don’t know Becky and never will because you not good enough. why don’t you all get a clue and get a life up on here. Go take care of your children or something rather than thinking you know the truth and facts about Becky. You don’t know sh*t. All you know is the internet you retarded or what. Domine I know exactly who you are and you are f*cking stupid as well as your niece. So don’t go running your mouth like you know everything you old bag. Your book you going to write it will be nothing so why attempt it, it would be false slander trash. I am just calling you out on your dirty sh*t up on here. Know the Facts before acting like you know everything. Becky is a beautiful amazing woman and her children are as well. Wonderful beautiful people in this world. You probably should not mention KORALYNNS name on here you do know her or her family. You are disrespecting Koralynn. Becky is a loving mother who would do anything and walk to the end of the world for her children. YOU ALL cant even stay off here to attend to your lifes your children that is disgusting. DONT JUDGE.
Also at least Katie had the brains to keep her child away from him…there’s NO way this girl didn’t see the signs..she chose to ignore them to satisfy what’s between her legs…all her brains must be there cuz there’s none between her ears.
Katie Reeder yeah that’s my neice. Jimmy was a part of my family sad to say…Katie n Jimmy haven’t had their son for a long time. Katie couldn’t be a mom when she was with him and when she was finally free n her head and body wasn’t all fucked up and she wanted her son back it was too late…Idk y she stayed as long as she did. Afraid? I’m sure. She’s a tough kid and maybe she thought she could handle it idk… There’s no DV reports cuz we aren’t cop callers in my family. U can lead a horse to water but u can’t make them drink. She’s an adult and he was what she wanted for a long time and we couldn’t change that. He never touched his son I can tell u that…the boy has been safe thanks to loving family for a long. I wish I would have bashed his skull in the first time he hit Katie…then this baby would be alive. But what I can tell u is a few DVs wouldn’t have helped anything. This dumb bitch Becky would still have let him in her bed and in her babies lives and he wouldn’t have done shit for time. He was a violent abusive piece of shit to Katie and his prior GF other PC. Some people just aren’t so quick to dial 911 when they know the outcome. A DV is a pathetic charge and doesn’t protect anyone. Either u leave or u endure it. The cops don’t protect these women. They have to be smart enough to walk away. And crazze those are 2 seperate cases from 09 and 12. U all can gossip about Katie and her POS ex and their custody issues as much as u want but if its facts u crave…u just read them. Jimmy is guilty as sin and he’s violent as hell
There is justice after all. For once the courts do something right… Finally! I hope she never gets that other baby back and this haunts her forever and she gets the max too.
Belle, I saw in court records a custody case in which two people were trying to take custody of Katie and James Reeders young son. I thought they had both lost that and were denied custody? I know that the case started way back in 09 and seems to have actually finished in 2012. From what I can remember, Reeder finally lost custody and two weeks later, moved in with Heupel. I was wondering at that time if Reeder was just looking for another victim? And just fyi, Myers was an attorney on that case for quite a while, until he withdrew as attorney. Im not sure whose attorney tho. Also, court records show Katie Reeder filed for divorce the day Reeder was arrested for Koralynns death. Which kinda shows me that she WAS scared to death of him. Ive been in that god awful situation she was in, its ugly. Katie Reeder will not have to live in fear of that ugly demon filled monster anymore. And neither will anyone else. And I dont know about all that, “theryre gonna get ya when you get to prison” crap usually, but, I think maybe this creep is gonna wish he died and went to hell. Theres plenty of guys in there that would love to get a chance to run into Reeder, we can be sure of that. Hes dead and gone, he’ll never touch another precious little child again.
I am friends with his ex wife too and she was scared for her life, he told her he would kill her and she was scared for her and her child! She was at every court date and can rest at night knowing he is off the streets!
Cassie, I must wonder why, if his ex-wife had evidence of abuse, why does Reeder not have any prior DV’s? Was the ex too scared, or proud to report him? None on her friends willing to break up their “happy home”? If the guy was such a violent punk, he must’ve been able to get away with it to not have a record. I know, a little late now….
“I wonder where all the comments are from the citizens who have been finger pointing, name calling, jumping to conclusions, and telling people how to do their jobs?”
J. Meyer is only BOWING TO PRESSURE. PLUS, he’s MILKING THE MEDIA!!!
He’s shown nothing but contempt for the rule of law every time he gave murderers and rapists sweet-heart plea-deals.
The only thing keeping him from giving Reeder a sweet-heart deal while letting the mom walk is PUBLIC MEDIA PRESSURE.
He wants to get re-elected. That’s it. Nothing more. He’s a shallow opportunits.
Let’s all give Meyer a big round of applause and pat on the back for doing the job he’s paid to do!!!
NOT.
I believe when Fister made the comment he was referring to the mother he knew Becky Huepel to be. Fister was Koralynns father and from what i have gathered a very good one. It wasnt until the abuse started that they started keeping Koralynn from her father. I hope the public will show a little sympathy as i do believe David Fister is the only one in the equation who truly is innocent. As for Becky… Guilt is Guilt and she may not have been the one to inflict the injuries but she is just as guilty. There is no way a child can be anally penetrated and a mother not notice. Period. Being a young mother myself.. well (25) I can not believe how incredibly naive and self centered some of these mothers can be. There is no excuses for not protecting your children, and you can NEVER be too safe. I only hope other single parents use this as a example to make better choices! For once i am proud to say i live in Lewic County, unlike so many other similar tragic stories, they are one among the few actually charging BOTH guilty parties, Way to go!
So, you mean to tell me that there was a plan all along? That maybe the Prosecutors Office knew what they were doing? That these people we elected to office might actually be competent enough to do their jobs? Hmm, you don’t say…
I wonder where all the comments are from the citizens who have been finger pointing, name calling, jumping to conclusions, and telling people how to do their jobs?
Its easy to sit behind a computer screens and form your opinions. I would imagine its not so easy to be the person responsible for making life altering decisions, all the while being critisized and put down by the people you work hard to represent, the same people who form their opinions without having all the facts.
Good job to the Lewis County Prosecutors Office. Well done! And compassionately at that.
I love how he said he was not ever abusive , I was best friends with his ex wife and lets just say im glad im not seeing her black and blue anymore . that he can look right in the camera and lie there are people out there that now what he has done to other women 🙁
It is about time that this mother gets what she deserved. Mothers DONOT put thier needs above there childrens. A child is the most precious person on earth. She will hopefully get what is coming to her either in this life or in the here after.
You got at least 37 years of safety under your prison hubby Bubba’s roof…When you hit the streets Jimmy you are fair f—ing game.
Since Koralynn’s death in May 2012, this wretched case has put Lewis County under the spotlight. James Reeder is exactly where he belongs: prison. He should never draw a free breath again as long as he lives. His evil, perverted and exceedingly selfish behavior murdered a tiny child whose final moments on Earth were filled with terror. Koralynn is now with the angels. Reeder cannot hurt her ever again.
Koralynn’s sister must be protected to keep her from the clutches of someone like Reeder. I will say prayers for this child.
The mother of these little girls is unbelievably naive, stupid and/or criminally culpable, maybe all of the above. This mother put her own physical needs ahead of the most precious people in her life: her innocent little children. This woman will have the remainder of her life to pay for her own greed…and she will pay.
Where are the father’s of these little girls? Did not Koralynn’s father have any interactions in her life? So many questions. Very few satisfactory answers.
All of the people who had to handle the various aspects of Koralynn’s brief life and violent death will have horrid mental images to deal with all of their lives, too. Crimes against innocent children hurt the most. They take the biggest toll. My prayers are with these folks, too.
OLJ , Fister is Koralyns father not her Grand. I think maybe he should have paid more attention to the stranger in his daughters house .Even as a Grandparent I am vigilant. I think finally justice has prevailed , maybe. I am not buying the grieving mama thing been there done that . He’d have never made it to trial , AND she was warned. So we will see .
I must say that this recent development significantly improves my opinion of Meyer. Heupel deserves punishment for allowing this to happen to her child and is definitely among the tools OLJ mentions that should be forcibly sterilized. Too bad the state won’t make sure it happens.
“Koralynn’s father, David Fister, has described Heupel as always a loving mom, who would jump through hoops to do anything for her girls and never laid a finger on them.”
So allowing a strange man from off the street to care for his grand-daughter is just a “jump through hoops”.
What a f’n tool.
There’s no better argument for forced sterilization in my opinion. Some people should NOT be allowed to have children.
When people want to ADOPT a child, they have to undergo criminal background checks, financial background checks, psychological histories from BOTH potential parents, etc.
But if you want to crap out a kid of your own, then there is NOTHING in the law to protect the CHILD from their OWN PARENTS!!! WTF?