Wake held as mom in court in son's slaying

The things Jason Reish loved most in this world? Airplanes. Play-Doh. His "DaDa." His puppy, Reggie.

The obituary for Jason, known as "Jake" to his family, made it clear a young life was cut short even though the 4-year-old's age wasn't mentioned explicitly. Thursday afternoon, hours after Jason's mother was arraigned on a murder charge for his death, a trickle of solemn relatives and friends walked out of the Waterbury and Kelly Funeral Home in Briarcliff Manor, clutching remembrance cards and wiping away tears.

Thursday's wake began less than five hours after Jason's mother, Manuela Maria Morgado, made a wordless appearance at Mamaroneck Village Court. A judge signed orders of protection for the dead boy's father, Dr. Timothy Reish, and his wife, Erin, after prosecutors said the couple had received "threatening letters" from Morgado before the Mamaroneck woman allegedly suffocated her son this week in her home.

Dressed in a blue top, jeans and sneakers, Manuela Maria Morgado hung her head and remained virtually silent throughout the brief appearance in court, where she was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge.

Morgado wrote two threatening letters to Reish and his wife, Erin, a law enforcement source said.

The nature of the threats and how investigators came upon the letters remains unclear.

The judge also appointed a new lawyer, Harvey Loeb with the Legal Aid Society, after Morgado's initial lawyer, Max DiFabio, withdrew from the case due to a conflict of interest. After court, DiFabio described Morgado, 46, as grieving.

"Ms. Morgado is very upset at this time," he said.

Judge Christie Derrico said she is considering whether to order a mental health evaluation for Morgado. Loeb declined to comment. Reish's attorney did not return a call. Reish, 43, was involved in a custody dispute with Morgado over their son. They were never married.