Mom has message for man accused of killing child

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s been ten months since Alexandria Williams lost her son, Mason Richardson. Not a day goes by that she wishes she could take him to Hugh MacRae Park one more time.

“I can sit here and remember us playing and laughing and all the good times,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Hayes sits in a jail cell awaiting his day in court. In a jailhouse interview, Hayes, a habitual impaired driver, who’s accused of being high on drugs when he slammed his truck into the car killing 2 year old mason, says he’s sorry

“All I can do is just pray that the family will one day have forgiveness in their heart for me,” Hayes said.

An apology Williams says is too little too late.

“No, you did not intend to take Mason, you did not say I am going to kill Mason Richardson today. No. But you still set out in that vehicle to harm people in that community because you were under the influence. You didn’t think about anybody else, but your self,” Williams said.

Despite Hayes feeling guilty for what happened, he still insists he is not a murderer.

“Do I think of myself as a murderer? Absolutely not. I never intended for this. But I do accept responsibility for it getting to that point,” Hayes said.

This isn’t his first time dealing with the law. He has multiple DWI’s and larceny charges.

“You’ve got all these charges in this matter of time. If they would have actually did something, like keep you in jail or put you in a facility to help you get treatment maybe we wouldn’t be here. Maybe my son would be here. Maybe he would’ve actually had the chance to turn three,” Williams said.

After seeing a photo of Mason, Hayes wanted to say sorry even more.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I’m sorry for robbing you of your life, in front of your mother. I’m sorry for all the pain I put your family through. I would do anything to change.”

Williams wishes she could change what happened too but there is no way back and doubts whether Hayes is truly sorry.

“Do you really care about what you have done, or do you care about the punishment you are going to receive? Because in my eyes, I feel like there’s no true remorse. I’d like to look this man in his face one day and say I can forgive you because I need peace, so that one day I can be with my child,” Williams said.

She has this message for her sons accused killer.

“It’s obvious this is not a mistake. This isn’t the first this isn’t the second, this is one of the multiple and I feel like he deserves the maximum punishment,” Williams said.

During a bond hearing this week, a judge reduced Hayes’ bond by more than $50,000,000. Currently, he’s in jail under a $2.6 million bond.