Reavis’ mother opens up about son’s problems

The jury is deliberating in the trial against Brian Reavis, the man charged with robbing, raping and beating a 95-year-old Wilmington woman.

It’s now up to them to decide if he’s guilty, or not guilty, by reason of insanity. WWAY’s Margo Gray sat down with Brian Reavis’ mother, for an exclusive interview.

For the mother of Brian Reavis, sitting in a court room for a week and testifying in the trial against her son has been her worst nightmare come true. Reavis faces life in prison or in a mental facility for the robbery, rape and beating of a 95-year-old woman, charges Sylvia Colbert said aren’t ‘completely’ accurate.

“I do believe that Brian is guilty, but I don’t believe he raped anyone,” she said.

Earlier in the week, Reavis’ defense attorney moved to reduce the rape charge to sexual assault, but that motion was denied. The defense’s case is based on the notion that Reavis was insane the night of the attack.

Reavis has a long history of mental illness, and drug use. Sylvia Colbert said her son was a product of a rape. She says he is not crazy, but is sick, and has been since he was six months old, and that’s why he needs medical treatment.

“I would love for my boy to go into a mental hospital for the rest of his life. You think that’s what he needs. That’s exactly what he needs,” Colbert said.

Colbert said Reavis needed medical intervention back when he was arrested for armed robbery in 1996 and spent 11 years in jail. She said he only received medication for the first 4 years of his sentence.

“When I begged the system to help my boy they threw him under the carpet. The first four years they helped him. For five and a half years they stopped.”

Shortly after his release from jail in December of 2007, he was prescribed medication for schizophrenia and depression. In April of 2008, just four months after his release, he attacked the now 96-year-old woman.

“I don’t want what happened to that lady to happen to anyone else in life. That was horrible and I am truly sorry,” Colbert said.

Whether the jury decides to send Brian Reavis to prison, or to a mental hospital Colbert said this difficult week has prepared her for the news.

“I love my baby and I can love him from a distance.”