Louisiana man slashed wife's throat, cut unborn child out of her abdomen, sheriff says

(CBS/AP) WALKER, La. - A Louisiana man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly slashed his wife's throat and cut their unborn child out of her abdomen with a kitchen knife, CBS affiliate WWLTV reports.

Paula Reynolds, 28, was seven-and-a-half months pregnant when her 31-year-old husband, Jeffrey, attacked her in their Livingston Parish home. She is currently in critical condition. Deputies found the baby dead in their home with a large laceration to the head.

Officials confirmed that the Reynolds have a 6-year-old son who attends first grade in the Livingston Parish Public School District. Neighbors said they saw Jeffrey Reynolds with his son hours before the attack.

Reynolds had no criminal record in Livingston Parish, except for a minor traffic citation. Authorities are still investigating whether he has a record elsewhere.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said they believe the results of a toxicology report will shed light on a motive. They have placed a rush order on the results, and expect preliminary information could be in by early next week.

A coroner performed an autopsy on the infant Wednesday, but hasn't released the cause of death.

Reynolds is being held on $500,000 bond.