Surveillance video of Germantown murder

Surveillance video shows Charles Avey moments before he allegedly killed his stepson.

Police say 37-year-old Charles Avey gave a lengthy confession to murder Sunday night. He told investigators they'd find the body of his stepson in a van parked at the Germantown Walmart. A criminal complaint says police did find the boy strangled to death with two neckties.

In addition to Avey's statements, the prosecutor has a surveillance video first made public on Wednesday. A man police believe was Avey comes out of the van, opens the side door, disappears inside the van for nine minutes.

During that time is when the district attorney believes Avey may have killed Cody.

Washington County District Attorney Todd Martens says, "The video also depicts him getting out of the vehicle later, and looking into the vehicle from various angles. One inference from that is he was making sure no one could see the body."

Another video shows a stop before the murder at a Jackson gas station where Avey is pumping gas as Cody goes inside to pay. That's when phone records show Avey called a friend to pick him up at the Walmart. He allegedly made that call before he and Cody even got there.

Avey told officers he called for the ride after the murder, not knowing what else to do. The prosecutor says that could show the murder was even more premeditated.

Martens says, "We know that he was calling a woman who picked him up from a Walmart parking lot so it appears he made the call before he even got to Germantown."

The criminal complaint says the murder was to get back at his wife (Cody Reetz's mother) and her family for reporting domestic abuse.

The note to his wife and her family starts with, "This boy met angels all too early." Then he blames his wife's family writing, "You guys did this to your sister. Are you all happy now?"

There was a note to Avey's ex-wife concerning his own biological sons, saying please remind them that I love them. Avey also wrote a note to his sons telling them he loves them.

Martens believes videotape is extremely important in helping prove different aspects of a case, and often supports or conflicts with statements in a confession.

A candlelight vigil is being organized for Friday evening at Grafton Elementary.