ARLINGTON – One of the brothers charged in the murder of an Oso couple has had the charges reduced to rendering criminal assistance in the first degree.
Also, the parents of murder suspect John Reed have been arrested in Ellensburg on suspicion of the same charge.
Tony Clyde Reed, Reed’s brother, had the charges reduced June 14 by the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The two charges of first-degree murder were dropped. Police are still looking for Reed on the two first-degree murder charges.
Meanwhile, detectives with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said that Reed’s parent, 81-year-old Clyde Reed and 77-year-old Faye Reed, were taken into custody without incident. Detectives are also serving a search warrant for the property where they were arrested. The parents will be booked into the Snohomish County jail in Everett.
In previous interviews in the murder investigation, both suspects admitted they provided a vehicle to John and Tony to flee the area. They also admitted to transferring the title from John’s truck, believed to have been used in the murders, to Faye. They also admitted to having provided financial assistance to their sons.
The sheriff’s office anticipates more arrests of various acquaintances who have also allegedly rendered criminal assistance.
“We absolutely will arrest anyone who has helped a murderer escape justice,” Sheriff Ty Trenary said.
Detectives are still looking for murder suspect John Reed, who is believed to be in the Tijuana, Rosarita or Ensenada areas of Mexico. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his capture and arrest. Two charges of first-degree homicide have been filed against Reed for the execution-style murders of 45-year-old Patrick Shunn and his wife, 46-year-old Monique Patenaude.
Tony Reed was taken into custody May 16 after surrendering at the U.S./Mexico border. He was booked into the Snohomish County jail May 21. He helped detectives locate the gravesite of Shunn and Patanaude, who were both shot to death.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of John Reed should call the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tipline at 425-388-3845.
Timeline of investigation
April 12 – Patrick Shunn and Monique Patenaude are reported missing to the sheriff’s office by neighbors. Shunn was last seen at his workplace in Kirkland April 11. Patenaude was last seen around 1 p.m., also on April 11 near the couple’s residence at the 27800 block of Whitman Road.
April 14 – Two vehicles belonging to Shunn and Patenaude are located in a remote, wooded area in the Oso area.
April 15 – Detectives conduct a search of the vehicles and the area where they were located.
April 17 – Sheriff Ty Trenary announces that probable cause had been established for the arrest of the Reed brothers, who were suspected of murdering Shunn and Patenaude.
April 18 – One of the vehicles driven by the Reed brothers is located in Phoenix, Ariz. The Reed brothers are believed to have crossed the border into Mexico driving a 2002 Gold Acura 3.2 TL (Arizona plate BNN-9968).
April 20 – Several properties in Ellensburg are searched by detectives, including the residence belonging to the parents of the Reed brothers, two storage units and the residence of Tony Reed.
May 16 – Tony Reed is taken into custody at the U.S./Mexico border and booked into the San Diego County Jail.
May 20-21 – Tony Reed is transported and booked into the Snohomish County Jail in Everett.
May 24 – Two bodies are found in an area a few miles to the west of where Shunn and Patenaude’s vehicles were located.
May 26 – The Snohomish County Medical Examiner identifies the bodies. The cause of death for Patenaude was multiple gunshot wounds and for Shunn was a gunshot wound of the head.
May 27 – Sheriff’s office distributes “Wanted” posters in the Tijuana, Ensenada and Rosarita areas of Mexico for the capture and arrest of John Reed.
June 14 – Reed’s parents are arrested and charges reduced for Tony Reed.
