Tony Reed pleads guilty to helping brother bury Arlington murder victims, escape justice



EVERETT, Wash. -- Tony Reed on Friday pleaded guilty in a Snohomish County court, admitting to helping his brother John Reed hide the bodies of slain Arlington husband and wife, Monique Pattenaude and Patrick Shunn.

Investigators said Tony led police to the couple’s buried remains. Prosecutors dropped initial first-degree murder charges against Tony when they learned he had a solid alibi for the time of the killings.

“He made some poor choices, but faced with a tough situation, being in shock, he did what he did,” said Tony’s attorney, James Kirkham.

Kirkham and Snohomish County prosecutors believe Tony wasn’t near the crime scene during the murders about April 12.

“The day of the murders he was hunting the Ellensburg blues (gems) with some friends,” said Kirkham. “After we provided information to law enforcement, they were able to confirm that. He had alibi witnesses for when the murders occurred.”

Police suspect a property dispute spurred John Reed to kill Patrick and Monique.



According to court documents, Tony told investigators his brother picked him up and they buried the bodies near Oso and hid the couple's vehicles. The brothers then drove to their parents' home in Ellensburg, changed cars and drove to Arizona and then on to California and crossed into Mexico. Tony arranged with the U.S. Marshals Service to surrender last month at the California-Mexico border.

On Tuesday, police also arrested the sons’ elderly parents, Clyde and Faye Reed, at their home in Ellensburg and brought them to Everett to face a judge. Investigators said the parents helped their sons escape by giving them a car.

“I knew eventually they’d have to arrest the parents,” said Margaret Hedlund, friend of the victims. “I mean the parents admit it.”

The elderly couple was released from jail Wednesday night. Kirkham believes prosecutors were trying to send a message to John to give himself up.

“This could have been handled with a complaint,” he said.

Tony Reed faces 12-14 months in prison.

His brother John, who has been charged with killing the couple, is still on the run and believed to be in Mexico.