Murder charges dropped against Tony Reed in deaths of Arlington couple

EVERETT, Wash. -- (KCPQ) -- Murder charges against Tony Reed were dropped in the April slaying of an Arlington couple, and two counts of rendering criminal assistance were filed against him instead when an investigation showed he was not present at their deaths, court documents showed Tuesday.

He is expected to plead guilty to the reduced charges on Friday.

His brother, John Reed, is still charged with killing the couple, Patrick Shunn and his wife, Monique Patenaude. He is still on the run and is believed to be in Mexico.

Tony Reed, who had surrendered to authorities on the U.S.-Mexico border on May 16, had early been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the case, but new court documents showed that investigators discovered Tony apparently had not been at the slayings, but had assisted his brother in escaping authorities.

Tony Reed told investigators he had been hunting agates with two friends on April 11, when the couple were killed, and he only learned about the murders later that night when his brother John picked him up and returned him to the Arlington area.

"Police interviewed both the individuals whom Tony Reed indicated he had been hunting agates with on April 11," the documents said. "Both these individuals corroborated Reed's description of being with him."

The documents also said that Tony Reed "described how he and John hid the (slain couple's) vehicles ... and how and where the bodies of Patrick and Monique were buried."

Meanwhile, the parents of the Reed brothers were arrested in Ellensburg on Tuesday for rendering criminal assistance in the first degree.

Clyde Reed, 81, and Faye Reed, 77, were taken into custody Tuesday at their home in Ellensburg without incident.

Detectives are also serving a search warrant on the property where they were arrested, said sheriff's spokesperson Shari Ireton.

“We absolutely will arrest anyone who has helped a murderer escape justice,” said Sheriff Ty Trenary.

The US 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 murder of Patrick Shunn, 45, and his wife, Monique Patenaude, 46.

John Reed is 5' 8", 190 pounds with hazel eyes and gray hair and is believed to be driving a 2002 Gold Acura 3.2 TL (Arizona plates BNN-9968). Deputies say he is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of John Reed should call the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office anonymous tipline at 425-388-3845.