In the spring of 2016, a dispute between neighbors in a rural area of Arlington, Washington, escalated into a tragedy that ended the life of 46-year-old Monique Patenaude, a Caucasian female, and her husband, Patrick Shunn. The couple was reported missing on April 11, 2016, after they failed to show up for a concert they had planned to attend. This out-of-character disappearance prompted concern from friends and neighbors, especially when their pets and livestock were found unattended.
The initial search for the couple quickly turned into a homicide investigation.
Investigators discovered the couple's vehicles abandoned in a remote, wooded area. Forensic evidence, including blood, was found in the vehicles, leading authorities to believe that Patenaude and Shunn had met with foul play. The focus of the investigation soon turned to their former neighbors, brothers John and Tony Reed. There had been a history of animosity and property disputes between the couple and John Reed, including allegations of trespassing. Surveillance footage connected the Reed brothers to the disposal of the victims' vehicles, solidifying them as the primary suspects.
A manhunt for the Reed brothers ensued, with the two fleeing to Mexico. Tony Reed eventually surrendered at the U.S.-Mexico border and, in a significant development, led investigators to the location of the bodies. In a remote area north of their home, the remains of Monique Patenaude and Patrick Shunn were discovered. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner later confirmed that Patenaude died from multiple gunshot wounds, while her husband died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Following his capture, John Reed stood trial for the murders. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Patrick Shunn and second-degree murder for the death of Monique Patenaude. He was sentenced to life in prison. Tony Reed, for his role in assisting his brother after the murders, pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance and was sentenced to 14 months in jail. The tragic deaths of Monique Patenaude and Patrick Shunn served as a grim reminder of how a seemingly minor neighborhood disagreement could spiral into a fatal confrontation.
