OSO — U.S. marshals and cops aren’t the only ones looking for fugitive John Blaine Reed, a former Oso man accused of killing his neighbors and burying them not far from their rural home.
A lawsuit recently was filed against Reed alleging he “wrongfully took the life of Patrick Shunn.” The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages for Shunn’s estate. A lawyer said Friday he is “actively working to serve Reed right now.”
Shunn, a former Army Ranger, and his wife, Monique Patenaude, were last seen alive April 11. Their bodies were recovered May 24 from a grave off North Brooks Creek Road.
Reed, 53, is suspected of fatally shooting the pair and recruiting relatives to help cover up the killings and to aid in his escape.
Court documents detail a feud between Reed and his neighbors that became more acrimonious after the catastrophic Oso mudslide. Before her death, Patenaude had complained to the county that Reed was squatting on his former property. County officials ordered Reed to pack up his personal belongings and leave.
Reed had sold his land to the county earlier this year as part of a buyout program offered to property owners affected by the slide that killed 43.
Patenaude told a friend that she feared her neighbor “as he had made threats to harm her and her husband, often acted ‘crazy’ and aggressive, was upset by the manner in which the aftermath of the Oso slide had been handled and was very angry about the condemnation of his property and being subsequently trespassed from it,” according to court papers.
Reed is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He is believed to be in Mexico. He’s wanted on a $5 million warrant. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his capture and arrest.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed to “make sure John Reed has no access to financial assets to further his escape,” said Steven Robinson, a lawyer with Karr Tuttle Campbell in Seattle. Robinson filed the suit late last month on behalf of Shunn’s father, who is the adminstrator of his son’s estate.
Thanks to the diligent work of Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives Reed’s relatives have been unable to access Reed’s money, Robinson said.
Three days after Shunn, 45, and Patenaude, 46, disappeared Reed and his brother Tony Clyde Reed tried to cash a $96,000 cashier’s check at a bank in Ellensburg. The money came from the recent sale of Reed’s damaged property.
The bank refused to hand over the money in a lump-sum. It provided four checks for $14,000 written to relatives and a $40,000 check to Reed. Detectives worked with the bank to stop payment on the checks and all other bank transactions were frozen.
Investigators suspect that the brothers’ parents gave them money to flee the state and country. The Ellensburg couple was arrested last month for investigation of rendering criminal assistance.
Tony Reed surrendered to authorities in May near the U.S.-Mexico border. He led detectives to the site where he helped his older brother bury the victims. Detectives don’t believe he was present when his brother shot Shunn and Patenaude.
Tony Reed pleaded guilty last month to rendering criminal assistance. He has promised to testify against his brother.
Robinson said the slain couple’s families “want to see John Reed brought to justice.”
“They are absolutely devastated by the loss of their son and daughter in-law, who were wonderful people, well-liked and productive members of the community,” Robinson said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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