Suvechha Sarkar
The community of Oso, Washington, was still healing from a devastating landslide when another tragedy unfolded in April 2016. Patrick Michael Shunn and Monique Marie Patenaude were a loving couple and had suddenly vanished. The investigation soon revealed that foul play was involved. The episode titled ‘The Driveway Feud That Ended in Double Murder’ of the ‘Crime Junkie’ podcast explores the details that helped crack the case and led to an international manhunt. It also delves deeper into how the evidence led officials to the killer and the people who assisted him.
Patrick Shunn and Monique Patenaude’s Lives Were Filled With Adventures
Patrick Michael Shunn was born on April 3, 1971, in Portland, Oregon. His mother and father, Mike Shunn, always made sure he felt loved and supported. Patrick was known among his loved ones for his witty personality and practical jokes. After completing his education, he reportedly served in the US Army as an Army Ranger during Operation Just Cause on December 20, 1989. Eventually, Patrick joined an organization as an engineer, where the work centered on refurbishing aircraft interiors. He crossed paths with the love of his life, Monique Marie Patenaude, while attending the Burning Man Festival. Monique’s parents welcomed her into the world on December 22, 1969, in British Columbia.
Monique had a welcoming personality and was popular for her gourmet cooking skills. She possessed a deep desire to help others, paving the way for her to work at a company where her role included assisting adults with disabilities. After she met Patrick, they soon became close to one another, and it wasn’t long before they tied the knot in a stunning venue. They settled in their residence in Oso, Washington, and had a hobby farm. They were accompanied by their adorable pup, Cairo, as well as ducks, chickens, and lambs. Monique and Patrick also enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing and hiking. Unfortunately, their lives took a dark turn on April 12, 2016.
Patrick and Monique’s Remains Were Found in a Wooded Area Near Oso
Monique and Patrick’s neighbors, Michael and Suzanne, were supposed to go to a concert with them on April 11, but they didn’t show up. So, Michael went to check their house the following day, only to find Cairo alone. When he reportedly called Patrick’s office and learned that he hadn’t arrived, Michael promptly called 911 to report the couple missing. During the investigation, officials checked the last phone location of Monique and Patrick, which traced back to a wooded area near Oso. On April 14, their cars were reportedly discovered approximately 200 feet apart.
Upon inspection, detectives found Patrick’s car stuck in a stump, covered with a tarp and bushes, which appeared to be an attempt to conceal it. They also noted a 4×4 wooden post stuck beneath it, as well as items such as rope and plastic sheeting inside the car. Investigators further found blood at the back of Patrick’s vehicle. According to official records, near Monique’s car, authorities discovered a bag of dog food, her wallet with a driver’s license, and chicken feed. Some of the additional items found there were black plastic gloves, a shopping list, spent shell casings, and a McDonald’s receipt dated April 11 at 10:41 am.
During the search, Monique’s glasses and Patrick’s bloody shirt were also discovered. Reports state that back at the pair’s home, Patrick’s computer was missing. A spent shell casing was also found near the gate of their house. Ultimately, after receiving crucial information, Patrick and Monique’s remains were discovered buried near Oso on May 24, 2016. The autopsy revealed that Patrick passed away from a single gunshot wound to the head. Reports state that the cause of Monique’s death was also fatal gunshot wounds. She was reportedly shot three times in the head, arm, and neck.
Investigation Uncovered a Digital Trail and a Dispute Between Neighbors
During the investigation into the missing persons case, authorities spoke with several neighbors and family members of Patrick and Monique. According to police records, they informed that the couple had animosity with a former neighbor, John Blaine Reed. As per their statements, John had given his house to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the landslide. However, reports state that since John still visited the house, Patrick and Monique accused him of trespassing and allegedly threatened to sue him. According to the podcast, officials stated that John and the pair had even called the police on each other. Meanwhile, forensic experts found that Patrick and Monique’s phones were last active around 8:30 am on April 12, near a wooded area in Oso.
According to court records, while Monique’s health application showed activity until 11:04 am on April 11, Patrick’s health application remained active until 3:07 pm. After their vehicles were discovered, officials confirmed through CCTV footage and the grocery list found at the scene that Monique had visited McDonald’s and later purchased groceries. As per investigative reports, Suzanne informed the detectives that on April 13, she saw John and his brother, Tony Clyde Reed, exiting Patrick and Monique’s home in John’s pickup truck. She reportedly took a video of her interaction with them, which captured cables and a 4×4 wooden post at the back of John’s car. When a search warrant was executed at John’s previous home, they found blood in the bathtub and clothes soaked in fuel.
Brother’s Confession and International Manhunt Led to the Killer’s Arrest
Law enforcement reportedly surveilled John’s parents, Clyde and Faye Reed. On April 16, John’s truck was spotted at their house. However, John and Tony were not present there, and their parents refused to disclose their location. Upon inspection, large cash-out receipts and 7-Eleven receipts were uncovered from the vehicle. John and Tony’s cell phone data was reportedly last traced to Phoenix, Arizona, after which they went off the grid. In mid-May 2016, Tony contacted the officials from Ellensburg, Washington, and surrendered. Police records state that he confessed that John shot Patrick and Monique, and he helped John cover up the crime. According to official reports, Tony stated that John claimed he shot the couple in self-defense, and allegedly, during the struggle, the gun went off.
Tony reportedly told the officials that John was still in Mexico. Tony was ultimately arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Clyde and Faye were also arrested on June 14, 2016. They were charged with first-degree rendering criminal assistance for helping their sons flee the state, providing a car, and financial aid. Prosecutors eventually dropped the murder charges against Tony and indicted him on the first-degree rendering criminal assistance charge. John was finally arrested on July 21, 2016, by Mexican authorities in the state of Sonora and extradited to Washington. He was charged with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
While John is Incarcerated at Washington State Prison Today, Tony, Clyde, and Faye Seem to Have Been Released
Tony avoided a jury trial by entering into a plea deal in return for his cooperation. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance and was sentenced to 14 months in prison in April 2017. John’s jury trial commenced in April 2018, during which the prosecution presented several witnesses and pieces of evidence connecting him to the crime, along with Tony’s confession. According to court records, they put forth John’s cell phone records, which also showed him being at Patrick and Monique’s home from around 10:30 am to 3:30 pm on April 11, 2016, and it was believed to be the time snippet when the double murders were committed.
The defense claimed that Patrick and Monique confronted John while armed with guns, and he allegedly shot them in self-defense. John reportedly took the stand and claimed that he panicked after the murders, preventing him from calling 911 and leading to the cover-up. John was ultimately found guilty of the aggravated first-degree murder of Patrick. He was also convicted of aggravated second-degree murder of Monique and unlawful possession of a firearm. On July 6, 2018, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, plus 60 months for the firearm charge, and a concurrent 12-month term for the unlawful firearm possession.
Moreover, John received a consecutive 220 months for the second-degree murder and an additional 60 months for firearm enhancement. Clyde and Faye pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of obstructing law enforcement in July 2018. Each of them was sentenced to 10 days in jail, with an additional 354 days suspended on September 11, 2018. As of writing, Tony, Clyde, and Faye appear to have been released from prison and are seemingly maintaining a low profile. Currently, John is serving his time at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington.
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