Man won’t face death penalty in deaths of Oso couple

EVERETT, Wash. – A man charged with killing a rural Washington state couple and burying their remains will not face the death penalty if convicted.

The Seattle Times reported the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office had decided it will not seek the death penalty against John Reed for the deaths of 46-year-old Monique Patenaude and 45-year-old Patrick Shunn.

Patenaude and Shunn were shot April 11 near Oso, a small community northeast of Seattle.

Reed, 54, pleaded not guilty in August to two counts of aggravated murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Prosecutors said the couple were slain over a property feud.

Prosecutor Mark Roe had said he would decide by Tuesday whether to seek the death penalty.

Reed is scheduled to be tried in September.