John Reed makes first court appearance in Snohomish County

The man accused of murdering an Oso couple and fleeing to Mexico made his first court appearance in Washington Monday.

Accused murderer John Reed looked very little like the images we’ve seen of him before — dressed in a shirt and tie, his shackled hands hidden — he appeared far more feeble than he did in his Pima County, Arizona, mug shot from just last month.

Reed’s attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.  John Reed is charged with shooting Patrick Shunn and Monique Patenaude — his former neighors in Oso — to death in April.

With help from his brother Tony Reed police say he disposed of their vehicles, buried their bodies and then fled to Mexico in his parents’ car.

Tony Reed pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance.  Clyde and Faye Reed pleaded not guilty to that same charge. Monday’s arraignment of John Reed has been four months in the making.

“This is just the first step in a very long process, we’re nowhere near being done with this,” explained prosecutor Craig Matheson.

Just one of Patrick and Monique’s many friends came to Monday’s arraignment; the majority of their loved ones live near Portland.

“I don’t live that far away and if I can follow through and be here I’ll represent them,” said Margaret Hedlund.

Hedlund says she’s never been to a court hearing before — but she’s here now until Reed’s fate is sealed.

“They were a great couple.  You all would have loved them,” she told reporters.

Reed waived his right to have a trial within 60 days and his trial was set for April 7, but the prosecutor tells us the trial likely won’t happen until much later because preparation for a death penalty case is usually quite lengthy.

In the meantime Reed will be in the Snohomish County jail without bond.