Parents of brothers connected to Arlington couple's murder appear in court

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — The parents of brothers connected to the murder of an Oso couple were released from jail a day after their arrest.  Clyde and Faye Reed are facing rendering criminal assistance charges for helping their sons -- John and Tony Reed -- flee to Mexico.

By the end of Wednesday, Clyde and Faye Reed were expected to walk out of the Snohomish County Jail.

Their son Tony Reed came back from Mexico to turn himself in, but John Reed -- who police say is the mastermind behind the murders of Patrick Shunn and Monique Patenaude -- is still on the run, presumably still in Mexico.

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We were there early Wednesday afternoon when 81-year-old Clyde Reed walked slowly and feebly to his seat before the judge in Snohomish County Court and spoke only once, to verify his full name.

Seventy-seven-year-old Faye Reed appeared even more frail, her head visibly shaking as the judge agreed to release both Reeds on their own recognizance.

Clyde and Faye Reed are accused of helping their two sons escape from law enforcement by taking and cleaning a pickup police say John Reed used to commit murder -- and supplying him with their own vehicle to flee.

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John Reed is charged with murder in the deaths of Shunn and Patenaude, his former neighbors.

Tony Reed had been charged with murder, but Tuesday his charge was amended to match the charge against his parents -- rendering criminal assistance.

We have known for months that Clyde and Faye repeatedly told police they wouldn't help them find their sons, even if they knew where they were, so why charge them now?

We asked the sheriff's office if they are trying to draw John Reed out of hiding, hoping he'll see video online of his elderly parents in jail jumpsuits.  We got no definitive answer.

"The best possible outcome would be for John Reed to turn himself in,” Shari Ireton with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office told us.

But that is probably not what the Reeds want. In court documents, Faye Reed said she's rather shoot her sons herself than see them in jail.

Cox Media Group