By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer issued a statement today assuring the public he is working diligently to make a charging decision in Ronda Reynolds’ death, and he will announce it the day before the coroner’s announcement explaining why the arrest warrants were suspended.
Jonathan Meyer, Lewis County Prosecutor
After telling a packed courtroom on Wednesday afternoon he would issue arrest warrants within 24 hours for the two men just named as responsible for Reynolds’ 1998 homicide, Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod suddenly this morning announced he put the warrants on hold.
McLeod said only a legal issue “came to light”.
The seven-day coroner’s inquest in Chehalis ended this week with a panel of five concluding the death almost 13 years ago was homicide; and Ron Reynolds and his son Jonathan Reynolds were responsible.
McLeod acknowledged this morning he is required under state law to issue the warrants.
The attorney representing Jonathan Reynolds, indicated today he didn’t file any legal documents to stop the process. Ron Reynolds’ attorney hasn’t returned calls for comment.
Warren McLeod, Lewis County Coroner
The attorney representing Ronda Reynolds’ mother, Barbara Thompson, said he had no idea what was going on.
Royce Ferguson, designated by the coroner as “an especially interested party” to the inquest, sent an electronic letter to McLeod’s legal counsel today inquiring about the delay.
In it, Ferguson noted, state statute provides that following a finding of homicide by an inquest jury, “the coroner shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the person charged, returnable forthwith to the nearest magistrate.”
“Forthwith commonly means ‘without delay’,” Ferguson wrote.
Ferguson’s inquiry didn’t get him any answers.
Coroner McLeod has said he would provide the answers a week from today in a courtroom when his inquest is “reconvened.”
That is scheduled for 9 a.m. next Friday morning in a Lewis County District Courtroom.
Prosecutor Meyer in his news release today said he has not made a charging decision in the case.
He’s spent numerous hours reviewing the case file and inquest materials and will continue to use the “methodical and diligent process” his office strives for in every case, he wrote.
But Meyer will know his answer by next Thursday, he wrote.
He will announce it at a press conference on the ground floor of the same building at 10 a.m. that day.
•••
Read background on the inquest, here
Read state statutes regarding county coroner, here
Read “Ex-trooper’s husband put on leave from school principal post” from KOMOnews.com today at 2:41 p.m., here
Read “Ruling on trooper’s death: more suspense in unprecedented case” from Crosscut.com today, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Thanks MARTY HAYES for providing some perspective on this issue!
With all of your knowledge of this case, your dedication to finding the truth, your continued diligence in the pursuit of justice, and the fact that you know a little bit about Washington State law yourself, I RESPECT YOUR POINT OF VIEW AND APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR TAKE ON THE SITUATION.
Thank You!
Oh come on! McLeod was trying to be a hero…he wasnt counting on this circus to come out any different than it was to begin with! He made a big mistake trying to make himself look good! And now he is obviously trying how to save his own ass cause he done messed with the big boys! Uh…Sheriff, Prosecutor, Reynolds (from what I hear, he had a couple ex’s who he weaseled money from), etc.etc.etc. Maybe he will be on the plane right beside Ron Reynolds, heading for sunny beaches!And we all know there arent any of those around here!
We need to get more coverage on this mess, nationwide, everybody heard of it kinda coverage. Then maybe our higher government WILL HAVE to step in. Any concerned citizens wanna get on the wagon and make this happen? Hell no, not many…too chickensit! This place sucks and it aint lookin like its gonna get any better.
There is way too much wrong going on around here. People who should be gettin the shaft are gettin their hands slapped. People who are doing what they should are gettin their heads chopped off.
FOR EXAMPLE…A PRIME EXAMPLE…CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES…but oh baby, there cool cause the ole Shefiff has their asses covered. When it gets to the Sheriff, who ya gonna go to? Nobody, cause guess what else, FBI will lose your files. Poof! This place is rank from all the filthy moves from our government!
Cmon people…dont just sit there and stew over it…if you got strings you can pull to expose this in any way, shape or form, do it! Otherwise, just read em and weep!
I agree with Marty Hayes. We have to remember that a coroner’s inquest is a very rare occasion. We have public officials statewide and probably nationwide with their eyes on us, seeing how we react.
I think to Meyer and McLeod, this is a one-time shot to bring whoever did this to justice, and they don’t want to screw it up by not having everything in order. One flaw, and everything goes down the drain.
I have faith in both McLeod and Meyer to do their jobs professionally and competently. There is no roadmap for them to follow in this event, and I think they are both dilligently trying to work through the issues and make legitimate decisions. I say give them a break, and let them do their jobs. I frankly was impressed with Jonathan Meyer attending the vast majority of the inquest, something even the Sheriff didn’t do.
Being a defense attorney before a prosecutor, he (Meyer) understands the legal issues of prosecution better than most. I too am frustrated with the lack of movement, but understand the delays may very well be warranted. The week will go by fast.
GAMES AND MORE GAMES TIME TO MAN UP —MCLEOD –MEYER AND ALL OTHERS
Anything to get out of doing the right thing. So McLeod can not keep his word. And Meyer’s gets in with this nonesence’ with out any shame they all stand hand and hand, forgetting about doing the right thing. Once more I have to say if the dear girl Ronda was a faminly member or friend. I think we all know how this would be. Time to tie their big boy shoes. And will MeLeod and Meyers tell us who is putting them on this path of shame. Time for them all to stand up, grow up take a nap or what ever needs to done to right the cool murder of this Dear Ronda. This is about us all, it could be you or me that they are working so very hard to dishonor—lets all be hero’s and let them all know. AMEN AMEN