Legislature Considers Changes to Law in Response to Reynolds Inquest

The state Legislature is considering changes to how a county coroner handles an inquest, and the proposed legislation has been brought about in response to last year's Ronda Reynolds inquest.

The current law requires a coroner to issue an arrest warrant if an inquest jury identifies someone responsible for her death. The law, which dates back to the 1800s, reads: "If the jury finds that the person was killed and the party committing the homicide is ascertained by the inquisition but is not in custody, the coroner shall issue a warrant for the arrest, returnable forthwith to the nearest magistrate."

But some - including Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod - believe it's not up to a coroner to issue warrants in the first place.

"That's not what a coroner's job is," he said.

McLeod found himself involved in the spectacle that was the Ronda Reynolds inquest, which took place last October.

Reynolds, a former state trooper, was found dead at the age of 33 of a gunshot wound to the head in December of 1998. Two investigations determined her death had been a suicide.

But an inquest jury ruled her death a homicide and identified her husband, Ron Reynolds, and stepson, Jonathan Reynolds, as suspects in her death.

The coroner twice issued arrest warrants, and then quashed them, first because of allegations over potential jurors' misconduct, then because there was doubt that charges would be brought against the suspects due to a lack of evidence.

Finally, he issued them a third time:

"I was up all night before the final disposition reading the law," he said. "I weighed my options. But the law doesn't give me the discretion to not act."

McLeod said he didn't agree with the law, but he followed it.

"Sometimes there's a difference between what is right and what is correct," McLeod said. "When you run for public office you know you'll be in situations that may not always be easy."

Senate Bill 6065 changes the language of the law. Instead of requiring the coroner to issue an arrest warrant, the coroner "may request the superior court of the county that convened the inquest to issue a warrant."

The warrant would have to be supported with sufficient evidence to justify conviction.

McLeod was asked to testify, but the hearing fell on Jan. 17, the day a major winter storm hit Lewis County, and he couldn't make it up to Olympia.

The bill was sponsored by Adam Kline, D-Seattle, who believes the law would prevent a similar situation.

"We believe this solves the problem," Kline said. "We want to make sure people who may be suspected by members of the jury don't automatically get arrested. We need to make sure the prosecutor is in on that decision."

The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, who said the Ronda Reynolds case was scrutinized.

"They thought there was probably a better way to do it," Swecker said.

In his December newsletter, Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield all but predicted the proposed change in the law. He wrote, "The recent coroner's inquest into the Ronda Reynolds case was a disturbing perversion of the justice system, and as a result, I fully anticipate changes to the laws that guide such a process."

He said he is supporting this new legislation and will testify if he is asked to.

"I don't expect opposition. It's something that needed to happen," the sheriff told The Chronicle. "It wasn't until the Reynolds case brought it forward and showed how ridiculous this is. Had that been the language, I don't think (McLeod) would have issued the warrants."

Kline said he hasn't seen any opposition to the bill yet, and doesn't expect any. He said he expects action on the bill within the next few weeks. The current legislative session ends March 8.

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Bianca Fortis: (360) 807-8245