The 21-year-old accused of murdering Tyler A. Reeves near Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
Connor J. Price is charged with one count of first-degree murder, a Class A felony punishable by up to life in prison.
Defense attorney Don Blair entered the not-guilty plea on behalf of Price, who appeared via video from the Lewis County Jail.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor William Halstead appeared in court on behalf of the state.
Prior to the plea, Price requested a private phone call with Blair.
In addition to the not-guilty plea, the attorney waived a formal reading of the charging documents and declared Price’s intention to waive his right to a speedy trial.
After confirming with Price, Judge J. Andrew Toynbee accepted the not-guilty plea and the speedy trial waiver.
According to state law, defendants in custody have the right to a trial within 60 days from the time of their initial arraignment.
Toynbee said the last date for trial is now May 30, 2027.
Six people left the gallery following the hearing.
Price remains in custody in lieu of $5 million in bail after his arrest on May 5.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrested Price hours after deputies discovered Reeves’ body near the train tracks and Newaukum River, next to Stan Hedwall Park.
Price made a preliminary appearance in court on May 6.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Price allegedly told a detective “something to the effect of he ‘did it’ and he ‘stomped’” the victim.
Price’s alleged admissions — in which he described multiple strikes with his foot and a stick — reportedly came after he had received a Miranda warning.
According to the affidavit, detectives at the scene noted that the victim “appeared to have a significant amount of blunt-force trauma to his head and was unrecognizable with the exception of a tattoo on his chest.”
On May 8, Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod confirmed Reeves, 33, of Chehalis, died of blunt force trauma to the head.
The coroner said the manner of death was homicide.
According to the affidavit, Price said “he did this act alone and had done it because he had just found out that (Reeves) had raped a 16-year-old girl.”
According to state court records, Reeves had never been charged or convicted of rape.
Court documents indicate Reeves was sentenced on Sept. 23, 2025, to one year and a day in prison after making Alford and Barr pleas to one count of third-degree assault of a child and three counts of third-degree assault.
Reeves had initially been charged with six counts of first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit content, as previously reported by The Chronicle.
Price is currently scheduled for a trial-setting hearing on Aug. 13.
To read previous coverage on the case, visit https://tinyurl.com/4pjy92s8.
