By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer is still reviewing the evidence heard by the inquest jury regarding former trooper Ronda Reynolds’ 1998 death.
[1]Ron Reynolds
When the coroner’s inquest adjourned yesterday afternoon, its presiding officer Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said he would issue an arrest warrant for Reynolds’ husband and step-son – as state law requires – within 24 hours.
The jury determined her death was homicide and not suicide as McLeod’s predecessor long claimed. The jurors then named Toledo Elementary School Principal Ron Reynolds and his son Jonathan Reynolds as responsible for her death.
Meyer said neither Ron or Jonathan Reynolds had been booked into the jail when he left for the day.
He referred questions about their arrest warrant to McLeod.
McLeod said today he won’t make any public statements until his inquest is officially closed, something he will consider done when he issues his “final order”.
[2]Ronda Reynolds
Yesterday afternoon from the bench, McLeod told the courtroom he would do that within the “next few days”.
As for who will serve the arrest warrant, Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield’s only public statement came on the day the inquest began: His office “will assist in the same professional, non-biased way that we always have.”
While the coroner is responsible for the inquest and its outcome – changing the manner of death on the death certificate – whether and if any criminal charges are filed is up to the prosecutor.
The inquest jurors only had to find it was more likely than not the two men were responsible, a different standard than would be applied in a criminal case.
Prosecutor Meyer said he’s still looking at the evidence to make his decision.
The Toledo School District’s superintendent issued a formal statement today saying only they are “doing everything possible to maintain the integrity of the educational process.”
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Read about the inquest jurors decision and what it means, or doesn’t mean, here [3]