Lake Oswego officer reflects on how homicide of aunt and uncle led her to policing career

As a police officer, Eryn Leonard has to interact with people during the worst times of their life. Relating to that, she said, can sometimes prove challenging.

However, as she progresses in her career, the Lake Oswego officer’s harrowing experience a few years ago — which altered the trajectory of her life — means she may be able to level with those who are grief-stricken more deeply.

When Leonard was 18 years old, her uncle Patrick Shunn and aunt Monique Patenaude were murdered by their neighbor John Reed in Oso, Washington. Whilst horrifying, the episode led Leonard to pursue a career in law enforcement.

“I think I just have that ability to have perspective and, at least for the victims, to be able to level with them. It’s really hard to sit there on certain things and say you understand because you can’t. With that I really do understand,” Leonard said.

‘It’s hard and pretty devastating’

Leonard was in school hoping to become a marine biologist and held a job as a server when Shunn and Patenaude went missing in 2016. Leonard said Shunn was like a father to her, liked to play pranks and always took her shopping for school supplies. Initially, she assumed the two, who were avid nature-lovers, got lost on a hike. But the police determined they were likely killed in a homicide a couple days later and brought on a homicide investigation team to work the case.

Before the murders, Shunn and Patenaude had tried to get a restraining order against Reed and the neighbors had disputes over property. Reed had given up ownership of his home through a flood mitigation program after a landslide occurred in the area yet still squatted there. According to an article in the Seattle Times, Reed shot Patenaude three times and Shunn in the head on April 11, 2016. He and his brother Tony Reed hid the bodies and John fled to Mexico. Later, Tony turned himself in and led police to the bodies, according to the article.

For Leonard, the trauma she experienced was magnified by the extensive publicity of the case. Eight years later, she hasn’t fully recovered.

“People always say it gets easier. It really doesn’t. It’s hard and pretty devastating. I can’t tell my uncle about my daughter or my accomplishments,” Leonard said.

Finding a new purpose

Growing up, Leonard said her parents had run-ins with the law and she didn’t necessarily have a positive feeling toward police.

However, Leonard’s perspective shifted due to the work of the homicide investigation team, who she said were incredibly empathetic and hard-working. She still keeps in touch with them to this day.

“They mowed the lawn, put up flowers at the gate where (Shunn and Patenaude) were murdered. They didn’t have to do that. They didn’t have to communicate with us, be transparent. But they were. That helped build trust, gave me respect for the fact that they were going so above and beyond for my family,” Leonard said.

In turn, Leonard enrolled in the criminal justice program at Clackamas Community College, went on ride-alongs with police officers and met with former Lake Oswego Police Chief Don Johnson, who hired her in 2022.

Leonard aspires to work in a major crimes unit, has been on a few human trafficking missions and said she is drawn to working cases related to trafficking and child exploitation.

The Lake Oswego officer described Shunn as extremely resourceful and Patenaude as the sweetest woman she has ever met.

“She would probably be terrified I’m doing law enforcement and would want to be safe and protect me,” Leonard said. “My uncle taught me how to be aware of my surroundings. He would think it was really awesome and would be happy that’s what I’m doing for them.”

Leonard recently gave a speech about her experience at a conference with the Washington Homicide Investigators Association and said she was grateful for the opportunity. There, she hoped to remind detectives of the impact they can have.

‘Being able to show them the job they do as detectives led me, as a survivor, to become a police officer and help people, it was an incredible opportunity and being able to honor my aunt and uncle in that way was another great thing I can do for them,” Leonard said. “It was pretty emotional. I was trying to fight back tears. It felt like such an honor.”