Detectives Make Third Arrest in Bret Snow Homicide Investigation
On October 31, 2017, Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detective Lyle Johnston requested charges of Leading Organized Crime and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder and 1st Degree Kidnapping for 37-year-old Cheryl L. Sutton in relation to the ongoing Bret Snow homicide investigation.
To date, Bret Snow’s remains have not been located. As this investigation continues, we again are asking for the public’s help with any information regarding this incident or that may help detectives locate the remains of Bret Snow.
Through information gleaned during this nearly two-year investigation, Sutton is believed to have organized, managed, and directed several persons to engage in criminal activity for profit. In addition, these activities led to a criminal conspiracy which resulted in the kidnapping and murder of an associate, Bret Snow.
On November 1, 2017, Sutton pled guilty in Federal Court to charges of Distribution of Controlled Substances and was sentenced to 120 months stemming from a Spokane Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF) investigation. SRDTF investigators have been working with Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detectives in this joint investigation.
Yesterday, Cheryl Sutton, who was already in custody at the Spokane County Jail due to a U.S. Marshal Hold was booked for Murder 1st Degree, Leading Organized Crime, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping 1st Degree and Kidnaping 1st Degree.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation, or can assist in locating Snow’s remains, is urged to call Major Crimes Detective Lyle Johnston at 509-477-3191.
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Previous Release from May 2017:
Second Suspect Charged in Bret Snow Homicide
Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detectives, continuing to investigate the 2015 murder of Bret R. Snow, charged a second suspect, 52-year-old Alvaro Guajardo, with Murder 1st Degree for his part in the homicide.
Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detective Lyle Johnston, the lead detective since the initial investigation began in December 2015 when Bret Snow was reported as a missing person, served the warrant charging Guajardo Friday.
Bret Snow, 33-years-old when a family member reported him missing, was last seen in Spokane Valley on December 3, 2015.
In December 2016, 26-year-old Colby D. Vodder was arrested after investigators working the case developed probable cause for a search warrant of Vodder’s Post Falls residence. Vodder is charged with Murder 1st Degree.
Last Friday, Detective Johnston charged Guajardo with Murder 1st Degree. Guajardo was already in custody at the Spokane County Jail on a Washington Department of Corrections hold and felony drug possession charges.
Detectives continue their investigation as they work to uncover all the facts surrounding the death of Bret Snow and attempt to locate his remains.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation, or can assist in locating Snow’s remains, is urged to call Major Crimes Detective Lyle Johnston at 509-477-3191.
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Previous Release from December 2016:
Bret Snow Homicide Investigation
Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detectives investigating the 2015 missing person case of Bret R. Snow developed probable cause to obtain a search warrant for Post Falls, Idaho residence of 26-year-old Colby D. Vodder. Detectives working with the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force (NIVCTF) served the search warrant today and arrested Vodder, charging him with Murder 2nd Degree.
Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detectives have been investigating the missing person report of Bret Snow, who was last seen in Spokane Valley on December 3, 2015. Through this year-long investigation, detectives developed probable cause for a search warrant of Vodder’s residence, located in 2100 block of North Riverstone Drive in Post Falls.
On December 21, 2016 investigators, assisted by members of the NIVCTF and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, served the search warrant and arrested Vodder. Vodder is being held in the Kootenai County Jail on a Fugitive from Justice charge where he will remain pending extradition back to Spokane County for the Murder 2nd Degree warrant.
This case is still active as investigators continue to work to uncover the facts about Bret Snow’s disappearance, who was involved, as well as the location of his remains.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or Bret Snow’s whereabouts around the time of his disappearance is urged to call Major Crimes Detective Lyle Johnston at 509-477-3191.
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