Fourth Suspect Charged in Bret Snow Homicide Investigation
On August 1, 2018, Spokane Valley Major Crimes Detective Lyle Johnston requested charges of Murder 1st Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping 1st Degree for 33-year-old Kenneth Lee Stone 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.
With information recently obtained during this two-and-a-half-year investigation, Stone is believed to have conspired with Cheryl L. Sutton (charged in 2017) as she 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, Stone and Sutton pled guilty in Federal Court to charges of Distribution of Controlled Substances 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.
Detective Johnston, continuing to work this active investigation, recently obtained new information/evidence in support of this new request to charge Stone.
Stone, already in federal custody in another state, will be charged with Murder 1st Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping 1st Degree. If Stone does not waive his rights to be extradited to Spokane County to face these charges, he will be held at his current location pending the outcome of the extradition process.
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.
The three other suspects charged in connection to this homicide investigation are:
Cheryl L. Sutton
Alvaro Guajardo
Colby D. Vodder