A Washington man was arrested on Thursday, weeks after a missing woman’s body was discovered in a suitcase at a homeless encampment.
On September 27, outreach workers found Shannon Reeder, 37, dead in a large suitcase at a homeless encampment in Seattle. It is now believed Steven Thanh Nguyen, 57, killed Reeder with a sharp object — possibly an axe or hatchet — and kept her body in a suitcase for weeks before abandoning the remains at the encampment, according to KOMO.
Officials believe Reeder was killed between June 1 and September 27, 2024. However, the medical examiner estimated she had been in the suitcase from weeks to months.
READ: Woman Missing Since 2023 Found Dead in Large Suitcase
Nguyen allegedly hid the suitcase containing Reeder’s body under his bed, which was in a structure at the homeless encampment. Nguyen allegedly claimed that Reeder fell and hit her head while overdosing on fentanyl. He said he hid her body because he was scared, according to KCPQ.
“According to [witness], Nguyen would often trade drugs for other items,” an arrest report detailed. “[Witness] had been inside Nguyen’s structure about a month ago to trade, and he noticed the bed had been lifted up from the ground on a podium structure. This was when [witness] started to notice a strong odor near Nguyen’s tent.”
Nguyen initially stated that the foul odor coming from his tent was from a makeshift toilet.
According to KIRO, investigators determined that Reeder’s injuries to her neck and skull were inconsistent with Nguyen’s claims. The medical examiner also noted various broken bones throughout Reeder’s body.
KIRO reported that Reeder and Nguyen had a tumultuous relationship, with some witnesses indicating the pair had domestic disputes. Though the nature of their relationship was not disclosed, prosecutors said an argument may have led to the fatal altercation.
Nguyen was charged with second-degree murder. His bail was set at $2 million.
[Feature Photo: KCPQ video screengrab]
