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The 21-year-old accused of murdering Tyler A. Reeves near Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the charge.
Connor J. Price pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder during a hearing on May 29. He’s been in custody in the Lewis County Jail since his arrest on May 5.
Price, who is represented by defense attorney Don Blair, originally pleaded not guilty to the single count during an arraignment on May 14.
Following his change of plea, Judge Paul Strophy ordered a no-bail hold pending Price’s sentencing. Price was previously held on $5 million bail.
According to court documents, Price’s standard sentencing range is 240 to 320 months in prison. Such ranges are calculated based on the defendant’s criminal history and the severity of the crime. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Price has no felony history, though he’s twice been convicted of fourth-degree assault, considered a gross misdemeanor offense. He’s also been convicted of third-degree malicious mischief, also a gross misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.
According to Price’s guilty plea statement, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of 270 months — or 22 and a half years — in prison, followed by three years of community custody.
In his written statement, Price said he committed the murder with “premeditated intent” on April 29.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrested Price on May 5, hours after deputies discovered Reeves’ body near the train tracks and Newaukum River, next to Stan Hedwall Park.
Detectives quickly identified Price as a person of interest after speaking with multiple sources. A deputy located Price and arrested him for his two active warrants.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, Price told detectives he “‘did it” and said he “‘stomped” the victim.
Price said he’d found Reeves on April 29 “passed out drunk” on a trail by the train tracks.
He went on to strike the victim with his foot and a stick.
According to the lead detective’s statement, which was included in the affidavit, Price said he dragged the victim “by the hands” to a nearby area, left for a few minutes, and then returned to find the victim “holding onto a tree and saying something to the effect of ‘help me.’”
Price continued his attack. He stomped on the victim’s head, and hit him with a larger stick.
According to the affidavit, detectives at the scene said Reeves was unrecognizable. His only identifying feature was the tattoo on his chest.
Prosecutors charged Price with murder on May 6.
On May 8, Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod confirmed Reeves, 33, of Chehalis, had died of blunt force trauma to the head. McLeod said the manner of death was homicide.
According to the affidavit, Price said “he did this act alone and had done it because he had just found out that (Reeves) had raped a 16-year-old girl.”
According to state court records, Reeves had never been charged or convicted of rape.
Court documents indicate Reeves was sentenced on Sept. 23, 2025, to one year and a day in prison after making Alford and Barr pleas to one count of third-degree assault of a child and three counts of third-degree assault.
Reeves had initially been charged with six counts of first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit content, as previously reported by The Chronicle.
Price’s address was listed as “transient” in the charging information filed by prosecutors.
To read previous coverage on the murder case, visit https://tinyurl.com/mr48p7tm.
