Chandler Meade, the 25-year-old Hoquiam man arrested in June for the shooting death of his common law wife and mother of his two young children, made no statement as he pleaded guilty to first degree murder with a firearm enhancement at a Superior Court hearing Monday.
County Prosecutor Katie Svoboda said Meade is looking at as many as 31 years in prison when he faces sentencing the morning of Nov. 3.
“The standard range is 240 to 320 months for first degree murder, and an additional 60 months for the firearm enhancement,” said Svoboda. “There was no amendment or reduction (in sentencing), he pled guilty as charged, which is his right.”
On the afternoon of June 10, Meade entered the home he shared with Lael Hyvonen, also 25, and shot her to death, reportedly in front of their two young children. Meade then fled to a relative’s residence in Central Park. The children contacted a family member and told a relative that their father had shot their mother. That relative went to the home and found Hyvonen dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Investigators found a handgun in the residence, and later found Meade at the Central Park home, where he was taken into custody.
“The investigation indicated there had been a long history of domestic abuse; detectives theorized Hyvonen was attempting to leave Meade,” said Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers. “Meade did not provide a statement to detectives.”
The plea avoids a trial where the young children likely would have been called to testify about what they witnessed that afternoon. Svoboda said she is grateful the children won’t be subjected to that, but added she doesn’t know if that was a motivating factor in Meade’s agreeing to plead guilty as charged.
“This guilty plea closes this chapter of this case, but it will never provide closure for the family of the victim, the family of the suspect, or the children who had to witness this unspeakable crime committed against their mother by their father,” said Myers. “Thankfully the children will not have to testify against their father with the guilty plea; we hope they receive the counseling and assistance they will need now and in the future.”
Myers reminds victims of domestic violence there is assistance available.
“Unfortunately, domestic violence is a reality for many in our community, here and around the country. There is help out there, but it is often very hard to break the pattern. As family, friends and neighbors, we all need to listen and reach out to those who are struggling with domestic abuse. In our county, we have an excellent resource in the Domestic Violence Center of Grays Harbor. Advocates are available by phone 24/7 at 360-538-0733. The DV Center is located at 2306 Sumner Ave. in Hoquiam.”
