Today Chase Harrison Devyver, 30, was sentenced to 31 years in prison for the 2014 stabbing death of Shawn Woods, a soldier who was trying to break up a domestic fight at a South Hill home.
The judge explained she was sentencing Devyver to the high end of the range, in part, because he showed no remorse. Surrounded by friends and family, the victim’s wife told the Court that her husband was a hero and died during a heroic action.
“This is another unfortunate example of the havoc caused by domestic violence,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “Thanks to the Sheriff’s detectives, Deputy Prosecutors Cooper and Ahrens and the jury, the defendant was held accountable.”
In April, a jury convicted Devyver of murder in the second degree, assault in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 19, 2014, Devyver and his girlfriend, Laura Reneer, were sitting in a parked car in front of their residence in South Hill. They were arguing about their relationship. When Reneer exited the vehicle and walked into the house, Devyver followed and stabbed her from behind. Reneer’s screams woke up Woods, who was sleeping in another room. He intervened and Devyver stabbed him as well. Devyver then retrieved a gun from another room and demanded the Reneer’s credit card. He hit her in the head with the gun, took her keys, and stole her car.
Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle on 176th Street East. Devyver led police on a pursuit that reached speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. Devyver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a power pole. After he climbed out of the vehicle, he told deputies to shoot him. He was tased and arrested.
When he addressed the Court, Devyver said he didn’t remember what happened.
