A Cold Case Thawed: The Tragic Resolution of Jeffrey Klungness's Disappearance

A Quiet Community Shattered

On March 2, 1996, the tranquil town of Bonney Lake, Washington, was rocked by a harrowing discovery. Susan Klungness was found brutally murdered in her home, having suffered multiple blunt force injuries to her head and body. Her 14-year-old son, Jeffrey Klungness, was missing. The family's handyman, Martin S. "Marty" Malcolm, claimed to have discovered Susan's body, panicked, and fled the scene in her vehicle, later turning himself in to authorities.

A Suspicious Past

Malcolm was no stranger to violent crime. In 1980, he was convicted of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of his estranged wife and the assault of two of her friends. He served 12 years in prison and was released in 1992. Despite his past, the Klungness family had welcomed him into their lives through their church community. He became a regular presence in their home, assisting with household tasks and spending time with Jeffrey. However, Susan had grown increasingly uncomfortable with Malcolm's relationship with her son.

The Day of Disappearance

On the day Susan was murdered, Malcolm was seen driving her vehicle with Jeffrey as a passenger. He took Jeffrey to get a haircut and was later captured on bank surveillance footage withdrawing money from Susan's account. Malcolm claimed he dropped Jeffrey off at home and returned later to find Susan dead and Jeffrey missing. He was arrested for possession of stolen property and served 45 days in jail. Despite being a person of interest, he refused to cooperate further with the investigation.

A Cold Case Reopened

For over two decades, the case remained unsolved. In 2017, mushroom pickers discovered a skull fragment in the Greenwater area of unincorporated Pierce County. The fragment, showing signs of blunt force trauma, was determined to belong to a juvenile male. In 2020, mitochondrial DNA comparisons matched the fragment to Jeffrey's half-sister. Further searches in 2020 uncovered additional remains and clothing items. By 2021, DNA analysis confirmed the remains belonged to Jeffrey Klungness. ...Read More

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