In the early morning hours of February 3, 2018, a domestic dispute in the quiet community of Longbranch, Washington, escalated into a tragic and fatal encounter. Lukas Slawson, a 35-year-old White male, and his 25-year-old wife, Beth Hamlin-Slawson, were found shot to death in the driveway of his mother-in-law's home. The couple had gone to the residence on Whiteman Road where a heated argument erupted.
The conflict reportedly revolved around the sale of a handgun and allegations of
domestic violence involving Cory Nathan Mason, 27, who was dating Beth's younger sister and living at the property. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with both Lukas Slawson and Cory Mason reportedly firing weapons. In the midst of the chaos, the couple's two-year-old son was present in their vehicle but was physically unharmed.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene to find the grim aftermath of the confrontation. Deputies apprehended Cory Nathan Mason, who was walking near the residence shortly after the shooting. Mason had also placed a 911 call, claiming that he had shot the couple in self-defense. He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
Mason was arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court and his bail was set at $2 million. For nearly 14 months, he remained in custody awaiting trial. However, the legal proceedings took a significant turn when prosecutors reviewed the evidence, which included surveillance video of the incident. The footage, though distorted, showed Lukas Slawson pointing a gun at Mason. Based on this and other evidence, prosecutors concluded they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mason had not acted in self-defense. In a dramatic development, the murder charges against Cory Nathan Mason were dropped, and he was released from jail in April 2019.
