Jeffrey Klungness - Washington - 1996

Law enforcement in Bonney Lake, Washington say Jeffrey Allen Klungness disappeared on March 2, 1996, the same day his mother was found murdered in their home. Based on the AMW web archives, he may have been featured sometime in the 1990s, but it is unclear if the case was featured further than that. From the Charley Project:

Missing Since: March 2, 1996 from Bonney Lake, Washington
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: December 9, 1981
Age (at time of disappearance): 14 years old
Height and Weight (at time of disappearance): 5'10 - 5'11, 155 - 160 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Brown hair, blue eyes. Jeffrey slouches when he is walking. He may use the names Jeffrey Haynes and/or Stanley Ipkiss. Jeffrey is dyslexic and has a speech impediment.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A green short-sleeved shirt, green pants and sneakers.

Details of Disappearance

Jeffrey's mother, Susan Klungness, was found deceased inside of their family's mobile home in the 20400 block of east 113th Street in Bonney Lake, Washington near Sumner on March 2, 1996. She had been killed by a blow to the head. Investigators believe she was beaten with a blunt object while sitting in an armchair in the living room. A trail of blood lead from the chair to her bedroom; she either crawled into the bedroom or was dragged there.

Jeffrey's father, Ron Klungness, came home from work between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m. and found the door to the residence unlocked and the television on. He tried to open his bedroom door and could not. He was able to open it at 6:30 p.m. and found Susan's body slumped against the door, holding it shut. Ron's gold watch and about $700 in cash had disappeared from the home. Jeffrey was also missing and has never been heard from again. His father last spoke to him by phone at 9:30 that morning.

Ron says he and Susan, who had been married for fifteen years by the time of her death, had a troubled marriage and had separated once before. Their arguments distressed Jeffrey. He developed problems with anger before his disappearance and once damaged his bedroom door so badly that it had to be replaced. He was attending a private school at the time of his disappearance and doing better academically than he had been before. His father describes him as a shy but basically normal teenager.

Martin S. "Marty" Malcolm, then 41, was employed as a handyman at the time and he claimed he discovered Susan's body on the day of her death. Malcolm told authorities that he panicked and drove away in Susan's maroon Toyota Camry station wagon with license plates numbered 093GHZ; the car was found abandoned at 4:00 a.m. the next day at a convenience store in Auburn, Washington. Malcolm turned himself into police that same day. He admitted withdrawing $300 dollars from Susan's bank account the day of her murder and says he spent it all at the Muckleshoot Casino that same evening. Martin was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and has since been released. He has hired an attorney, refused to take a lie detector test, and will not speak to investigators about Susan and Jeffrey's cases.

Neighbors reportedly told investigators that Malcolm was seen with Jeffrey shortly before the child vanished. He says he took Jeffrey to get a haircut at 11:30 a.m. Shortly afterwards, a surveillance camera at a drive-through bank automated teller machine (ATM) showed Malcolm driving Susan's Toyota. The camera didn't show Jeffrey, but a woman waiting in line behind Malcolm says she saw a "young person" in the car with him. Malcom says he returned Jeffrey to his home at 12:30 p.m. and left to run an errand. He returned to the Klungness residence at 2:00 p.m. and found Susan murdered and Jeffrey missing.

Malcolm was a known friend of Jeffrey's and often drove him places. He was becoming unwelcome in the Klungness home by March 1996 because he spent so much time there and never put any gasoline in their car after he drove it. Malcolm has never been charged in connection with Susan's homicide or Jeffrey's disappearance. Malcolm had been convicted of second-degree murder in 1980; he killed his estranged wife. He was released from prison in 1992.

Police are interested in locating Ron's watch, which disappeared after Susan's homicide. It is a Seiko Quartz with a gold finish and the serial number SGF 206. It is engraved with Ron's name and a message thanking him for thirty years of service with Boeing. Authorities believe the watch was taken by whoever murdered Susan and was possibly sold afterwards.

An extensive search of the Bonney Lake area turned up few clues as to Jeffrey's whereabouts. He enjoys playing the game Magic. Investigators do not believe Jeffrey ran away from home, as he is not used to being on his own and it seems likely that he would have been in contact with his loved ones or the police eventually if he had left of his own accord. He is not considered a suspect in Susan's murder. Foul play is suspected in his disappearance.

www.charleyproject.org/cases/k/klungness_jeffrey.html
www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/815715/1
www.tpcrimestoppers.com/case.php?id=335
doenetwork.org/cases/1517dmwa.html
www.missingin.org/reg2570/jeffrey_allen_klungness.htm

Admin Note #1: According to missingkids.org, anyone having information should call 1-800-THE-LOST or the Pierce County Sheriff's Office (Washington) - Crimestoppers at 1-253-591-5959

Admin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form