Jeffrey Klungness, 14, disappeared after his mother was killed in 1996. Almost three decades later, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has concluded he, too, was killed.
Susan Klungness was killed in her Bonney Lake home in March 1996 while her husband, Ronald Klungness, was at work. She died from several blunt-force injuries to her head and body, according to The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office in a Wednesday news release.
Martin Malcolm was the Klungness’ handyman and would assist around the household. He eventually became a strong person of interest in Susan Klungness’ killing.
“Martin was known to assist around the Klungness household as well as hang around the house, eating meals, playing board games with Jeffrey, and taking Jeffrey to school,” the release said.
Susan Klungness reportedly felt Malcolm was overstaying his welcome, and she became uncomfortable with his relationship with her son, the release said.
The release said that Malcolm had previously served 12 years in prison for fatally stabbing his wife in 1980. He also stabbed two of his wife’s friends. Malcolm was released in 1992.
On the day of Susan’s murder, Malcolm was reportedly at their home and was seen driving her vehicle later with Jeffrey Klungness in the passenger seat, the release said. He took Jeffrey Klungness to get a haircut. Video footage also showed Malcolm withdrawing money from a bank.
Jeffrey Klungness was not seen or heard from again.
“In October 2017, a skull fragment was found in the Greenwater area of unincorporated Pierce County by mushroom pickers. A search of the nearby area was conducted, but nothing further was located,” the release said.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner and a forensic anthropologist from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office examined the skull fragment, the release said. The fragment was later sent to the FBI Laboratory for possible DNA extraction.
It was determined the damage on the fragment may have come from blunt-force trauma, the release said. It likely came from a teenage boy.
“A search of PCSO cold cases revealed the Klungness case and the missing teenager, Jeffrey Klungness,” the release said.
Mitochondrial DNA comparisons between the skull fragment and Jeffrey Klungness’ half-sister were a match in August 2020, the release said. Investigators did another search in a slightly different area, but still nearby, in September 2020 and found a fibula bone as well as some clothing items.
“The partial cranium and fibula were sent to Bode Technology for DNA processing. In April 2021, Bode Technology identified both as belonging to the same individual,” the release said. “Results of the examination were later sent to the University of North Texas which, in November 2021, confirmed the DNA and remains originated from a biological child of Ronald and Susan Klungness as well as being related to his maternal half-sibling.”
The release said that investigators concluded that they had located and identified Jeffrey Klungness’ remains.
A warrant was issued for Malcolm’s arrest and investigators learned he died in Thurston County from natural causes in August 2022 at 67 years old.
“In March 2025, investigators received the Postmortem Examination Report from the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office for Jeffrey Klungness,” the release said. “It concluded that the recovered skull and fibula were positively identified as those of Jeffrey Klungness. The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries of the head, and the manner of death was listed as homicide.”
If he had not been dead, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office said that Malcolm would have been charged, the release said.
The Sheriff’s Office is finalizing parts of the investigation, the release said. Since Malcolm is dead and unable to be charged, the case is considered closed.
