The Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office has charged 49-year-old David L. Magnett with second-degree murder in the beating and strangulation death of a 61-year-old Sultan man whose body was discovered on a wooded property last week.
Magnett allegedly killed Donald R. Hosier on a property in the 32000 block of 132nd Street Southeast in Sultan because the Sultan man had allegedly been harassing a woman living at the campsite. A nurse was called to the site by Donald Stierns, who rents a trailer on the property, and later made the 911 call.
Police interviewed a number of people at the campsite, which had numerous tents, tarps and travel trailers on it.
Charging documents state Jeani Rothschiller identified Hosier as a stalker during her interview, and that she had told her friend, Magnett, about it. She told police Hosier sent her a number of harassing text messages on Wednesday, Oct. 28, which she told Magnett about. Rothschiller said Magnett left the campsite where a number of people had been drinking around 11:30 p.m. that night, stating he was going to the store and returning later, according to court documents.
Rothschiller said she later found several items removed from her campsite, and Magnett informed her of seeing Hosier's car down the street when he left earlier.
Magnett allegedly told Rothschiller he was going to check her campsite again, returning sweaty and out of breath about 15 minutes later, she told investigators.
The group reported to police that Magnett claimed he'd been attacked by Hosier with a baseball bat, so he "choked him out," according to a police report, claiming Hosier had left the area after the fight.
Rothschiller told investigators Magnett later told her she would not have to worry about Hosier anymore, and stated she overheard another camp member telling Magnett he'd put bleach on the bat and Hosier's wallet.
It was the next morning when Rothschiller told investigators she came upon Hosier's body while walking with Magnett, and she began screaming at him. She told Stierns, who allegedly told Magnett to clean up the mess or they would call the police, according to court records.
The police report states investigators learned that Magnett had driven to Spokane in Hosier's car, which is where he was arrested on Sunday, Nov.1.
According to the report, Magnett allegedly admitted to killing Hosier and that he had "no regrets" about it. He allegedly told investigators he'd put Hosier in a headlock and punched him repeatedly until he went limp, and then dragged his body to where it was found.
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