Cold case in boy’s death solved

A case of a Bonney Lake boy missing since 1996 has finally come to a conclusion after nearly 30 years. 

This month, investigators received a postmortem examination report from the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office for Jeffrey Klungness. It found that a skull fragment recovered in 2017 and a fibula bone found in the same area in 2020 were positively identified as those of Jeffrey.

The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries of the head, and the manner of death was listed as homicide. The prosecutor’s office stated that adult male suspect Martin Malcolm would be charged. While awaiting the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to finish reviewing the investigation and issue a warrant for Malcolm’s arrest, investigators learned that he had died in the Thurston County area at the age of 67 from natural causes in August 2022.

There are still parts of the investigation being finalized. However, in light of the facts and evidence of the case as well as the suspect being deceased and unable to be formally charged or continue with court proceedings, the case as a whole is considered resolved and closed.

In 1980, Malcolm had been charged and convicted of stabbing and killing his wife, who was the mother to his child. He assaulted two of the wife’s friends by stabbing them during the same incident. Malcolm served 12 years prison time and was released in 1992.

The Klungness family were introduced to Malcolm through their church as a handyman. Malcolm 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. It was reported that his mother, Susan Klungness, often felt Malcolm was overstaying his welcome at the house and, in addition, she was becoming less comfortable with his relationship with Jeffrey. 

In 1996, Susan was killed in her residence while her husband, Ronald Klungness, was at work. Susan suffered several blunt force trauma injuries to her head and body. Malcolm was a strong person of interest in the case. On the day of the homicide, he was reported to be at the residence as well as later seen driving Susan’s vehicle with Jeffrey as a passenger. Malcolm took Jeffrey to get a haircut and Malcolm could be seen on video footage withdrawing money from a bank. Jeffrey was never seen or heard from again. Malcolm was not apprehended or charged and the case went cold.

In October 2017, mushroom pickers found a skull fragment in the Greenwater area of unincorporated Pierce County. A search of the nearby area was conducted, but nothing further was located.

The skull fragment was examined by the Pierce County Medical Examiner as well as a forensic anthropologist from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. It was later sent to the FBI laboratory for possible DNA extraction. Damage consistent with blunt force trauma was present on the skull. The skull was determined to be from a juvenile, likely teenaged,a male. A search of Pierce County Sheriff’s Office cold cases revealed the Klungness case and the missing Jeffrey Klungness.

In August 2020, it was determined that mitochondrial DNA comparisons between the skull and Jeffrey’s half-sister were a match. In September 2020, another search of the area, a slightly different area than the prior search, was conducted over the span of several days. Items located during this search, and all in the same general area, included a fibula bone and 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. 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. Jeffrey’s remains were confirmed as being located and identified.