Jeffrey Allen Klungness was a teenager whose remains were found by mushroom pickers in Greenwater, Washington.
He was identified in November 2021, and his identity was released in March 2025.
Disappearance[]
On March 2, 1996, Klungness' mother, Susan, was found bludgeoned to death in her home in Bonney Lake, Washington, with Jeffrey missing from the scene.
Martin Malcolm, a family friend and handyman, was seen as the main suspect in the case. He had a history of violence, including a 1980 conviction for murdering his wife and injuring two of her friends. Malcolm was seen on surveillance camera driving with Jeffrey in the passenger seat.
Discovery[]
On October 17, 2017, mushroom pickers discovered a skull fragment in Greenwater, Washington. After an extensive search, no additional remains were discovered.
Identification[]
In August 2020, mitochondrial DNA analysis linked the skull fragment to Klungness' half-sister. The following month, a fibula and articles of clothing were recovered from the fragment's initial recovery site. In November 2021, further testing confirmed the fragment and fibula belonged to Klungness after being linked to his parents and half-sibling. In March 2025, the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office issued an autopsy report concluding he had been killed from blunt force trauma to the head.
Malcolm died of natural causes in August 2022 before he could be formally charged. Because of this, the case was officially closed.