Bonney Lake Man Tries To Cope With Tragedy -- Wife's Death, Son's Disappearance Baffle Him

BONNEY LAKE - Ronald Klungness is trying to cope with the loss of his wife and son, as well as the mystery of what happened to them.

Klungness, 52, returned to his home Saturday to find his wife, Susan, slain and his son missing.

Police are equally baffled. They have a friend of the family in custody, accused of taking Susan Klungness' car from the family home.

But no one has been arrested in her slaying, and the whereabouts of 14-year-old Jeffrey Klungness are unknown.

The friend has said he dropped off Jeffrey at home on Saturday after a haircut appointment, then found Susan Klungness dead and the boy missing when he returned later. He said he fled in fear in Klungness' car, but later turned himself in.

Searchers planned to use a National Guard helicopter this afternoon to look for the boy, and deputies have passed out fliers to residents in the area, Benson said.

Ronald Klungness said yesterday he didn't think Jeffrey was involved in his mother's death, but instead saw his mother killed and was kidnapped.

"I think someone has him someplace and won't let him go," he said.

Klungness said his family had been happy. They celebrated his wife's 53rd birthday in January, their 15th anniversary in February, and last week went to Jeffrey's soccer banquet.

Jeffrey was described as a quiet boy with few friends, who loves video games, soccer and the card game "Magic."

He attends the private New Horizons School in Skyway.

Klungness said his wife volunteered at church, went to a Bible class every Wednesday, and enjoyed making crafts and working on the family's computer.

She was on disability retirement because of a knee injury but had operated computers for The Boeing Co.

The family friend came into the family's life about 3 1/2 years ago when Susan Klungness met him at New Horizon Church in Bonney Lake.

The family knew he'd been convicted of second-degree murder in the 1980 slaying of a Clark County woman, but they asked for his help remodeling several rooms at their home.

After that, Klungness said, the man often came to their home just to sit and chat, and helped the family by driving Jeffrey to and from school.

"He always wanted to do things for us," Klungness said.