Bellingham boy was poisoned, court papers say

An 8-year-old Bellingham boy whose body was found in a field near his home last week was beaten, choked, cut and poisoned with insulin, according to court documents filed yesterday charging a 16-year-old neighbor in the slaying.

The documents allege Ryan Alexander, a troubled teen with a criminal past, killed Michael Busby because the child was pestering him.

"He said he wanted to get even with Michael for bothering him," court documents said.

Whatcom County prosecutors charged Alexander as an adult with aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. If convicted, he would face life in prison without parole. Had he been 18, he could have faced the death penalty.

Michael had moved to the neighborhood from the Kent area in February after his father transferred his job at Safelite Auto Glass to Bellingham.

Family new to area

Larry Miller, Michael's grandfather, said Michael Busby Sr. thought Bellingham would be a better place to raise children.

Last Thursday, the boys walked to an undeveloped field along Squalicum Way, next to the Pacific Concrete Industries plant. There, Michael was bound with duct tape, choked with a stick and cut with a disposable razor blade, according to court documents.

The Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office yesterday determined the cause of death as acute insulin poisoning. An insulin bottle and syringe were found by police investigators at the scene. Alexander had access to syringes, needles and insulin in his home, court documents said.

Alexander was on probation for two counts of felony theft and had been sentenced to home detention. He was supposed to answer random telephone checks from the Juvenile Probation Department. He has other convictions for reckless burning and residential burglary.

On the day Michael was reported missing, Alexander's mother reported that he had left the house from 4 p.m. until roughly 6:13 p.m.

Michael's nude body was found the next morning by a jogger and her dog.

Latex gloves, a disposable razor and a wooden dowel investigators think was used to choke the boy were found at the crime scene. Court documents said similar items were found in a search of Alexander's home.

"This is just another step in the process that's going to take awhile," said Miller, Michael's grandfather. "There's not going to be justice until this thing's over with. ... I'm glad that he's been incarcerated. But right now, he is there and we are here. And he's not having to deal with the things we're dealing with."

Remembered as happy child

Holly Smith, property manager of the Kent apartment complex where the Busby family lived for two years, described Michael as outgoing and extremely friendly.

"He was a sweetheart. It didn't matter if he knew you or not, he would take in your groceries," she said. "He was always asking, 'Holly, is there anything I can do?' "

During a memorial service Tuesday, a former teacher described how Michael, whenever he received a treat at school, would ask if he could take another home to his twin 6-year-old brothers.

"He was just a happy, exuberant kid," Miller said. "He had just learned to ride his bike without his training wheels two weekends ago."

A fund has been set up to help pay funeral costs. Donations can be made at any Key Bank branch to the "Michael L. Busby Jr. Fund."

Gina Kim can be reached at 206-464-2761 or gkim@seattletimes.com.