Man admits to death of missing Soap Lake man

EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man serving time at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary has admitted to the homicide of a missing Soap Lake man, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

A Grant County Sheriff's Office press release stated that Dustin G. Abrams, 21, admitted to the death of Michael Mallon Thursday from the state penitentiary where he is serving a 13-year sentence on theft charges related to a burglary at Mallon's home in March.

Authorities found a body earlier this month that they assume to be that of the 79-year-old Mallon who was last seen in Soap Lake in March.

The body was recovered about 200 feet west of Mallon's residence on Mallon's property. Mallon's residence is located in the Grant County Ranches area near Willow Lakes.

Grant County Sheriff Frank De Trolio said Friday that the body did show evidence of a bullet wound. The body is believed to have been buried for six to seven months. The body was sent for autopsy on Nov. 8; De Trolio said the autopsy in this case is a very slow process.

Mallon's home was burglarized the same weekend as his disappearance. Stolen were a number of World War II vintage firearms, memorabilia, coins and a generator. The sheriff's office said previously that most of the stolen items have been recovered.

Authorities arrested then 20-year-old Abrams after the weapons were recovered at another residence during a drug raid. A person at that residence told police he obtained the weapons from Abrams, who he said stole them from Mallon.

Abrams was convicted on June 8 in Grant County Superior Court of four counts of theft of a firearm, first-degree theft and second-degree theft. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Abrams entered an Alford plea in that case, which meant he did not acknowledge his guilt but did acknowledge that enough evidence existed to convict him.

While the investigation is continuing in this case, Abrams will remain imprisoned at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary. No information has yet been released on whether he will face future charges.