Abrams to face murder charges
EPHRATA — Dustin G. Abrams, 21, has been charged with first degree murder for allegedly killing Michael Mallon on March 26, 2004 at Mallon's reclusive residence near Soap Lake.
Detective Kim W. Cook, with the Grant County Sheriff's Office, signed a report that summarizes the GCSO's investigation into the Mallon homicide.
On March 31, 2004, police from the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a Stratford residence where they found a number of firearms, ammunition and some old coins. Gaylon L. Parker, 34, and his wife, Alishia M. Parker, were interviewed after being found at the residence and both said that a man named "Dusty," had left the guns and coins there. "Dusty," later identified as Dustin G. Abrams, had told Parker and his wife that "he'd stole the firearms from Mike Mallon," according to Cook.
Within the report is an Oct. 18, 2004 taped interview with Abrams at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary in which he allegedly confessed to Cook and another detective how and why he killed Mallon.
"OK, I want the record to reflect this. Brandon Timothy Pruitt had absolutely nothing to do with this case. He was not involved in the murder of Mike Mallon in any way, shape or form. I, Dustin Abrams did it all on my own will. I shot Mike 'cause he came home when I was robbin' him," Abrams was quoted in the interview.
According to Cook's report, Abrams also described to a private investigator, who visited him in early November 2004 while still in prison, the location of Mallon's dead body. The private investigator then provided the map and directions he obtained from Abrams to law enforcement officers on Nov. 4, 2004. Using that information, a decomposed body was found buried in a shallow grave on Mallon's property at the location Abrams described.
Abrams' arraignment is scheduled for July 5. Bail is set at $1 million.
Meanwhile, since it was first determined that Mallon was missing, his family has been waiting for charges to be filed against whoever was responsible.
"It's been a long haul and something that's been hard to handle," Shirley Mallon, Michael Mallon's sister-in-law, said from her Portland, Ore., home Saturday. "It's been so unsettling not knowing what's happening."
Both Joseph Mallon and Brendan Mallon, Michael Mallon's brothers, who live in Portland, Ore., had planned to visit their distant brother at his out-of-the-way residence after the Easter holiday in April 2004. They ended up driving to Michael Mallon's 10-acre property when they had not heard from him, but were unable to reach him there as well, Brendan Mallon said.
Michael Mallon's body was exhumed six months later.
Forensic Anthropologist Kathleen Turner then examined the body in November of 2004 and determined that the cause of death was a gunshot to the back of the head, Detective Cook wrote in his report.
"It's been incredibly frustrating, but we're happy that there's finally going to be some action on this," Brendan Mallon said Saturday.
Michael and Brendan Mallon used to go dredging for gold together near the California and Oregon border. The brothers both had dredges and Michael Mallon had a claim. Michael Mallon would come to visit his brother in Oregon for a month to six weeks and they would go down along the Kalamath River and Beaver Creek looking for gold, Brendan Mallon said.
"Mike had a great sense of humor and could tell some real stories," Brendan Mallon said. "I never met anyone who didn't like Mike. He was always going out of his way helping people."
He added, "There's all kinds of mysteries involved in this case. I think there will be some surprises that will come out of this."
Michael Mallon's older brother Joseph, 84, added, "At my age, I know there are some necessary hurdles that investigators and authorities have to go through. You have to take the right steps."
"We want justice for the criminals," Brendan Mallon said. "We want funeral mass for Mike."