Vaughn S. Hagen had been acting as executor Donald Edward Malone’s estate accountant and had rented a U-Haul van to help clear the garage of the late Mrs. Malone’s house ahead of a sale. Earlier that day Hagen ran into Malone at a shopping center and offered him a ride back to the property; Malone told him he needed a minute to buy groceries but left the store and rode home by bicycle instead.

When Hagen arrived at the driveway in the U-Haul, Malone allegedly retrieved a handgun from his bedroom, went outside, and shot Hagen multiple times without any verbal exchange. Court testimony reported Hagen’s last words as Donald, no. Neighbors did not call police; Malone later moved Hagen’s body into the garage and the next morning traveled to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office to confess. Deputies then found Hagen’s body and arrested Malone, who was charged with first-degree premeditated murder.

Was anyone in Custer or Birch Bay Square that day aware of a dispute between Hagen and Malone that could explain how things escalated?