WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Donald Edward Malone, age 61, was arrested and charged with 1st-degree murder Thursday, August 7, 2025, after he reportedly walked into the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and informed them that he had shot and killed a man.
He made a preliminary court appearance today where bail was set at $2,000,000.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed with Whatcom County Superior Court, a Bellingham accountant acting as executor of Malone’s parent’s estate contacted him while driving a rented van at a shopping center that Malone had ridden his bike on August 6, 2025. The accountant told Malone to “place his bike in the van and they would go to Malone’s house, where his parents also lived until their passing, to clean out the garage. Malone said he needed some time first to buy dinner items. After making his purchases, he left on his bike, avoiding the accountant “as he did not like him.”
5 minutes after Malone arrived at his home on W 75th Street in Custer, the accountant arrived in the van. Malone told investigators he grabbed a .22 handgun, stepped outside and approached the accountant who was outside the van. Malone said no words were spoken as he fired several times at the accountant fatally injuring him.
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Assuming neighbors heard the shots and would call 911, Malone said he waited for law enforcement to arrive. When they did not arrive by dusk, he moved the victim’s body into a building where animals could not get to it. The next morning, he took a bus to Bellingham to make his report.
WCSO detectives took Malone to the house and with his consent were able to locate the body inside the building.
Malone faces a felony charge of 1st-degree murder with premeditation.
As of 5pm on August 8, 2025, jail records indicated Malone remained in custody.
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