Everett, Wash.
Published: Saturday, September 27, 2008

Everett man tells police he proposed death pact

According to court papers, he said he had a gun but no memory of the fatal shooting of his girlfriend

By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- The painted bullet would be set aside in a safe; insurance that the couple would be together forever.

If one of them broke their vow, the other would be expected to load the painted bullet into a gun and shoot the other person in the eye.

While Don Madsen, 62, was explaining his idea Wednesday night, a terrible accident happened, he told detectives.

His girlfriend, Pamela Placek, 52, giggled at his suggestion for a death pact, Madsen told police, according to a document filed Friday in Everett District Court. She hadn't messed up the relationship, he said, but they had been arguing.

As he was trying to persuade her, he grabbed a gun from the safe, he told police. Police believe Placek died immediately, shot in the eye at close range. Madsen told police he can't remember pulling the trigger but he realized his girlfriend had been shot, believed he was responsible and called 911.

Madsen is jailed on suspicion of domestic violence second-degree murder, Snohomish County Sheriff's Chief Kevin Prentiss said. He's being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Madsen's 911 call was made before 11 p.m. Wednesday. He told dispatchers he "pulled the trigger on his girlfriend," and that he wanted to lie down next to her and die, according to the court document.

Deputies rushed to the small cul de sac in the 11500 block of 23rd Place W. There are no records that sheriff's deputies were called to the house in the past, Prentiss said.

During an interview with detectives, Madsen allegedly talked about his memory of the evening's events.

According to the document, the couple had been in Granite Falls shopping for a home and stopped on the way back to Everett to have dinner with Madsen's daughter and other family.

When the couple returned to the Everett rental home they shared, Madsen said they argued. He said Placek was stressed and wasn't feeling well. She brought up an incident from March, early on in the couple's relationship, when Madsen had looked at a girl in a restaurant, Madsen told detectives.

Detectives said neighbors overheard and saw the couple's argument, which they continued outside. A neighbor's video surveillance camera captured some of the dispute, the document said.

Madsen said they had a history of "passionate arguments," the document said.

After shouting at each other Wednesday, Madsen said the couple hugged, the fight ended and "everything was better," the document said.

He said that's when he brought up the death pact. He took a bullet out of his safe and told Placek they would be together forever. They would paint the bullet and save it.

Then he grabbed a revolver from the safe and said, "And we'll use this," the document said.

Madsen told police he couldn't remember any more, and didn't recall pulling the trigger.

He told detectives he kept all the guns unloaded in the safe. When pressed about how the gun would have held a live round Wednesday, Madsen said he may have loaded it earlier for a camping trip, the document said.

As detectives questioned him, Madsen called himself names for not following basic gun safety rules, which dictate to always assume firearms may be loaded.



Herald writer Diana Hefley contributed to this report.



Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA