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Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com

Body found in closet at boarding house

By Diana Hefley
Herald Writer

EVERETT --The body of an apparent homicide victim likely was kept in a closet for several days before it was discovered by police, authorities said today.

Everett police received a tip on Wednesday afternoon that a tenant at a boarding house was attempting to mask the smell of a decaying body with bleach, according to a police affidavit filed in Everett District Court. Officers found the victim inside a closet at a boarding house in the 3100 block of Lombard Avenue.

Investigators arrested the tenant, Roland Nunley, a short time later. Nunley was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of second-degree murder. His bail was set at $300,000 today during a brief court hearing. The motive behind the slaying isn’t known.

Police have not yet released the dead man's name. His sister identified him today as Dean Almquist, 46

Nunley, 34, had been a tenant in room 3B for just a week, building owner Jon Iseman. The victim is believed to have known Nunley from the streets, Iseman said.

The house provides affordable housing for people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions as well as mentally ill people, who aren’t able to work, Iseman said.

Iseman, of Mukilteo, owns about seven clean-and-sober houses. He said he has worked with police and local mental health caseworkers to provide safe housing.

Iseman met with Nunley and his mother. There was never had any indication that the man may be violent, Iseman said. Nunley suffers from some mental health problems and may have been mixing alcohol and medication for depression, Iseman said.

“This is devastating. I obviously feel sorry for the victim’s family and I feel sorry for the suspect and his mom,” Iseman said. “We’re trying to help people. They don’t deserve to live under a bridge.”

The cause of Almquist's death hasn’t been released.