Woman’s shooting death merits 9-year prison sentence for Everett boyfriend

Published 11:09 pm Thursday, February 4, 2010

EVERETT — Pamela Placek should be enjoying time with her children and grandchildren.

Her boyfriend Donald Madsen should be looking forward to retirement after decades of working.

Stupidity and a gun changed all of that for the couple and their families, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Paul Stern said Thursday.

Placek is dead, shot to death in the face. Madsen is off to prison, sentenced to more than nine years behind bars.

“If you pick up a gun and commit a crime in this county, you’re going to prison,” Stern said.

The prosecutor called Madsen’s actions on Sept. 24, 2008, monumentally stupid.

Investigators believe Madsen shot Placek, 52, while he was discussing a death pact with her. Madsen said as he was trying to explain the pact that would bind them together when he grabbed a gun from the safe, court papers said. He told investigators he couldn’t remember pulling the trigger, but he realized his girlfriend had been shot and called 911.

Madsen was an experienced gun handler and well-trained. He’d taken several gun classes and taught gun safety training.

People are entitled to have guns but they aren’t entitled to mishandle them and kill people, Stern said.

Madsen, 63, pleaded guilty in December to first-degree domestic violence manslaughter with a deadly weapon. While Madsen said the shooting was an accident, he admitted his reckless actions caused Placek’s death.

“Let us be clear, it was much more than (an accident), it was a terrible crime,” Snohomish County Superior Court Judge David Kurtz said.

Kurtz sentenced Madsen to 9 1/2 years in prison — about mid-range under the state’s sentencing guidelines.

The judge likened the fatal shooting to a Shakespearean play. Placek was a wonderful woman who died at the hands of her loved one, Kurtz said.

“It is all terribly sad,” the judge said, adding that Placek’s family’s pain must be immeasurable.

Placek’s son spoke at Thursday’s hearing. He called Madsen’s actions cowardly.

“There is never going to be forgiveness. The loss is too great for us. We never get to see our mother again. Your family may weep for you, but they get to see you and talk to you,” Charles Korff said.

Madsen didn’t have any prior felony convictions and immediately took responsibility for his actions, his attorney John Segelbaum said. Madsen also has shown great remorse, Segelbaum said.

Madsen’s daughter spoke on behalf of her father. She said he loved Placek, who was becoming a part of the family.

“I’d like to offer my deepest and most heartfelt apology to Pam’s family and my own for the pain my actions caused,” Madsen said. “I’ve been told that God may forgive me. I won’t be able to forgive what I did.”

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.