WHIDBEY ISLAND — Police are asking for help in tracking down the killer of a former Island County man.
The body of Russel "Russ" A. Douglas, 32, was found inside his sport utility vehicle on Saturday. He had a single gunshot wound to the head, according to the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
Douglas was last seen Friday morning when he left his estranged wife’s home in the Langley area to run some errands.
"Without an obvious motive, weapon or suspect, it’s critical that we find out what he did after that," Sheriff Mike Hawley said.
Douglas moved this past year to Renton from south Whidbey Island but frequently returned to visit family and friends. He had two young children, who live with their mother.
Douglas was a zoning manager for Tetra Tech, working with cell towers. He traveled throughout Washington.
A couple walking in the area discovered Douglas slumped behind the wheel of his yellow 2003 Chevrolet Tracker about 4:30 p.m. Nothing appeared to be missing from the vehicle and robbery is not believed to be a motive in the murder, sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Smith said.
The SUV was backed into a driveway leading to a cabin off Wahl Road, according to the sheriff’s office. The road is about 10 miles from the Freeland business center and isn’t a main thoroughfare. It ends above Mutiny Bay on the west side of the island.
The area where Douglas was found has a mix of old cabins and upscale homes with views of the water. Many of the homes are vacation getaways and are occupied only part of the year, Smith said.
Residents living near where the body was found are asked to report any suspicious circumstances they may have witnessed on Friday or Saturday. Anyone with information about Douglas is asked to call detective Mike Birchfield or detective Sgt. Mike Beech at 360-321-4400.
Investigators are working with Crime Stoppers to establish a reward for information about the crime.
This is the second homicide in Island County in less than a month. The body of Tamara Mattson, 39, was found Dec. 9 on a trail near Camano Island State Park. She had severe injuries to her neck and head.
Detectives have not made any arrests in that case. They do not believe the two murders are related, Smith said.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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