The circumstances of Aron Christensen’s untimely death and the questions surrounding the subsequent investigation have irrevocably linked the Portland man’s name to Lewis County.
Even as questions and doubts about the investigation continue to arise, Christensen’s family aims to remind those following his case that, in life and legacy, Christensen is much more than a mystery.
“It’s important to make him human,” Christensen’s sister, Natalie Parker, said in an interview with The Chronicle last week.
Parker and her husband, Raymond, own a farm in the Southern Oregon community where she and her two brothers were raised and where the Parkers are raising their own three children.
While Christensen ended up embracing city life, first in New York then in Portland, he frequently visited the Parkers’ farm and maintained a love for the outdoors.
“That truly was who he was to his core: He was an outdoorsman. He was a musician. He brought music and creativity into our world, where I may bring structure and schedule,” Parker said.
Christensen did not have children of his own, but he was a devoted uncle to his siblings’ kids.
Shortly before his death, Christensen even helped his sister’s oldest daughter, Denver-based singer-songwriter Racyne Parker, put together a Pacific Northwest tour.
“She didn’t know whether she would do it, after he passed,” Natalie Parker said. “She did. It was hard, and I’m so proud of her for doing it, but he would have wanted that. And she knows that.”
Christensen had a well-established life in the Portland area, working at Cascade Record Pressing and spending his free time playing bass, singing, fishing and going on outdoor adventures with his 4-month-old puppy, Buzzo, before the man and dog both died on a hiking trail near Walupt Lake in August 2022.
“He had a genuine way of appreciating what others had to say. That’s truly the essence of who he was. And that’s what people miss,” Parker said, later adding, “What we couldn’t capture is how he made us feel. He made us feel heard. He was outdoorsy and active, but he had an ability to truly be present. And that’s really what we’re all taking forward with us.”
Christensen’s death was devastating for his family and friends, Parker said, “But the damage that we sustained in the following months from those that chose to protect reputations and incompetence has meant that we could not even grieve properly.”
The eight months since law enforcement opened an investigation into Christensen’s death have been filled with significantly more questions than answers about the case, with Christensen’s family and friends expressing frustration over the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office’s lack of communication and conflicting messages during the investigation.
The investigative material itself was not open to the public while the case was actively under investigation, but once the material was released, documents revealed the investigation was flawed since the beginning, with the first responding deputy erroneously thinking the wound in Christensen’s side was not a gunshot wound and calling off detectives who were already on the way to the scene, followed by the possible cross contamination of evidence at the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.
Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer declined to file charges in the case last month, citing issues with the investigation and a lack of evidence.
“It seems odd that our opponent became Lewis County government departments rather than our brother’s killer and accomplice in covering up the crime. We couldn’t even get to that level,” Parker said.
The Lewis County sheriff and coroner’s department recently agreed to speak to The Chronicle on the record about the investigation, but Parker said some of the statements made by Sheriff Rob Snaza and Coroner Warren McLeod in those interviews were inaccurate.
Responding specifically to McLeod’s statement that he recently spoke with her on the phone about the case, Parker said she has only spoken to McLeod once, in November 2022.
“And that was due to the fact that I made numerous, numerous calls and wouldn’t let up. I was relentless in getting answers,” she said.
Responding to Snaza’s interview with The Chronicle, Parker said, “Callous as it may be, I would certainly hope that they would get some training on compassion and empathy.” She added that, as of Friday, April 28, Snaza had not directly contacted Christensen’s family.
“Your sheriff has not spoken a word to any of us. Not one word,” she said. “It’s just a disappointment, I guess.”
Overall, Parker said she and her family “have received very, very, very few calls from any office in Lewis County.”
What information they did receive, Parker said, was misleading or later found to be inaccurate.
For example, Parker said the family was initially told Christensen died solely of a heart attack, and later learned they were given that information after the primary suspect, Ethan Asbach, 20, of Tenino, gave a formal statement admitting to shooting Buzzo and possibly Christensen.
At Christensen’s memorial, held a month after his death, Parker said she, her husband, her parents and her brother were the only ones outside of the investigation who knew a bullet was even involved in Christensen’s death.
The sheriff’s office had encouraged them to “keep it quiet,” Parker said, so they did.
“From the beginning, we followed all guidance from the sheriff’s office. Probably, if we had to go back, that is what we would change,” Parker said.
In return for the family’s cooperation, Parker said, “they have treated us like we are the criminals in this case. … We have done nothing wrong, and I expect more from our elected officials.”
The family has since put together a team of paid professionals, including investigators and lawyers, as well as “family members with expertise and friends that truly loved (Christensen)” to do what they could to salvage answers, justice and resolution out of the investigation into Christensen’s death, with little success.
“If the adage that justice is for sale were true here, we simply would have paid that price. We would have found a way,” Parker said. “But what we found here is that you can’t even make a down payment when justice is simply denied, when you’re just smacked in the face with the fact that professionals, family members, community members and your deceased brother can all be misrepresented, lied about, lied to and hurt, over and over. It just shakes the foundation of your worldview.”
That said, Parker and her family have been grateful for the outpouring of support and empathy they’ve received from the Lewis County community, including some individual staff members in county offices.
“It matters that people are asking for accountability. It matters that those that love Aron are still demanding answers and those that didn’t are paying attention, and it matters because it feels like we have a community in our outrage and grief,” Parker said, adding, “And it matters because this could literally happen to any family. My brother and his dog went for a hike and they were killed. They were carried off the mountain and our family was told it was a heart attack by the very people who will show up to a Lewis County emergency, an intruder or an assault.”
When asked if she and her family were exploring legal action such as a civil lawsuit against the county, Parker said, “I can make two statements: One is that we do intend to pursue police accountability, and two is that legal action will be forthcoming.”
Christensen’s family is asking for Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Fergueson to get involved.
Whatever progress can be made toward resolution would be a boon for Christensen’s family, Parker said, as so far, “this year has felt like one step forward and two steps back. It hurts every day.”
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The Chronicle’s Coverage of the Death of Aron Christensen Chronologically Since August 2022
By The Chronicle staff
On Aug. 31, 11 days after Aron Christensen, 49, of Portland and his 4-month-old puppy, Buzzo, were found dead near Walupt Lake, The Chronicle ran a death notice.
https://chronline.com/stories/death-notices-aug-31-2022,299094
After asking the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office for more information on Christensen’s death, a news release was sent out and The Chronicle published a brief on the investigation on Sept. 13, 2022.
On Oct. 21, 2022, The Chronicle published a story that would run on the front page of the following day’s paper titled “What Happened to Aron Christensen? Friends Frustrated With Lack of Information After Man Found Dead Near Walupt Lake in August.” In the article, reporter Emily Fitzgerald details an interview with Christensen’s friends who positively identified his body after he was found dead.
On Oct. 25, 2022 Christensen’s family made a statement in The Chronicle, detailing frustrations with Lewis County agencies over what they see as a lack of communication and clarity. The sheriff’s office, though provided a copy of the statement, declined to comment. The Lewis County Coroner’s Office provided a response detailing where they were in the investigation.
On Oct. 27, 2022, the coroner’s office ruled Christensen was killed by a gunshot wound.
That same day, the sheriff’s office referred charges of manslaughter and animal cruelty against the primary suspect, Ethan Asbach, 20, of Tenino, to the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In a news release, the sheriff’s office further details the suspect’s claims, which were that he “shot a dog” and subsequently found Christensen, who he said was dead.
On Nov. 2, 2022, the prosecutor’s office sent charges back to the sheriff’s office, asking for more investigation. The family responds that they feel “confused, disheartened and exasperated,” as it had been 74 days since Christensen was killed.
On Nov. 7, 2022, friends of Christensen held a demonstration in front of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center asking for justice to be served. https://www.chronline.com/stories/friends-of-aron-christensen-protest-in-chehalis-ask-for-justice,303235
On Dec. 23, 2022, the sheriff’s office is quoted in The Chronicle saying there are still no new updates in the case.
On Jan. 23, 2023, Chronicle reporter Emily Fitzgerald publishes a story and photographs from the weekend prior where family members celebrated what would have been Christensen’s 50th birthday at a Portland music venue.
On Jan. 25, the sheriff’s office states cellphone mapping information on the suspect has been received and staff are once again preparing to refer charges.
On Jan. 31, the sheriff’s office referred charges of manslaughter and animal cruelty against the primary suspect, Ethan Asbach, 20, of Tenino, to the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for a second time.
On Feb. 15, the prosecutor’s office has still made no decision on the case. The Chronicle publishes information on the first necropsy on Buzzo, performed by Dr. Brandy Fay of Chehalis’ Newaukum Valley Veterinary Services, without knowing a second necropsy had been performed.
On March 24, because the case is being weighed by the prosecutor’s office, files are now public record. After reviewing more than 300 pages of case documents, 911 call logs, audio recordings and photographs, Chronicle reporter Emily Fitzgerald details the investigation by the sheriff’s office. In it, mistakes began with the very first deputy’s response. A second necropsy performed on Buzzo is also outlined. With the findings of the second necropsy published, the primary suspect, Ethan Asbach’s story seemed more plausible, Sheriff Rob Snaza would later say.
On April 11, The Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office again declines to file charges against Asbach, citing mistakes in the investigation.
On April 12, The Chronicle published an unedited statement from Christensen’s family where they detail frustrations over the now months-long investigation into the death of their beloved brother, son and friend.
On April 14, a story was published after an interview with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office about the case, where Sheriff Rob Snaza claims the investigation would not have gone differently if the first responding deputy treated the crime scene as a homicide from the start.
On April 19, The Chronicle shared an article about frustrations over the case and the sheriff’s office from the members of the public who aired concerns to the Lewis County Commissioners. That week marked eight months since Aron Christensen was found dead.
On April 21, The Chronicle published a story about a letter and an interview provided by the prosecuting attorney where, in the former, Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer explains his charging decision and, in the latter, forensic pathologist Dr. Megan Quinn explains concerns with the case. She states the sheriff’s office expressed a desire for her findings on Christensen’s autopsy to fit the narrative provided by Ethan Asbach, the suspect.
That same day, The Chronicle shares an article after an interview with the coroner’s office. In it, Coroner Warren McLeod states it’s likely Aron Christensen was alive for several hours after the gunshot wound. This contradicts the statement previously made by Ethan Asbach. Asked about this inconsistency, Snaza said he had no knowledge of Christensen being alive for that long.
On May 3, The Chronicle published a story where Dr. Brandy Fay, the first veterinarian to examine Buzzo, stated she has regained possession of the dog’s body. She said she found a wound on the dog that was not there previously and subsequent tests suggest the wound was made post-mortem, or, after the dog died. If the wound is proven to have appeared between the two necropsies, it could implicate law enforcement in tampering with evidence, as Buzzo was in the sheriff’s office’s care since Fay released him.
