Murder Charges Filed in Lyman Woman’s Death

Lyman, Washington- The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office has filed Murder charges against 52-year old Gordon Lee Conard of Lyman. Mr. Conard is accused of murdering his 76-year old mother, Margie Conard in a home they shared in the 8200 block of Maple Avenue in Lyman, Washington.

Warning: Some readers may find some details of this case disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.

According to a probable cause affidavit of arrest obtained by SkagitBreaking.com, on June 23rd a friend of 76-year old Margie Conard, requested Skagit County Sheriff’s Deputies to check on her  well-being after she had not  seen the woman in a few days and Margie wasn’t answering her door.  The friend told Deputies that her and Margie would go on walks nearly every day, so she was concerned for her well being after she missed several walks.

Deputies were advised  that Margie’s adult son, Gordon Conard, had been  living at the residence and the friend had thought she had heard him upstairs while she was trying to make contact with Margie but neither one of them were answering the door.  The friend also noted that Mr. Gordon’s form of transportation was a bicycle, and his bicycle was at the house, so the friend believed he was there as well.

Arriving Sheriff’s Deputies were advised by dispatch that Mr. Conard was known to have a history of drug use as well as an active Department of Corrections warrant for his arrest.  Deputies attempted to make contact with Margie and Gordon by knocking on the front door. After receiving no answer and  finding the residence locked, Deputies were able to make entry to the home through an open upstairs window using a neighbor’s ladder to gain access to the home to check on Margie.

Deputies located Gordon Conard laying on a bed with his eyes closed  on the second floor. Deputies noted he appeared to be startled awake when Deputies called his name. Deputies then asked Mr. Conard where his mother was, and if she was okay. Mr. Conard blurted out “she’s dead.”    Deputies asked Mr. Conard what happened and they asked if she had suffered a medical problem.  Mr. Conard replied by telling deputies that he “blacked out” and he told deputies “something about an argument but that he couldn’t remember how”  and he told deputies that “Margie had not passed away today and that it wasn’t yesterday but he had put towels on her  and that is all he knew.”

Deputies searched the home and located the body of an adult female  in the kitchen, later identified as Margie Conard.  She was fully  clothed, laying on her back and her upper torso was covered with towels. There was visible blood around the body and blood on the cabinets behind the woman.  Medical personnel responded and confirmed the woman was deceased.

On June 27th, 2016 an autopsy was performed. The medical examiner determined the wounds to Margie  were caused by blunt force trauma from an object or objects  that had a circular shape and a two pronged claw shape, such as a crow bar, hammer or other type of tool or weapon that is similar in description.  The cause of death was determined to be homicide due to blunt force trauma to the skull.

Family members told Detectives that the relationship between  Margie and Gordon was strained because they  did not share food or utensils in the home so there was two of everything.  Margie did not cook for Gordon or give him money. They didn’t ride together to family events, even though they were leaving from and returning to the same location.

A Neighbor told Detectives that Margie collected her newspaper from her paper box around 6:15 am  every morning and the last time she saw her was the Afternoon of Monday, June 20th.  Detectives found Newspapers from Tuesday June 21st, Wednesday June 22nd and Thursday June 23rd still in the paper box. This indicated that Margie had possibly been killed sometime after the neighbor has saw her on the afternoon of June 20th.

Margie had told another witness that she was afraid of  Mr. Conard  and did not want him staying at her house but he did not have anywhere to go and she did not know what to do.  Mr. Conard  has seven felony convictions, twenty four  gross misdemeanors and four “other” charges on his record.

Between 1985 and 2011, he  was convicted of numerous counts for assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, malicious mischief, numerous traffic violations, assault 2nd, Escape, Violation of no contact orders pre-conviction, domestic violence, interfering with reporting a domestic violence, Assault 3rd degree, attempting to elude 2002, attempting to elude 2006, vehicular assault, and VUCSA, or drug possession.

Mr. Conard was arrested by Skagit County Deputies on his outstanding Department of Corrections warrant on June 23rd and was booked into the Skagit County Jail.  He was later charged with Intentional Murder 2, and is currently being held in lieu of $1,000,000.00 bail at the Skagit County Jail.

A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, July 2nd, at the Lyman Church. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Lemly Chapel.