Detectives with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) executed a high-risk arrest on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, taking a 45-year-old Bremerton man into custody in connection with the homicide of Mallory Barbour. The arrest marks the conclusion of a seven-month investigation into the disappearance and death of the 27-year-old Bothell woman.
Discovery and Evidence
Mallory Barbour was last seen on June 24, 2025, after her mother dropped off groceries at her Bothell residence. Following a missing person report filed on July 1, a multi-agency search ensued. Her remains were eventually discovered on September 15, 2025, in a densely wooded area near State Route 3 and Pickering Road in Mason County.
Forensic analysis conducted by the Mason County Coroner’s Office revealed that Barbour died from “homicidal violence,” specifically citing multiple gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head. Investigators recovered spent shell casings at the scene, along with clothing that had been deliberately cut from her body.
The Bremerton Connection
The investigation shifted toward Bremerton after detectives discovered that Barbour had been residing with the suspect at a local apartment complex. A search of the suspect’s residence yielded critical physical evidence, including Barbour’s purse, identification, and a ferry ticket dated June 25, 2025—one day after her last confirmed sighting.
Court documents indicate that the suspect admitted to picking Barbour up from the Bremerton ferry terminal. However, he claimed he later dropped her off in the Belfair area following a dispute over unpaid rent. Cellular data contradicted this account, placing Barbour’s phone in the immediate vicinity of the suspect’s apartment until the device was permanently powered off on the morning of June 26.
Pursuit of Justice
The breakthrough in the case followed an intensive digital forensics phase and a public appeal for surveillance footage along the SR-3 corridor. In November 2025, the Barbour family increased the Crime Stoppers reward to $6,000, which generated several new leads.
While the suspect remains in custody at the Mason County Jail, formal charges are pending review by the prosecutor’s office. A spokesperson for the MCSO stated on Wednesday, “Our thoughts remain with Mallory’s family and friends affected by this tragedy. We are committed to ensuring a thorough prosecution.”
