South Hill man accused of killing roommate in 'bloody carpet' case

TACOMA -- Fugitive Michael Clifford Boisselle of South Hill was charged with murder Friday in the shooting death of his roommate, Brandon Zomalt, whose body was found after his DNA was linked to bloody carpet and towels left by the side of a road in Auburn.

“The suspect is still at large and anyone with information should contact the Sheriff’s Department,” said Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

According to the prosecutor's office, Boisselle, 34, told witnesses that he shot Zomalt, 30, because he was frustrated with him and didn’t want him to stay at his home any longer. Boisselle told his mother that he needed to get out of the area immediately and that she would not hear from him again.

The investigation began Aug. 13, when an off-duty federal agent noticed a fire on the side of Peasley Canyon Road in Auburn. He extinguished the fire and discovered it was fueled by bloodied carpet, clothing and towels. A man who was standing near the fire fled in his dark SUV when he saw the agent, police said.

Samples of the blood were sent to the Washington State Patrol’s crime lab, where DNA analysis identified the blood as belonging to Zomalt. Friends and family had not seen or heard from Zomalt for weeks.

On Sept. 1, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies responded to a South Hill home to perform a welfare check. In the garage, they found Zomalt’s severely decomposed body. Detectives determined the home was rented by Boisselle, and Zomalt had been temporarily staying there.

The Pierce County medical examiner determined died Zomalt from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and head.

Boisselle is black, 5-foot-6, 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He is a Level II sex offender for a 2009 conviction for third-degree child molestation.