Murder Suspect, Zane C. McDonald, Found Guilty on All Charges
This afternoon, March 24, 2023, in Spokane County Superior Court, a jury found Zane C. McDonald guilty of Murder 1st Degree, Murder 2nd Degree, Escape 2nd Degree, and Taking a Motor Vehicle without Consent 2nd Degree.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge J. Cooney presided over the proceedings, and Deputy Prosecutor D. Nagy and Deputy Prosecutor B. Stanley prosecuted the case.
Major Crimes Detective S. Bonney developed probable cause to obtain the Murder warrant on June 30, 2021, due to an investigation that began on April 23, 2021, when 58-year-old Anthony Plumb was found deceased inside his motorhome in the 900 block of N. Felts.
During the month’s long and meticulous investigation, Detective Bonney developed McDonald as a suspect in Plumb’s murder through interviews of witnesses, cell phone data, tips from the public, and evidence located in a stolen Jeep where McDonald was found in the driver’s seat and arrested on May 12, 2021. Additional evidence was collected with the assistance of Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Technicians and Major Crimes Detective Dean Meyer. DNA samples were sent to the Washington State Crime Lab for testing and comparison. Detective Bonney later obtained a warrant for McDonald’s arrest, charging him with Murder 2nd Degree.
McDonald’s charges were later amended to Murder 1st Degree, Murder 2nd Degree, Escape 2nd Degree, and Taking a Motor Vehicle without Consent 2nd Degree. The two Murder convictions carry deadly weapons enhancements.
McDonald is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2023.
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