Man kills both parents and lives with their corpses for five days before killing himself

A reclusive Microsoft employee reportedly murdered his parents and lived with their rotting corpses for five days before killing himself, reports said.

Matthew Ficken reportedly killed his Seattle-based real estate agent mother Lorraine Ficken and historian father Robert Ficken on January 10, but waited until deputies came to the house to do a welfare check on January 15 to kill himself.

The Seattle Times quoted 68-year-old Lorraine’s brother-in-law John Mance as saying that she and her 72-year-old husband, who wrote books on Washington's early history, were found with gunshot wounds on Tuesday afternoon in their Sammamish, Washington home, worth approximately $700,000.

Matthew’s body was found next to them. King County Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Matthew’s death was a suicide.

According to Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ryan Abbott, Matthew always lived at home and was unhappy with his mother’s plans to sell their home, even though he was given more than enough money to start living on his own. Abbott said, “From what the family tells us, he just couldn't take it for some reason and didn't want the house he grew up in from being sold from underneath him. And for some reason he shot and killed his parents over this.”

Lorraine was reportedly planning on being closer to her older sister who lives in Sherwood, about 20 miles southwest of Portland, even buying a house directly across the street from her in July. According to Mance, the sisters were very close, and Lorraine was excited at the prospect of moving there after her retirement.

“You would never meet a family of sisters that could be closer. They’re all helpful and outgoing,” Mance said. “The sisterhood bond, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Having been a broker with Coldwell Banker Bain’s Issaquah office since 1992, Lorraine’s murder has come as a huge shock to the company and her coworkers.

“We’re still in shock and our hearts and thoughts go out to Lorraine’s family and real-estate team during this horrible time. Lorraine was one of the nicest people we’ve ever known — so kind and warmhearted,” the company said in a statement, also quoting principal managing broker Marilyn Green. “She was one of our top producers, and served her clients without fault. We have been hearing from so many clients who are in tears over this tragedy. It is a huge loss for so many and Lorraine will be greatly missed.”

Many of her clients have also expressed their grief online, with one military man claiming, “Lorraine Ficken was assigned as our real estate agent by USAA when my family was looking for a home on the Eastside. She was a super sweet lady that supported the military community in Seattle and went out of her way for my family. My wife and I are deeply saddened by her loss.”