But he apparently didn’t like her much.

In a letter found in his room addressed “Dearest Mom” dated May 27, 2013, he used disparaging language and curse words toward his mother, Betty, with the hope that she would die.

Less than two weeks later, on June 8, Betty Elaine Thorsen, 80, was dead, having fallen down the home’s basement steps. David Thorsen found her there and called police, who arrived at about 5:43 a.m.

Thorsen’s older sister, Karen Harris, 53, arrived later at the home at 13229 240th St. NE.

In a suicide note found next to the other letter, Thorsen wrote that he didn’t care much for his older sister either. He used disparaging remarks about her, saying she was not to receive any property upon his death.

According to charging papers:

Thorsen later tried to kill himself, but was unsuccessful. He did kill his sister, however, and pleaded guilty May 7. Thorsen, now 52, will be sentenced June 11. The range is 12 to 18 years. He has been in jail since June 9, 2013, on second-degree murder charges with bail set at $1 million. Prosecutor Hal Hupp said there was never any evidence of premeditation to merit a more-serious charge.

About three hours after police left that June 8, they had to come back because Anneliese and Angeline Bennett, a mother and daughter, called 911. They had a dispute with Harris over horses housed at the Thorsen home. Angeline reported Harris screamed and pushed her. Police left about a half-hour later, when it was agreed the Bennetts would return the next day to take their horses.

About a half-hour after that, a neighbor said she heard a woman yell: “Don’t. Don’t.” Another neighbor said she heard both a man and woman screaming.

Eight hours later, Joel Harris, son of Karen, found out by way of Facebook that his grandmother had died. He was concerned that he hadn’t heard about it from his mom or uncle. When Joel called and couldn’t connect with his mom, he went to his grandma’s house at about 11 p.m. and found Uncle David extremely intoxicated. Thorsen told Joel he didn’t know where his mother was.

A few hours earlier, about 7 p.m. Thorsen had used his dead mom’s bank card to withdraw $500. He then used his mom’s account to spend $114 at a grocery store.

Joel couldn’t find his mom as he searched the 15-acre farm, but he did find her car behind a barn. In it were groceries and numerous bottles of whiskey and beer, which his mom didn’t drink. He filed a missing persons report. He spent the rest of the night searching all over for his mom, and then returned at about 5 a.m. with a friend. They saw Thorsen on a riding lawnmower with a long tow-strap attached.

Joel continued calling 911 to try to get police to investigate because he felt something was wrong.

At 11:21 a.m. June 9, Sgt. Steve Plaisance of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department responded to the missing person report. While talking to Joel Harris, they heard a noise at the back of the property. They found Thorsen sitting in a car parked in front of Karen Harris’ Subaru behind the barn. The car was running, and windows rolled up. Thorsen had a beer in his lap and a hose attached to the exhaust pipe that led inside the Honda.

Thorsen passed out in the suicide attempt. A fire department aid crew revived Thorsen.

Plaisance said Thorsen later told him his father was gone, his mother was gone, and he wanted to go, too.

It wasn’t long after that that Plaisance found Karen Harris’ body in a hedge among sticker bushes. It was at the end of a field covered with a green blanket. The sergeant used his night stick to lift the blanket. He found the body lying face down. A blunt instrument had been used on her body and head.

Search warrants were obtained for the property, house, cars and buildings. A tarp used to drag the body had blood on it. Blood and hair were found on the tow strap. Work gloves found under the seat of the riding lawnmower had blood stains, as did the steering wheel.

Investigators tried to question Thorsen, but he asked for an attorney. Thorsen was taken into custody. Injuries on his legs and hands were consistent with scratches from sticker bushes. His shorts also were seized because of a suspected blood stain.

More bloody clothes were found in the basement, at the end of a laundry chute connected to the upstairs bathroom. A plaid flannel shirt and a t-shirt Thorsen had been wearing earlier were splattered with blood. Signs of blood were in the kitchen sink, and tub and sink in the bathroom, along with on a hand towel.

In his guilty plea statement, Thorsen said he was attempting to assault Karen Harris, and she died as a result.

Sheriff’s spokesman Shari Ireton said Thorsen also was investigated in the deaths of both of his parents, but the lead detective closed the cases because of a lack of evidence.

“If additional evidence surfaces, he could reopen the case,” she said.

Reached by phone, Joel Harris declined comment. But Happ said Harris’ son, sister and brother have all been kept informed on the case.

In court papers, Joel told police there was contention in the family regarding his grandfather’s will. His mother was part of the dispute on how the property was going to be divided. Joel also said years before he witnessed a fight between his mom and uncle. He said Thorsen choked Harris to near unconsciousness in a bathroom, but she was able to escape. Police were called but an arrest was not made.

The location of the crime is on an otherwise peaceful country road in Arlington Heights. Across the street is a box where neighbors exchange books to read. Nearby, horses and cows graze in green fields. A preschool and adult family home are down the road. The property was sold Jan. 6, 2014, for $183,000. The description said it was 4.59 acres of pasture and woods with a view of Mount Ebey. The garage, barn and outbuildings would remain. But the main house would be removed.