Aron Christensen

Aron Christensen was a man who found his rhythm in the melodies of music and the quiet of the wilderness. A talented musician deeply involved in the Portland, Oregon, music scene, he was remembered by friends as a "beautiful soul," a thoughtful and loyal man who would listen intently and could fix a car, help write a song, or even brew beer. Aron, a 49-year-old White man, was also an experienced outdoorsman who loved the Pacific Northwest and often went on solo excursions. His brother, Corey, described him as a simple person and a free spirit, pure of heart and unburdened by material things. In the summer of 2022, he was sharing his love for nature with his new companion, a four-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy named Buzzo.

On August 19, 2022, Aron was on an annual camping trip with friends at the Walupt Lake Campground in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Randle, Washington. He decided to take a solo 13-mile hike with Buzzo on the Walupt Lake Trail, planning to return the next morning. That same night, 19-year-old Ethan Asbach and his 17-year-old female companion were hiking in the same area toward Sheep Lake. Asbach, who was armed with a 9-millimeter pistol, later told investigators that they heard growling noises and saw eyes in the dark. Believing it was a wild animal, he fired a single shot out of fear. A short time later, he and his companion came upon the bodies of Aron Christensen and Buzzo.

When Aron failed to return to the campsite by the next afternoon, August 20, his friends grew worried. Their concern turned to grief when they learned a body had been discovered on the trail. The initial response by the Lewis County Sheriff's Office was plagued by confusion and what the family would later call a "botched" investigation. Deputies first suggested Aron had died from a heart attack and fallen on a stick, and his family was informed he may have suffered a massive heart attack. The area was not initially treated as a crime scene. However, an autopsy later revealed the truth: Aron Christensen had died from a gunshot wound to his chest, and his death was ruled a homicide. His puppy, Buzzo, had also been shot and killed.

The investigation eventually led to Ethan Asbach, whose family member contacted the sheriff's office with information. Asbach admitted to firing his gun on the trail. He told police he believed the bullet had gone through the dog and struck the man. In October 2022, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office recommended that Asbach and his companion face charges of first-degree manslaughter and first-degree animal cruelty. The prosecutor's office, however, sent the case back to the sheriff for further investigation, leaving Aron's family and friends demanding transparency and answers.

In April 2023, the Lewis County prosecutor announced he would not file felony manslaughter charges against Ethan Asbach. The prosecutor cited significant errors and a "bungled" investigation by the sheriff's office that he believed would make a successful prosecution unlikely. This decision caused outrage and deep frustration for Aron's loved ones, who felt that justice had been denied. The family’s attorney claimed the sheriff’s office had "sabotaged" the investigation and even tampered with evidence related to Buzzo's body.

Frustrated with the criminal justice system, Aron Christensen's family filed a $20 million tort claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, against Lewis County in May 2023, alleging a flawed and mishandled investigation. They also pursued a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Ethan Asbach and his father, who had given his son the handgun. The family's fight for accountability represented a desperate search for answers in the mysterious and tragic deaths that cut short the life of a beloved musician and his young puppy.

The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy for those who knew Aron Christensen. While the criminal case is closed, the questions surrounding the flawed investigation persist. His brother Corey lamented the senselessness of the loss, stating, "My brother was a good person... He deserved another 40 happy years on this earth." The family's civil lawsuit sought to bring some measure of closure and accountability that the criminal investigation failed to provide. As of the latest reports, the legal pursuit for answers by Aron's family continued, a testament to their love for a man who is deeply missed.