The McDonald Legacy: From Wealth to Scandal

The McDonald family, once wealthy and influential in Spokane, Washington, was rocked by the brutal murder of real estate mogul William H. McNutt in 1919. The McDonald siblings—Marie, Fay, Ted, and Will—were involved in the crime, with Will ultimately striking McNutt in a fit of rage and the others helping cover it up. The case was cracked after a mysterious tip led authorities to McNutt’s body, and the surviving McDonald siblings were arrested and tried for murder. Ultimately, Marie, Fay, and Ted were convicted and sentenced to life in prison, while Will’s fate remained unknown.

Episode Sources:

https://www.historylink.org/file/22405#:~:text=Marie%2C%20Fay%2C%20Ted%20and%20Will,them%20over%20a%20money%20dispute.

https://www.historylink.org/file/22406

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/jan/20/100-years-ago-in-spokane-attorney-says-its-no-wond/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138690331/william-henry-mcnutt

https://dp.la/item/812d40589e64110c48b626495cfc016d