Prosecutors accuse Ronald Wisner of illegally taking control of an Issaquah man’s property following his death in 2024.
SEATTLE — The death of an Issaquah man in a house fire has sparked a years-long estate fraud investigation.
U.S. Marshals arrested Ronald Wisner in Arizona late last week in connection with the case, and he now faces multiple criminal charges in King County. Prosecutors allege Wisner illegally took control of the victim’s estate after his death in 2024 and transferred more than $1 million through financial accounts.
The case began with the death of 73-year-old Michael Flegle, who a lawyer described as “a bit of a hermit” and a “loner”. Flegel died in a house fire in Issaquah in 2024. Just six days after his death, Ronald Wiesner sold Flegel’s car, according to prosecutors. Wisner told authorities the two were friends, according to court documents.
Authorities said it was unclear how Wisner identified Flegel, but prosecutors raised one possibility.
“We’re not sure how he found Mr. Flegel’s name, but one way he might have found it is because Mr. Flegel’s name was posted on the medical examiner’s website,” Senior Deputy Prosecutor Chris Faial said in an April interview.
The case centers on documents Wisner filed to gain control of Flegel’s estate. Attorney Karen Bertram, who reviewed the case, said there were significant irregularities in the documents, which included one that served as Flegel’s last will and testament.
“The witnesses who allegedly signed the will are all deceased,” Bertram said, noting that both died in April 2024. “Oddly, both witnesses were listed on the King County coroner’s list in the same week.”
Bertram also said Wisner failed to file a required affidavit confirming that he had not committed a felony.
“And Mr. Wisner had been convicted of 11 felonies at that time, so under Washington law he could not serve as the personal representative of the estate,” she said.
Despite the problems, investigators said Wisner took control of the estate, writing checks and moving large sums of money.
A bank investigator flagged the activity as suspicious, and King County Detective Robin Fry tracked the financial transactions.
“The detective followed the money and froze all of those accounts,” Bertram said.
Ronald Wisner currently faces 22 criminal charges, including theft and money laundering. His wife, Melissa Wisner, was charged with three counts related to the case.
