Details provided by witnesses and the Island County coroner this week show that last week’s double murder and suicide might not have been as fully considered as it appeared.

In interviews with wounded survivors of the shooting, Island County sheriff’s detectives found that a 10-minute conversation almost stopped Preston Dean “Hugh” Douglas from killing Holly Swartz and her mother, Marjorie Monnett. But Coroner Robert Bishop said, based on the wounds, Douglas was intent on killing his victims.

According to Sheriff Mike Hawley, interviews Monday with Bruce Monnett and Sierra Klug, both of whom Douglas also shot, bear out that Douglas might not have fully convinced himself to commit murder.

Monnett told detectives he and Klug entered the Vesel Court house Monnett shared with his mother at almost the same time as Douglas — they from the garage and Douglas through the back door. Monnett and Klug had returned to Whidbey Island on a 1 a.m. ferry.

Hawley said Monnett tried to talk Douglas out of the shootings for about 10 minutes. But at the end of the conversation, Douglas started shooting at Monnett and Klug.

“He said something like ‘I’m sorry, but I have to do this,'” Hawley said.

Hawley said detectives also determined that Marjorie Monnett hustled Swartz’ 6-year-old daughter out of the house before Monnett herself was shot and killed.

Based on autopsies performed Friday, coroner Bishop found that both Monnett and Swartz were shot in the head at close range.

“Swartz was shot four times in the head and torso,” Bishop said Monday. “The last shot to the head was a contact shot — several inches away. He didn’t realize Holly was already dead from the multiple shots to the torso.”

Bishop said Monnett probably died when Douglas aimed a third shot 4 to 6 inches from her head.

Moreover, the autopsies confirmed that Douglas, who killed himself with a shot to the forehead, was indeed the murderer.

“Everything is very consistent with Preston Douglas as the shooter and Holly Swartz and her mother, Marjorie Monnett as the victims,” Bishop said.

Because of reports of alleged drug abuse, the coroner ordered a toxicology screen on Douglas’ body. Results are expected to come back within two weeks.

Though reported to be engaged to Swartz, Douglas’ death certificate lists South Whidbey resident Norma Solomon as his wife. His body was released to her for cremation.

Solomon had little to say about the crime this week.

“It’s all been said, all the details are out there,” she said.

Sheriff Hawley said his office will continue working to “piece together” the details of the case.