Washington Serial Killer Suspect Allegedly Lured Four Victims With a Promise of Buried Gold

A Washington state man accused of killing four people allegedly used an unusual story about buried treasure to lure his victims into remote wooded areas, where prosecutors say he killed them and stole their belongings.

Richard Bradley Jr., 40 at the time of the charges reported in December 2023, was accused of murdering four people in cases connected to Auburn, Washington. According to court documents cited by Fox News, prosecutors alleged that he repeatedly told people he needed help digging up gold hidden in the woods.

The victims were identified as Brandi Blake, 44; Emilio Maturin, 36; Michael Goeman, 59; and Goeman’s son, Vance Lakey, 31.

The Alleged Buried-Gold Scheme

According to prosecutors, Bradley used a similar approach with multiple victims, persuading them to accompany him to wooded locations under the pretense of finding buried gold.

Investigators alleged that he then killed the victims, left or buried their bodies and took their vehicles and possessions.

The victims also had access to money or valuable property. Blake had reportedly won $20,000 at a casino, Maturin was said to carry substantial amounts of cash, and Goeman had recently received a significant inheritance.

Prosecutors argued that these similarities pointed to a common pattern in the killings.

A Missing Man Leads Investigators to Evidence

Maturin disappeared in July 2019. His girlfriend told investigators that Bradley had visited their home and asked Maturin to help find buried gold in Auburn.

Although Maturin was initially skeptical, he eventually left with Bradley, according to the account included in court documents.

His girlfriend later used a phone-tracking feature to locate his device near Game Farm Park. She went to the area but left without finding him.

Police subsequently encountered Bradley driving Maturin’s BMW. Following a vehicle and foot pursuit, officers arrested him, according to investigators.

In May 2021, Blake’s body was discovered in a shallow grave at Game Farm Wilderness Park. Three human rib bones found nearby were later identified through DNA testing as belonging to Maturin, helping investigators connect the cases.

Father and Son Also Found Dead

Michael Goeman and his son, Vance Lakey, were killed in March 2021. Their bodies were found near an unmaintained road in Auburn.

According to prosecutors, Bradley allegedly lured the pair to a wooded area. Investigators also alleged that he offered someone $1,000 to set fire to their vehicle after their deaths.

The father and son’s killings became part of the broader investigation into the alleged pattern of murders.

Four Murder Charges

Bradley was initially charged in connection with Blake’s death in May 2021. In December 2023, prosecutors announced additional murder charges involving Maturin, Goeman and Lakey.

The case drew national attention because of the alleged use of buried treasure as a pretext to gain the victims’ trust and take them to isolated locations.

At the time of the December 2023 reports, Bradley was being held in custody while awaiting trial. The charges represented allegations by prosecutors, and he was entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.

Sources:

Original report:  Foxnews