Man Charged with Multiple Murders in Washington State
A man from Washington state, who is currently in jail awaiting trial for one murder case, has now been charged with three additional killings. Prosecutors allege that the suspect, identified as Richard Bradley Jr., enticed all four victims by promising them the opportunity to uncover buried gold. Court documents reveal that the victims were either carrying large sums of money or had recently acquired a significant amount of wealth.
In May 2021, Bradley, 40, was initially charged with first-degree murder in the death of 44-year-old Brandi Blake. Blake's body was discovered buried in a vast park located in Auburn, Washington. Over the past two weeks, prosecutors have brought forth three additional murder charges against Bradley. These charges include the shooting deaths of a father and his adult son in May 2021, as well as the 2019 killing of a man whose remains were found near Blake's grave.
As of now, Bradley's defense attorney, Peter Geisness, has not responded to inquiries from the media. While Bradley is set to stand trial next month for Blake's murder, he has not yet entered a plea for the other murder charges, according to online court records.
According to jail records, Bradley is currently in custody at the King County Correctional Facility on various charges, which include murder, arson, unlawful possession of a firearm, identity theft, and trafficking in stolen property.
In court documents, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Thomas O'Ban II stated that Bradley is alleged to have used the same method in each of the killings. He would reportedly tell the victims that he needed their assistance in uncovering a hidden cache of stolen gold. He would then take them to a wooded area, where he would kill them before stealing their vehicles and any belongings they had with them.
According to the court documents, Bradley's girlfriend informed detectives that she overheard him asking Maturin for help in unearthing buried gold in Auburn. Initially skeptical, Maturin eventually agreed to accompany Bradley. The court documents also revealed that Maturin had a habit of carrying large sums of money with him and had approximately $15,000 in cash when he left in his recently purchased BMW.
The girlfriend used Maturin's cellphone to track his location to Game Farm Park in Auburn. However, she became frightened and left before finding him, as stated in the charging documents.
After several hours, the Auburn police discovered an unregistered BMW parked near a large field at the park. They decided to wait for the driver to return. However, when they attempted to stop the driver, the car suddenly sped off. The police engaged in a car and foot chase, eventually apprehending the driver, who was identified as Bradley. Charging documents revealed that Bradley was arrested and charged with eluding the police.
In March 2021, the bodies of Michael Goeman, 59, and his son Vance Lakey, 31, were discovered on an unmaintained road near the park. Investigations revealed that Goeman had recently received a significant inheritance before he and his son were killed. Court documents indicated that Bradley was considered a person of interest in the deaths. In May, he was charged with second-degree arson after allegedly offering someone $1,000 to set fire to the impounded SUV belonging to the father and son. On Thursday, prosecutors added two counts of second-degree murder to the charges against Bradley.
The Tragic Death of Brandi Blake
In early May 2021, Blake went missing. It was revealed that she had won $20,000 at a casino and, similar to Maturin, was known to carry large amounts of cash. Court documents provided this information about her disappearance.
Man Allegedly Murders Two Women in Disturbing Crime Spree
A shocking crime spree unfolded in Federal Way, Washington, as a man named Bradley allegedly murdered two women in separate incidents. The details of the crimes have recently come to light, revealing a chilling series of events.
According to court documents cited by local news outlet The Mirror, Bradley met with his first victim, Blake, at a hotel in Federal Way. He claimed to need her help in selling stolen gold from a robbery. Bradley's wife informed detectives that Bradley and Blake left the hotel room together, but only Bradley returned. He allegedly explained that he had dropped off Blake and that she had given him permission to borrow her car.
Tragically, Blake's body was discovered later that month in a shallow grave at a nearby park. Investigators also found three human ribs about 30 feet away from the grave. The Mirror reports that the ribs were later matched to another victim, Maturin, through DNA evidence.
Bradley was subsequently charged with both murders. Blake died from blunt force injuries, while Maturin's cause of death has not been disclosed.
In the wake of Blake's death, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help cover expenses for her memorial service. The fundraiser, organized by Lisa Blake, describes Blake as a kind-hearted and caring individual who will be deeply missed by her friends and family.
