Auburn, Washington – A Washington state man awaiting trial for one murder has been charged with three additional killings, all of which prosecutors say he carried out by luring his victims with promises of buried gold. According to court documents, Richard Bradley Jr., 40, allegedly targeted victims who were in possession of large amounts of cash or had recently acquired a substantial sum of money.
Bradley had initially been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 44-year-old Brandi Blake, whose body was discovered buried in a park in Auburn, Washington. However, prosecutors have now filed three more murder charges against Bradley, accusing him of the shooting deaths of a father and son in May 2021, as well as the 2019 death of another man whose remains were found near Blake’s grave.
According to Senior Deputy Prosecutor Thomas O’Ban II, Bradley allegedly used the same tactic in each case – asking the victims to help him dig up stolen gold, leading them to a secluded area, and then killing them before stealing their vehicles and belongings.
One of Bradley’s alleged victims, Emilio Maturin, was reported missing in July 2019 after being lured by Bradley with the promise of finding buried gold. His girlfriend revealed that Maturin routinely carried large amounts of cash, and on the day he disappeared, he had approximately $15,000 in cash with him.
In another instance, Bradley allegedly met Brandi Blake at a hotel and told her he needed help selling gold that he had stashed from a robbery. Bradley’s wife informed detectives that Bradley and Blake had left the hotel together, but only Bradley returned later. Blake’s body was later found in a shallow grave in the park, along with human ribs matching Maturin’s DNA.
Bradley is currently being held at King County Correctional Facility on multiple charges, including murder, arson, unlawful possession of a firearm, identity theft, and trafficking in stolen property. He is scheduled to stand trial next month for Blake’s death, and has not yet had the opportunity to enter a plea on the other murder charges, according to online court records.
In light of these developments, the community has been left reeling by the unexpected and tragic loss of the victims. As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to ensure that justice is served for the victims and their loved ones.