In the bewildering saga of Washington, a man identified as Richard Walter Bradley, 40, has found himself embroiled in a trail of horrifying allegations. Initially charged with the murder of Brandi Blake in May 2021, further probes led to Bradley's indictment for the murder of Emilio Raul Maturin this month.
Prosecutors had hinted earlier this year of potential murders linked to Bradley, with plans to charge him for the deaths of Michael Gorman and Vance Leckie as well. Since then, two more murder charges have been reported, though the specific connection to Gorman and Leckie remains to be confirmed.
King County Prosecutor Thomas C. O’Ban II claimed in a December filing that there was a "common plan" for these murders. His affidavit details how Bradley deceived individuals by promising their assistance in gold mining, luring them into the woods, murdering them, and burying or leaving their bodies in the park.
During Bradley's reign of terror, it is said that he seized the victim's vehicles and possessions post-murder and could be seen driving such vehicles in the hours following the disappearances. The remains of a relative of Maturin, who was last seen in July 2019, were found approximately 9 meters away, with DNA tests confirming a match to Maturin.
According to eyewitness accounts, Bradley had informed the victims he required their help in finding hidden gold before their mysterious disappearances. Furthermore, Maturin's friend shared intel with the police that Maturin had been driving a white BMW on the day of his last sighting, with Bradley later spotted behind the wheel of a white BMW in the vicinity of Game Farm Park.
There were reports of Bradley driving Becky Blake's Ford Mustang post her disappearance as well. Prosecutors argued that Bradley would also be charged with the murders of Gorman and Leckie, their dead bodies discovered in a different forest area in Auburn. Two small shovels were found near their remains, and Bradley was observed driving their vehicles post their disappearance.
Two additional murder charges against Bradley were filed late last week. However, the King County Prosecutor's Office has not yet been able to verify if these charges were connected to Gorman and Leckie's cases.
Bradley has not admitted to his involvement in Blake's and Maturin's murders, as per court documents. His attorney, Peter Gasness, has yet to respond to request for comments. Bradley's criminal record includes convictions for robbery, escape attempt, carjacking, and burglary.
Additional Insights:
In 1999, Richard Roland Laird was convicted of first-degree murder in Pennsylvania and was sentenced to death. He later filed an appeal, denying the denial of his Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petition as untimely.
Throughout history, figures like Captain William Kidd were rumored to have committed piracy and murder in their pursuit of hidden treasure. The lure of undiscovered wealth has been known to trigger potential misconduct and deceit.
In Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, there have been various criminal cases and arraignments, but no mention of a case related to Richard Walter Bradley could be found.
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