In the spring of 2021, a grim discovery was made in a remote, overgrown area near Auburn, Washington. The body of Michael Goeman, a 59-year-old Caucasian male, was found, bringing a tragic end to his life. His death, however, was not an isolated incident but part of a larger, more sinister story that would unfold in the coming weeks and months, revealing a tale of deception and murder.
Michael and his 31-year-old son, Vance Lakey, had been living on the streets together.
They were found dead just days apart in a wooded area off an unmaintained county road. Both men had been shot. The investigation into their deaths soon uncovered a disturbing pattern that pointed to a single suspect. Before their bodies were discovered, Vance had been seen driving his father's Dodge Durango, a vehicle that would later become a key piece of evidence.
Authorities arrested Richard Walter Bradley in May 2021 in connection with the deaths. The investigation revealed that Bradley allegedly used a fantastical tale to lure his victims. He would tell them he had buried gold from a previous heist and needed help digging it up. Instead of riches, his victims met a violent end. Prosecutors believe this was the ruse he used to entice Michael Goeman and his son, as well as at least two other individuals. After the murders, Bradley would allegedly steal his victims' vehicles and other possessions.
Following Michael's disappearance, his Dodge Durango was spotted being driven by Bradley's wife. After the vehicle was impounded, Bradley allegedly attempted to have it destroyed by offering to pay an associate to break into the tow lot and set it on fire. The associate did not go through with the arson. As the investigation deepened, authorities charged Bradley with the murders of Goeman and Lakey, in addition to the deaths of Brandi Blake and Emilio Raul Maturin, painting a picture of a suspected serial killer preying on vulnerable individuals with a promise of fortune.
