206 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Ruth Cooper

Death by Force
Case Description
Any updates on this case? Let us know!
On a summer day in 1985, Ruth Cooper, a 42-year-old Caucasian woman, and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Steven Harkins, embarked on a weekend camping trip to Tule Lake in Pierce County, Washington. The couple, who both worked at a vocational school in Tacoma, left on August 10th. When neither returned to work the following Monday, their families grew concerned and reported them missing.

The initial search for the missing couple came to a grim conclusion four days later, on August 14th. Hikers ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (7)
See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Mineral, Washington murders - Wikipedia
  • Mineral, Washington murders - Wikipedia
    •     ...View 5 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Ruth Cooper

    Female

    White / Caucasian

    Pierce

    WA

    1985-08-10

    42

    Ruth

    Cooper

    11/09/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    Hey everyone,
    I've been diving deep into the "Tube Sock Killings" lately, and something that's st... ...Read More
    10/09/2024
    It's haunting to think about the final moments of Ruth Cooper and Steven Harkins during their campin... ...Read More
    10/01/2024
    Hey everyone,
    I've recently been reading about the tragic case of Ruth Cooper and Steven Harkins,... ...Read More
    01/20/2024
    Other Cases from Pierce, Washington

    Margaret Anderson

    Death: Jan 01, 2012
    Margaret A. Anderson, a 34-year-old park ranger, tragically lost her life on January 1, 2012, in Pie i ...Read More