The Tube Sock Killer

Serial Killer

The Tube Sock Killer: Unsolved Murders in Washington State

Introduction

In 1985, the remote areas of Lewis and Pierce Counties in Washington State were shaken by a series of brutal murders that remain unsolved to this day. Dubbed the "Tube Sock Killings," these crimes involved couples who were found dead under mysterious circumstances, with a notable detail being tube socks tied around the female victims' necks. Despite extensive investigations, the perpetrator, referred to as the Tube Sock Killer, has never been identified.

Victims

• Steven Harkins (27) and Ruth Cooper (42)
  • Date of Disappearance: August 10, 1985
  • Location: Tule Lake, Pierce County, Washington
  • Details: The couple embarked on a weekend camping trip with their dog. When they failed to return to work on Monday, their families reported them missing.
  • Discovery:
    • August 14, 1985: Harkins' body was found near a remote campsite, still in his sleeping bag, suggesting he was shot in the head while sleeping. Their dog was also found shot to death nearby.
    • October 26, 1985: Cooper's skull was discovered near Harts Lake, about 1.5 miles from Harkins' body. Two days later, her body and purse were found 50 feet from the skull's location, with a tube sock tied around her neck. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
• Mike Riemer (36) and Diana Robertson (21)
  • Date of Disappearance: December 12, 1985
  • Location: Pierce County, Washington
  • Details: The couple, along with their two-year-old daughter, Crystal, went to the area to find a Christmas tree and check on animal traps set by Riemer.
  • Discovery:
    • December 12, 1985: Crystal was found standing outside a Kmart store in Spanaway, 30 miles north, later that evening. She was placed in temporary foster care until her grandmother recognized her from news broadcasts. When asked about her mother, Crystal said, "Mommy was in the trees."
    • February 18, 1986: Robertson's body was discovered near a logging road off Washington State Route 7, south of Elbe. A tube sock was tied around her neck, and she had been stabbed seventeen times. Riemer's pickup truck was found nearby with a note reading "I love you, Diana" on the dashboard, written in his handwriting. Bloodstains belonging to Robertson were also found in the truck. Riemer remained missing, leading investigators to consider him a suspect.
    • March 26, 2011: Hikers found a partial human skull within a mile radius of where Robertson's body was discovered. It was later identified as Riemer's, suggesting he might have been a victim as well, though the cause of death couldn't be determined.

Investigation and Theories

The striking similarities between the two cases, especially the tube socks tied around the female victims' necks, led investigators to suspect a serial killer. However, the lack of forensic evidence, witnesses, and clear motives hindered the investigation. Initially, Riemer was considered a suspect due to his disappearance and a history of domestic violence, but the discovery of his remains in 2011 shifted the perspective toward him being a victim. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Steven Harkins Age: (27), Date of Death: August 10, 1985

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'Mommy was in the trees': The Tube Sock Killings | by Tim Gruver

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