http://www.komonews.com/news/local/122201254.html

Was just watching this case and went to Google for more info and was shocked to see this article just posted last week.

Wow, that's out of the blue! Not surprised that the suspected killer died and red tape held up processing his DNA. It seems so many of these cases on UM are stalled because of situations like this. :(

Amazing that these cold cases are being solved all these years later. I don't remember the case at all...guess I will have to do some reconnaissance at the UM website or...the other place...to see what I can find out.

So glad the family finally knows who killed him, even if the killer is now dead himself.

Holy cow!!!! I think this is one that many of us thought might never be solved due to the seemingly random nature of the crime.

Court documents show Krueger agreed to submit DNA to be paroled in 2004. But federal probation officers waited three years to collect a sample.

....His sample then went to the FBI office in Vrginia, and sat around for several more years, which agents also blame on a backlog.

UUUGGGHHH :mad:

Looks like they think the killer may have been hired. Still lots of mystery to this one, notably motive.

Like everyone else, I wonder what the motive was. Is it possible that he was getting bored with his previous MO and wanted to do something new?

According to the pdf link below, the killer, Gary Krueger, started out with a good life. He joined the navy as a teen and then volunteered for the marines, from which he was honorably discharged in 1969.

That same year, he became a cop and it all seems to go downhill from there. He and another officer beat a man in a police garage. In 1974, the man was awarded $3,000 by a superior court jury.

Then in 1977, he shot and killed a suspect, who he had sitting in the front seat of his patrol car, because he said the guy pulled a knife on him. That was determined to be justified, but it seems fishy to me, especially considering the earlier 2 on 1 beating of another person in his custody.

He retired in 1980 and embarked on a career of felony armed robberies, bank robberies, misdemeanor thefts, and a home invasion robbery just last year.

He was 62 when he drowned on March 27, 2010.

http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/999/news/GARY%20KRUEGER%20BACKGROUND.pdf

This article is interesting. The 62 year old killer died while fleeing from a botched home invasion where he pistol whipped the homeowner and stole a boat to escape.

http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/BREAKING-NEWS/KEY-SUSPECT-IN-LOCAL-COLD-CASE-MURDER-IS-EX-COP-br-Says-TV-report-660172

KEY SUSPECT IN LOCAL COLD CASE MURDER
IS EX-COP
Says TV report
May 10, 2011

The ten year old murder case of Bellevue realtor Mike Emert is on the verge of being solved, reports Seattle’s KIRO-TV here and the key suspect in the case is a now dead former Seattle Police officer Gary C. Krueger who retired from the force in 1980 and then later gravitated to robbing banks.

The station reports that DNA evidence, among other things, points to the killer as Krueger, that the killing may have been a professional “hit” and that Kruger is a suspect in at least two other unsolved killings.

The station ran a report a few months ago naming Krueger as a prime suspect in a March 26, 2010, Kirkland home invasion where a masked Krueger allegedly hit orthopedic surgeon Dr. Craig McAllister in the head with a gun repeatedly, trying to force his way into McAllister’s house.

Krueger failed to get inside and, while running away from the scene, drowned in Lake Washington after stealing a boat.

His body wasn’t found until September.

The latest KIRO report said it was not clear why realtor Mike Emert was murdered in 2001. An assailant stabbed him multiple times then placed his body in a shower at a house for sale in Woodinville.

The water washed away evidence but the killer left his DNA in the Windermere agent’s SUV, which reportedly police were able to trace to the dead Krueger not long ago.

Wow! I'm glad they got a match for the piece of crap that killed Mike Emert. He kind of looks like a guy I used to work with (eek).

It seems like there's been a lot of newly-solved or recent developments in UM cases so far this year. What do you think his motive was (if any) for murdering him?

Thanks for the news, OP.

WOW, I am very happy to see that this case has been solved. It said that Mike's killer drowned to death. Good. It sucks that he cannot be imprisoned for this crime but at least we don't have to worry about him doing it again.

As far as the comment of him possibly being hired to kill Mike. I guess that's possible but with his track record of being a cop turned psycho, I bet this could have just been a thrill kill for him.

Wow. This is amazing. Did I read the articles correctly in surmising that this guy was a suspect for quite a while, or at least on the police's radar?

I was always convinced that the two "Realtor Torture" murders were linked. I wonder about the possibilities of that now.

EDITED TO SAY: Hmm...I guess they are not related. I missed this previously but apparently kadrmas15 contacted LE involved int he investigation.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=190997&highlight=mike+emert

Looks like he already met the ultimate fate. At least now we know who the killer was. But I share everyone's sentiment that it sucks that he couldn't be found guilty in a court of law.

the real question now is who ordered the hit.

Well, I'm certainly glad there have been a plethora of old UM cases finding some sort of resolution lately but, like the Riemer/Robertson and Sohus cases, there's still a lot of unanswered questions which keep this one classified as a "Half Solved Mystery".

I haven't read anything about Krueger having a disability or needing to use a cane, so assuming that Krueger and the mysterious "Steven" are one and the same, it seems like that was a complete ruse. Emert also said that "Steven" had an East Coast accent. I know Krueger started out as a police officer in Seattle, but I'm not sure if he was originally born on the East Coast, so I wonder if he faked the accent too.

It seems that Krueger really enjoyed the idea assuming a false persona, so I'm definitely leaning towards it being a "thrill kill" on his part. After all this time, they still haven't found anything in Mike Emert's background to make one think that someone would want to order a hit on him.

the real question now is who ordered the hit.
I don't think this was a hit. I'd be willing to bet that the only reason why LE thinks it's a hit is because the murder was premeditated and there is no personal connection between the killer and the victim. This guy sounds like a total psycho to me. I doubt he needed an actual motive.

I'd also be willing to bet that he relished the opportunity to kill that guy back in 1977, and that it probably wasn't "necessary" as deemed by a jury. Hindsight is 20/20.

I agree it seems more like a "thrill kill." There doesn't seem to be anything to indicate a hit yet. Considering Krueger's character, I think he faked the accent and handicap. Such a sick individual. Too bad he can't be prosecuted, but it seems like karma got him and he won't be able to hurt anyone else.

Yeah, I would probably label this as solved.

It's senseless, but given this guy's background, it suggests that he would go to all of the trouble he did (setting up appointments, fake accent, props) just because he wanted to kill someone.

LE thinks the guy may have worked as a hitman - that is why they suspect this may be a hit, not because there is an absence of motive.

I did read that the killer had worked in real estate after leaving the police force - maybe he crossed paths with Emert, or a partner/associate of Emert.

I don't think this was a hit. I'd be willing to bet that the only reason why LE thinks it's a hit is because the murder was premeditated and there is no personal connection between the killer and the victim. This guy sounds like a total psycho to me. I doubt he needed an actual motive.

I'd also be willing to bet that he relished the opportunity to kill that guy back in 1977, and that it probably wasn't "necessary" as deemed by a jury. Hindsight is 20/20.

i believe LE has stated they thought it was a hit. it sure feels like a hit because there appeared to be no motive.

I don't think this was a hit. I'd be willing to bet that the only reason why LE thinks it's a hit is because the murder was premeditated and there is no personal connection between the killer and the victim. This guy sounds like a total psycho to me. I doubt he needed an actual motive.

I'd also be willing to bet that he relished the opportunity to kill that guy back in 1977, and that it probably wasn't "necessary" as deemed by a jury. Hindsight is 20/20.

Completely agree. Some people pick out certain people to kill and plan their murders. I think this was the case. There's a reason why he only wanted to look at that one specific house that was in a secluded area.

LE thinks the guy may have worked as a hitman - that is why they suspect this may be a hit, not because there is an absence of motive.

I did read that the killer had worked in real estate after leaving the police force - maybe he crossed paths with Emert, or a partner/associate of Emert.

You don't always need a motive when it comes to murder. Some people are just crazy.

You don't always need a motive when it comes to murder. Some people are just crazy.

Of course. I never said otherwise. However, to suggest that LE are only considering it a possible hit due to an absence of motive seems to be incorrect - they suspect he "hit" other victims.

Wouldn't the fact that he used his card to make withdrawals on his account be motive enough? Perhaps he thought he could take this guy for a **** ton of money.

Wouldn't the fact that he used his card to make withdrawals on his account be motive enough? Perhaps he thought he could take this guy for a **** ton of money.

good point

As I said in my previous posts on this case that DNA would have to be found in Mike Emert's vehicle! There's no way that with that much blood he would have gotten on him that the killer didn't leave some kind of evidence behind in the SUV, since he drove Mike's car. I knew in my gut that that is where they would find the evidence to nail the SOB, good riddance! We don't need someone like that in society, and what does that say for our justice system when a guy like that used to be a police officer; scary!

True Crime Diary has a post on the Emert case (http://www.truecrimediary.com/index.cfm?page=cases&id=135) and more about an attempted home invasion and attack on a doctor and his family. Krueger died trying to flee the scene. He had an accomplice who has been identified, but is still missing. Really interesting read, and some good links posted as well.

I still say he was not a hit man.

"nowheregirl": Thanks so much for the link, very interesting read!!!!!

That article definitely takes away from it being a hit, in terms of a murder for hire. They do seem oddly targeted though.

What a strange set of facts. I know some crimes lack motive, but these don't seem like thrill killings either. Just weird.

That's so weird that I don't remember this case, I'm sure I've seen the clip (viewing it now). Glad they got the DNA hit, even though he's dead. At least the family can have some closure.

I still say he was not a hit man.

I agree. Based on what we know if his killer, I'm guessing that he may have literally planned to kill some random realtor due to his meeting with Mike previous to the murder. However, I am basing that on the fact that ZERO stories have emerged of people even disliking Mike to the point of trying to have him killed. Normally, there be at least one rumor of someone wanting him dead, but in Emert's case, there wasn't any.

However, the article you referenced states that Krueger worked as a short time as a realtor after his firing as a Seattle police officer. Was Kreuger fired? Did he not like the real estate biz? Is it possible that Emert's company was taking alot more of the sales? Emert did, afterall, win relator of the year or something. Maybe Kreuger was upset about a specific sale he could have had.

It looks like Mike Emert's killer Gary Krueger has been tied to still more murders. This article (http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/seattle-union-boss-murder/nLff3/) states that he has been tied to the murder of a union boss in the 1980s. The crime scene had similarities to Mike Emert's murder.

He has also been tied to the murder of a real estate attorney, and is suspected of murdering Cheryl Grose (http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/crime-law/new-leads-missing-mom-case-husband-has-ties-profes/nK8Kg/) at who's wedding he served as best man (presumably arranged by the husband?). Though I was skeptical that Krueger was actually a hit man, I think there is some evidence here that did murder for hire, but he may have been pretty small potatoes. I think the guy liked to kill people and tried to pick up money doing it where he could. The killing of the union boss was a favor to a friend who thought the murder victim was going to fire him, and the Grose case, which has not been definitively tied to Krueger involved someone who was a close friend. The murder of the real estate attorney was apparently a revenge killing since the victim worked for a bank to which Krueger was delinquent on a loan. Interesting that both he and Emert were involved in real estate. I have still yet to hear about a motive for the Emert murder.

It looks like Mike Emert's killer Gary Krueger has been tied to still more murders. This article (http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/seattle-union-boss-murder/nLff3/) states that he has been tied to the murder of a union boss in the 1980s. The crime scene had similarities to Mike Emert's murder.

He has also been tied to the murder of a real estate attorney, and is suspected of murdering Cheryl Grose (http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/crime-law/new-leads-missing-mom-case-husband-has-ties-profes/nK8Kg/) at who's wedding he served as best man (presumably arranged by the husband?). Though I was skeptical that Krueger was actually a hit man, I think there is some evidence here that did murder for hire, but he may have been pretty small potatoes. I think the guy liked to kill people and tried to pick up money doing it where he could. The killing of the union boss was a favor to a friend who thought the murder victim was going to fire him, and the Grose case, which has not been definitively tied to Krueger involved someone who was a close friend. The murder of the real estate attorney was apparently a revenge killing since the victim worked for a bank to which Krueger was delinquent on a loan. Interesting that both he and Emert were involved in real estate. I have still yet to hear about a motive for the Emert murder.

The first real estate agent he killed was Jim Barry in 1984, and even before then, Krueger was looked as a suspect in the 1981 murder of retired Seattle cop Terry Dolan. Barry was stabbed to death and his wallet and jewelry were missing, as Dolan was shot to death during a gas station robbery. Authorities believe there was someone else at work that hired Krueger to kill Barry and Emert, 17 years apart. For what reason(s), I don't know. Both crime scenes and modus operandi were eerily similar. As for the Dolan murder, it might've been some kind of revenge killing for being fired from the Seattle police department. Krueger was in the news in the 1970's for shooting a man to death in his patrol car and then getting fined for beating a man in a parking garage. Krueger then ventured into real estate briefly before robbing banks for a living.

The first real estate agent he killed was Jim Barry in 1984, and even before then, Krueger was looked as a suspect in the 1981 murder of retired Seattle cop Terry Dolan. Barry was stabbed to death and his wallet and jewelry were missing, as Dolan was shot to death during a gas station robbery. Authorities believe there was someone else at work that hired Krueger to kill Barry and Emert, 17 years apart. For what reason(s), I don't know. Both crime scenes and modus operandi were eerily similar. As for the Dolan murder, it might've been some kind of revenge killing for being fired from the Seattle police department. Krueger was in the news in the 1970's for shooting a man to death in his patrol car and then getting fined for beating a man in a parking garage. Krueger then ventured into real estate briefly before robbing banks for a living.

I don't understand why the cops think Emert's death was a hit. IIRC, they looked into his background extensively and could find no one with any ill will towards him. I think this guy Krueger was just a sick bastard who's main motive was to kill real estate agents so he could rob them.

I don't understand why the cops think Emert's death was a hit. IIRC, they looked into his background extensively and could find no one with any ill will towards him. I think this guy Krueger was just a sick bastard who's main motive was to kill real estate agents so he could rob them.

That or he was killing them for someone at random

I also don't think this was a hit. I think he just wanted $ and this was his way to do it. Why the sick f$#$ couldn't have just threatened him or hit him over the head to knock him out cold is beyond me. I think this guy liked to kill or he wouldn't have stabbed Mike so many times.

I also don't think this was a hit. I think he just wanted $ and this was his way to do it. Why the sick f$#$ couldn't have just threatened him or hit him over the head to knock him out cold is beyond me. I think this guy liked to kill or he wouldn't have stabbed Mike so many times.

Why stab him so many times though? That usually speaks of overkill or some kind of personal motive.

Why stab him so many times though? That usually speaks of overkill or some kind of personal motive.
This guy was a serial killer! He needed as much personal motive as Ted Bundy.

This guy was a serial killer! He needed as much personal motive as Ted Bundy.

He's only killed 3-4 people as far as we know.

This guy was a serial killer! He needed as much personal motive as Ted Bundy.
Agreed. He may be responsible for more murders than we know of and I doubt he was rational about why he did such things. I think if he liked to kill, stabbing someone multiple times would have been enjoyable to him, sick as it sounds. Also, there's a good possibility that Mike fought back strongly and that's why he was stabbed so much.

Agreed. He may be responsible for more murders than we know of and I doubt he was rational about why he did such things. I think if he liked to kill, stabbing someone multiple times would have been enjoyable to him, sick as it sounds. Also, there's a good possibility that Mike fought back strongly and that's why he was stabbed so much.

Now there's a scenario that hasn't been brought up. This might have been posted here before, but this link tells of how Mike's widow and police think that someone hired Krueger to kill Mike and Jim Barry: http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/former-spd-cop-suspected-hit-man/nDNJ3/

I do agree with you saying he enjoyed the killing, but I feel as if someone payed him lots of money to steal the valuables too. Kind of reminds me of Alan Golder. The mob payed him big money to steal lots of expensive jewelry. He never killed anyone I don't think. Perhaps whomever they suspect hired Krueger had a need for expensive luxuries and payed off Krueger to get them, and in exchange Krueger gets satisfaction from killing and receiving money, which we know he loves.

I do agree with you saying he enjoyed the killing, but I feel as if someone payed him lots of money to steal the valuables too. Kind of reminds me of Alan Golder. The mob payed him big money to steal lots of expensive jewelry. He never killed anyone I don't think. Perhaps whomever they suspect hired Krueger had a need for expensive luxuries and payed off Krueger to get them, and in exchange Krueger gets satisfaction from killing and receiving money, which we know he loves.

I just think the guy wanted to rob a real estate agent. Taking his valuables does not go along with the hit theory, IMO.

Why am I still debating this? The evidence is in the story itself. Believe me or not. :rolleyes: I'm just giving my look on it.

Why am I still debating this? The evidence is in the story itself. Believe me or not. :rolleyes: I'm just giving my look on it.

I wasn't trying to debate or sway your opinion. I just don't see how the hitman theory could hold any water without a viable suspect who would want Emert dead. LE could not uncover anyone who would have any motive to do harm to him.

Glad this one was solved

Murders of real estate agents seem to be becoming more common. I guess I never thought of it as a dangerous profession, but it's more dangerous than I realize. I mean, think about it. These agents have to meet someone they've never met before in a location where it's just the two of them. It was also believed the Original Night Stalker frequently met with real estate agents at homes to case other houses he planned to hit.

Murders of real estate agents seem to be becoming more common. I guess I never thought of it as a dangerous profession, but it's more dangerous than I realize. I mean, think about it. These agents have to meet someone they've never met before in a location where it's just the two of them.
There are a few Charley Project cases like this. I remember reading more than one about young women disappearing after meeting with potential home buyers. I'll post them in the Other Cases thread.

It was also believed the Original Night Stalker frequently met with real estate agents at homes to case other houses he planned to hit.

:eek: This is a good theory and would add to his apparent ability to make his way in and out without being caught by people outside of the home. He would have known ahead of time the most discreet ways to go.

The hitman theory never did seem right to me in this case. Every time Krueger allegedly met with Emert in person, every time the men spoke by phone was another opportunity for the suspect in this case to be exposed. By having so much contact with his victim prior to the crime, the suspect was running the risk that Emert would pass along identifying information or maybe even become wise to his intentions altogether. Not to mentioned the fact that stabbing someone 19 times seems pretty personal for a criminal who is presumably in it only for the money. I could be completely off base however. Trying to apply rational thinking to irrational behavior doesn't ever seem to work very well.
Ultimately, I find myself in agreement with a previous poster. I believe that the suspect took money for his crimes when the opportunity arose, but likely would have killed regardless. In any case, I've been following the Emert case for many years and was glad to see a resolution.

I always wondered at the start of the story that guy leaving the room after his wife Mary announced that he won the Realtor of the year award.

I always wondered at the start of the story that guy leaving the room after his wife Mary announced that he won the Realtor of the year award.
This part of the reenactment is pretty amusing. I'm not sure why UM would add it unless they knew that a coworker was resentful that the award presenter was giving the award to her husband (though I'm sure his track record was why he won, not because of nepotism). Since we hear nothing about that and he had "no known enemies," it seems that part was in there just for drama.

Yeah I laugh every time I see it. Certainly one of the more quirky UM moments.

Realtor of the year award? What an honour.

BUMP

FWIW, they aired this story on the Farina hosted episodes recently without an update, which I found odd.

I still wonder as to what the real motive was and who orchestrated the murder? What beef did a former police officer (Gary Krueger) have with Mike Emert? It was mentioned that another realtor in Bellavue was killed 17 years prior to Mike and the police believe someone was putting out hits on realtors, but as to why, it is not known (at least not to the genera public?).

I agree with one of the posts above, why would Krueger have risked being exposed since he and Mike spoke on the phone and met in person a few times? Did Mike ever mention anything else about this "Steve" other than relaying his name to his wife and co-workers? From the sound of it, it seems like Mike only knew this guy for 2 or 3 days, the last day being the day he was killed. The way Mike was killed (striking him with a cane and then stabbing him with the sword/knife portion of it) definitely seems like overkill and a crime of passion, which would lead most to believe that it was personal, but as far as we know, Mike never knew his killer beforehand and it seems to drown out that theory. If this was a hit, then there was too much contact with the victim, in the way he was assaulted and stabbed that is, whereas simply shooting Mike once in the head or chest would have passed off as more of a professional hit, unless Krueger was a more "hands-on" killer, even though he'd risk getting into a struggle with whomever he kills.

The "hit" theory still holds some water, as Mike's wedding ring and watch were stolen, as that is a sign to the one who ordered the hit that the job was done. They also mentioned that Krueger washed his hands and weapon off in the sink and turned the shower head on as to wash away any physical evidence, which makes most believe he had killed before, possibly the realtor who was killed in 1984 and/or some others we're not aware of. I still don't get who would have such a grudge as to order a hitman to go out and kill realtors who never crossed anyone in a bad way. Seems odd to just go and have someone kill people for you for no reason. There has to be more that we're not aware of in this case.

Technically, this case isn't "solved" if the police believe Krueger was hired to kill Mike. I wonder if this is still an active case, being worked?