Mike Emert's case solved as of May 18, 2011 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ILikeTurtles · 05-22-2011, 03:59 PM

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.

UMFaninMD · 05-22-2011, 04:33 PM

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.

Mysteryphile · 05-22-2011, 06:26 PM

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.

nohwheregirl · 05-22-2011, 07:09 PM

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.

Quote:

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

Tighthead · 05-22-2011, 07:56 PM

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

TracyLynnS · 05-22-2011, 10:18 PM

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/99...BACKGROUND.pdf

TracyLynnS · 05-22-2011, 10:23 PM

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/BR...-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.

Steve W. · 05-23-2011, 08:14 AM

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.

Hambone2421 · 05-23-2011, 10:22 AM

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.

Corky Kneivel · 05-23-2011, 12:05 PM

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/...ght=mike+emert

Apostapler · 05-23-2011, 12:45 PM

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.

Phanekim · 05-23-2011, 05:59 PM

the real question now is who ordered the hit.

RobinW · 05-23-2011, 07:17 PM

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.

nohwheregirl · 05-23-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phanekim

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.

WishfulDreamer · 05-23-2011, 08:30 PM

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.

05-22-2011, 03:59 PM	#1
ILikeTurtles Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 128	Mike Emert's case solved as of May 18, 2011 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.

05-23-2011, 12:05 PM	#10
Corky Kneivel Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: Sacratomato Posts: 570	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/...ght=mike+emert
	Last edited by Corky Kneivel; 05-23-2011 at 12:44 PM.

05-22-2011, 04:33 PM	#2
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	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.

05-22-2011, 06:26 PM	#3
Mysteryphile I wonder what happened to her. Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2009 Location: England via Iowa Posts: 320	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.

05-22-2011, 07:56 PM	#5
Tighthead Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 199	Looks like they think the killer may have been hired. Still lots of mystery to this one, notably motive.

05-22-2011, 10:18 PM	#6
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	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/99...BACKGROUND.pdf

05-22-2011, 10:23 PM	#7
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	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/BR...-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.

05-23-2011, 08:14 AM	#8
Steve W. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 03, 2010 Posts: 870	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.

05-23-2011, 10:22 AM	#9
Hambone2421 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 08, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,067	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.

05-23-2011, 12:45 PM	#11
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	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.

05-23-2011, 05:59 PM	#12
Phanekim Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 14, 2009 Posts: 106	the real question now is who ordered the hit.

05-23-2011, 07:17 PM	#13
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	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.

05-23-2011, 08:30 PM	#15
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	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.