Richard Bradley Jr., a 40-year-old man from Washington state, has been hit with new murder charges after authorities uncovered a disturbing scheme he allegedly used to lure and kill his victims. It is believed that Bradley enticed his victims by telling them he needed their help in finding buried treasure. The accused serial killer had been awaiting trial since his arrest in 2021 for the murder of 44-year-old Brandi Blake when three additional murder charges were filed against him.

The shocking discovery was made when authorities were exhuming Blake's body at the 160-acre Game Farm Park in Auburn. During the process, they stumbled upon the remains of three other victims. The victims were identified as 36-year-old Emilio Maturin, 59-year-old Michael Goeman, and Goeman's 31-year-old son Vance Lakey. The remains were found in close proximity to Blake's burial site and were matched to their identities using DNA, according to court documents obtained by The Seattle Times.

Prosecutors allege that all four victims fell for Bradley's twisted scheme, which involved convincing them to help him dig up a stash of gold in the wooded area of the park. However, instead of finding treasure, they were ruthlessly slaughtered by Bradley, who then ransacked their bodies and took any possessions they had on hand. He also reportedly stole their cars and was seen driving them in the days following their disappearances.

The chilling details of each victim's demise have been revealed. Maturin was the first to vanish, with his girlfriend reporting him missing in September 2019, two weeks after he was last seen alive. She told detectives that she overheard Bradley telling Maturin about the buried gold in Auburn. Despite his skepticism, Maturin followed Bradley to the park in his brand-new BMW, carrying a pound of heroin, some meth, and $15,000 in cash.

In March 2021, Goeman and his son became Bradley's next targets. Goeman had recently received a large inheritance, and their bodies were discovered on an unmaintained road not far from the park. Bradley was considered a person of interest in their deaths and was charged with second-degree arson after allegedly attempting to destroy their impounded SUV.

Just two months after Goeman and his son were killed, Blake went missing. She had reportedly won $20,000 at a casino prior to her disappearance. Her body was found in a shallow grave in the same month, and Bradley was charged with her murder, which was attributed to blunt force trauma.

Bradley, who is scheduled to stand trial next month for Blake's murder, now faces a total of two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and second-degree arson. He has not yet entered a plea for the new murder charges.

The revelations surrounding Bradley's alleged serial killings have sent shockwaves through the community. The accused killer's cold-blooded manipulation of his victims, using their desires for wealth against them, highlights the depravity of his actions. As the trial approaches, the community grapples with the horrifying reality that a seemingly ordinary person could carry out such heinous acts. The trial will undoubtedly shed further light on the details of these gruesome crimes and provide some semblance of justice for the victims and their families.