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==Case== |
==Case== |
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| − | '''Details:''' On August 10, 1985, 27 year old Stephen Harkins and his 42 year old girlfriend Ruth Cooper vanished after leaving a wedding reception in Tacoma, Washington, and arriving at a forest in South Pierce County to go camping. Four days later, Stephen was found murdered; shot to death in a sleeping bag along with his dog. However, it would be two months before Ruth's body would be found, near a dead-end road with a tube sock around its neck. |
+ | '''Details:''' On August 10, 1985, 27 year old Stephen Harkins and his 42 year old girlfriend Ruth Cooper vanished after leaving a wedding reception in Tacoma, Washington, and arriving at a forest in South Pierce County to go camping. Four days later, Stephen was found murdered; shot to death in a sleeping bag along with his dog. However, it would be two months before Ruth's body would be found, near a dead-end road with a tube sock around its neck. She had been decapitated and her head was found a distance away. Authorities believe that their murders were connected to the murder of [[Diana Robertson]] and the disappearance of her boyfriend [[Mike Riemer]]. In December of 1985, the couple went with their 3 year old daughter Crystal to look for a Christmas tree. That afternoon, Crystal was found wandering around a department store without her parents. She was later identified after her photo was placed in the newspaper and her maternal grandmother recognized her. Mike and Diana had vanished without a trace, and all Crystal could tell police is that "Mommy is in the trees". Two months later, Diana's body was found deep in the forest around Elbe, Washington. She had been stabbed seventeen times with a tube sock tied around her neck and there was no sign of Mike Riemer. Mike's truck nearby had bloodstains on the front seat along with a note on the dashboard that read, "I love you, Diane." Although Diana's mother believed that it was Mike's handwriting, it could not be confirmed. |
There were several connections between the two cases. First, the couple were camping in the same area where Mike Riemer set his traps. Both Ruth and Diane had been killed with the tube sock tied in the same way. Police considered two theories: the first was that an unknown serial killer had killed both couples, and then hid Mike's body. The other theory was that Mike himself was the serial killer. Mike Riemer apparently had a history of domestic violence, and this, along with other evidence, was enough for police to issue a warrant for Mike's arrest. Police have never been able to determine if Mike is alive or dead, or if he was the killer or a victim.<br /> |
There were several connections between the two cases. First, the couple were camping in the same area where Mike Riemer set his traps. Both Ruth and Diane had been killed with the tube sock tied in the same way. Police considered two theories: the first was that an unknown serial killer had killed both couples, and then hid Mike's body. The other theory was that Mike himself was the serial killer. Mike Riemer apparently had a history of domestic violence, and this, along with other evidence, was enough for police to issue a warrant for Mike's arrest. Police have never been able to determine if Mike is alive or dead, or if he was the killer or a victim.<br /> |
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'''Suspects:''' [[Mike Riemer]]<br /> |
'''Suspects:''' [[Mike Riemer]]<br /> |
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Revision as of 02:30, 25 July 2013
Ruth Cooper and Stephen Harkins
Real Names: Stephen Harkins and Ruth Cooper
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: South Pierce, Washington
Date: August 10, 1985
Case
Details: On August 10, 1985, 27 year old Stephen Harkins and his 42 year old girlfriend Ruth Cooper vanished after leaving a wedding reception in Tacoma, Washington, and arriving at a forest in South Pierce County to go camping. Four days later, Stephen was found murdered; shot to death in a sleeping bag along with his dog. However, it would be two months before Ruth's body would be found, near a dead-end road with a tube sock around its neck. She had been decapitated and her head was found a distance away. Authorities believe that their murders were connected to the murder of Diana Robertson and the disappearance of her boyfriend Mike Riemer. In December of 1985, the couple went with their 3 year old daughter Crystal to look for a Christmas tree. That afternoon, Crystal was found wandering around a department store without her parents. She was later identified after her photo was placed in the newspaper and her maternal grandmother recognized her. Mike and Diana had vanished without a trace, and all Crystal could tell police is that "Mommy is in the trees". Two months later, Diana's body was found deep in the forest around Elbe, Washington. She had been stabbed seventeen times with a tube sock tied around her neck and there was no sign of Mike Riemer. Mike's truck nearby had bloodstains on the front seat along with a note on the dashboard that read, "I love you, Diane." Although Diana's mother believed that it was Mike's handwriting, it could not be confirmed.
There were several connections between the two cases. First, the couple were camping in the same area where Mike Riemer set his traps. Both Ruth and Diane had been killed with the tube sock tied in the same way. Police considered two theories: the first was that an unknown serial killer had killed both couples, and then hid Mike's body. The other theory was that Mike himself was the serial killer. Mike Riemer apparently had a history of domestic violence, and this, along with other evidence, was enough for police to issue a warrant for Mike's arrest. Police have never been able to determine if Mike is alive or dead, or if he was the killer or a victim.
Suspects: Mike Riemer
Extra Notes: The case was featured as a part of the September 6, 1989 episode.
Results: Unresolved. In March of 2011, a skull was found one mile from where Diana's body was found that was identified as Mike Riemer's. The cases still remain unsolved, however. Police have since ruled Riemer out as a suspect in the double murder, and authorities now believe that an unknown serial killer may be responsible for the Harkins/Cooper and Robertson/Riemer murders. An unidentified man searching for Stephen Harkins on the night of his death, wanting to settle a dispute about damage to Stephen's motorcycle, is a possible suspect in the case. New DNA testing is being done on evidence in the case, but it remains unsolved.
Links: None