Tube Sock Murders
December 12, 1985
On this morning, Mike Riemer, his girlfriend Diana Robertson, and their daughter Crystal set off to the forest south of Tacoma. Tacoma was a widely known area for its beautiful scenery and camper/nature lovers. Mike was a trapper, so while the family was there, he decided to check his traps for animals.
Later that day in the afternoon, their daughter Crystal was found at a department store near Tacoma. Crystal seemed to be stunned and very silent considering her parents were no where near her. She was later taken to a hospital where she got checked and then sent into the foster care system. Days later, Diana's mother identified Crystal on a news broadcast.
When Crystal was asked what happened to her parents and where they are, she replied with "mommy is in the trees."
Four months before Mike and Diana's disappearance, a couple was found brutally murdered in the same forest area that the family had been. Police stated that there was no connection between the two couples.
Two months after their disappearance, in a forest near Elbe, Washington, a man walking his dog had found Diana's body and yes Crystal was right about her mommy "being in the trees." When found, she was laying on the forest ground near Mike's truck. She was stabbed 17 times and had a tube sock tied around her neck. When police searched his truck, there were bloodstains on the front seat.
A baffling clue was then discovered by police. Displaying prominently was a note that read "I love you Diana."
Remember the couple earlier that got murdered as well? Police then believed that this was a double murder since their bodies were just 15 miles apart from Diana's body.
Stephen Harkins was found dead in his sleeping bag. His death was caused by a gun shot in his forehead. His companion, Ruth Cooper was discovered two months later shot in the head also. Like Diana, Ruth had a tube sock tied around her neck the same way as Diana's.
Police had many theories about what happened but two stood out the most. There was a serial killer on the loose and that they need to be found immediately before another victim gets injured. And that Mike had killed all of these people since his body was not yet found.
Diana's sister, Darlene Robertson, stated that Mike had a history of violence. Stated by Darlene:
"He beat her up. He took everything out on her. He blamed her for things that he did. If he was seeing somebody else, he would turn it around like Diana was seeing somebody else and justify it in his own mind."
After this statement, police put out a warrant for Mikes arrest, but one thing was holding them back. They could not prove that he was dead or alive. If they could prove that he was alive, he would be their main suspect in the case.
25 years after Diana's murder, Mike's skull was found by a hiker about a mile from where they discovered her. His death could not be determined and no other trace had been found.
It's compelling that no other victims had been discovered after their murders. I don't think Mike was the one who killed his girlfriend and the other couple. If he did murder these people how did he get his daughter, Crystal to a department store without him being seen possibly covered in blood? He was known to have a history of violence and rage so it does make sense why police suspected him in the case. If he was the murderer, Crystal must have seen her mother possibly tied up "in the trees" to know a common place where she was. Whoever killed these people in this unsolved case must have been filled with rage and had to release it somehow, possibly murders.
For me, I would wanna know what went through the killers mind when doing this cruel crime to innocent people.
I’d love to hear what you think about this issue. Let me know in the comments!
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| Diana Robertson, Mike Riemer, & Crystal |
On this morning, Mike Riemer, his girlfriend Diana Robertson, and their daughter Crystal set off to the forest south of Tacoma. Tacoma was a widely known area for its beautiful scenery and camper/nature lovers. Mike was a trapper, so while the family was there, he decided to check his traps for animals.
Later that day in the afternoon, their daughter Crystal was found at a department store near Tacoma. Crystal seemed to be stunned and very silent considering her parents were no where near her. She was later taken to a hospital where she got checked and then sent into the foster care system. Days later, Diana's mother identified Crystal on a news broadcast.
When Crystal was asked what happened to her parents and where they are, she replied with "mommy is in the trees."
Four months before Mike and Diana's disappearance, a couple was found brutally murdered in the same forest area that the family had been. Police stated that there was no connection between the two couples.
Two months after their disappearance, in a forest near Elbe, Washington, a man walking his dog had found Diana's body and yes Crystal was right about her mommy "being in the trees." When found, she was laying on the forest ground near Mike's truck. She was stabbed 17 times and had a tube sock tied around her neck. When police searched his truck, there were bloodstains on the front seat.
 |
| "I love you Diana" note found in Mike's truck |
A baffling clue was then discovered by police. Displaying prominently was a note that read "I love you Diana."
Remember the couple earlier that got murdered as well? Police then believed that this was a double murder since their bodies were just 15 miles apart from Diana's body.
 |
| Ruth Cooper & Stephen Harkins |
Stephen Harkins was found dead in his sleeping bag. His death was caused by a gun shot in his forehead. His companion, Ruth Cooper was discovered two months later shot in the head also. Like Diana, Ruth had a tube sock tied around her neck the same way as Diana's.
Police had many theories about what happened but two stood out the most. There was a serial killer on the loose and that they need to be found immediately before another victim gets injured. And that Mike had killed all of these people since his body was not yet found.
Diana's sister, Darlene Robertson, stated that Mike had a history of violence. Stated by Darlene:
"He beat her up. He took everything out on her. He blamed her for things that he did. If he was seeing somebody else, he would turn it around like Diana was seeing somebody else and justify it in his own mind."
After this statement, police put out a warrant for Mikes arrest, but one thing was holding them back. They could not prove that he was dead or alive. If they could prove that he was alive, he would be their main suspect in the case.
25 years after Diana's murder, Mike's skull was found by a hiker about a mile from where they discovered her. His death could not be determined and no other trace had been found.
It's compelling that no other victims had been discovered after their murders. I don't think Mike was the one who killed his girlfriend and the other couple. If he did murder these people how did he get his daughter, Crystal to a department store without him being seen possibly covered in blood? He was known to have a history of violence and rage so it does make sense why police suspected him in the case. If he was the murderer, Crystal must have seen her mother possibly tied up "in the trees" to know a common place where she was. Whoever killed these people in this unsolved case must have been filled with rage and had to release it somehow, possibly murders.
For me, I would wanna know what went through the killers mind when doing this cruel crime to innocent people.
I’d love to hear what you think about this issue. Let me know in the comments!
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