A man has been sentenced to 84 years in prison for the brutal 2023 murders of Ashley Williams and Robert Riley, whose bodies were discovered hidden under a pile of trash in Maple Valley, Washington. Brandon Gerner, 40, was convicted of first- and second-degree murder in March 2026, and a King County Superior Court judge handed down the maximum sentence on April 30, 2026.
Details of the Murders
On November 15, 2023, Gerner, along with two accomplices, Kody Olsen and Joshua Jones, trespassed onto a property in Maple Valley. There, they encountered Ashley Williams and Robert Riley. When Riley confronted the trespassers, Gerner opened fire, fatally shooting him.
Afterward, Gerner brutally attacked Williams, a mother of five, stabbing her more than 20 times as she begged for her life. Gerner then shot her. In addition to killing the two victims, Gerner and his accomplices also shot a blind, elderly dog.
According to prosecutors, Ashley Williams’ death occurred because she witnessed the murder of Riley. Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brent R. Kling described the violence inflicted on Williams as “unfathomable.”
After the killings, Jones and Gerner allegedly transported the bodies in a wheelbarrow to a nearby property, where they were left hidden in the bushes under trash.
Gerner’s History and Motive
Gerner, who founded a white supremacist gang called Omerta while incarcerated, had served 22 years for assault and burglary before his release just eight months prior to the murders. At the time of the killings, he was under supervision.
Prosecutors also revealed disturbing details about Gerner’s actions following the murders. The day after Olsen’s death in a police shootout, Gerner allegedly shot a horse in the face, claiming it was a sacrifice to the Norse god Odin. He allegedly told informants that the killing was done to give Olsen a steed for his journey to Valhalla, reflecting the shared white supremacist beliefs between Gerner and Olsen.
The Aftermath of the Murders
Kody Olsen, one of Gerner’s accomplices, was killed in a police shootout after being stopped at a DUI checkpoint less than a month after the murders. Olsen was never charged for the killings, but the shootout left two deputies wounded.
Jones, the third accomplice, pleaded guilty to concealing the deaths of Williams and Riley and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Gerner’s Appeal
Following his sentencing, Gerner filed appeal paperwork, claiming, “Someday the truth will come out… I’m a expletive bad guy, it’s true, but there’s no physical evidence I did anything.” Despite his statements, the court upheld the conviction, and he will serve 84 years behind bars.
