On January 4, 2001, successful Seattle-area real estate agent Mike Emert left to meet a prospective buyer at a vacant home in Woodinville, Washington. Just hours later, he was found stabbed 19 times inside the home's bathtub with the shower and sinks still running in what investigators believed was a calculated attempt to destroy forensic evidence.

In this episode, we examine the meticulous crime scene, the forensic evidence recovered from Mike's abandoned Cadillac Escalade, and the years-long investigation that led detectives to believe they were looking at a professional hit rather than a robbery or crime of passion. We also explore the DNA breakthrough that linked Gary Krueger to the case more than a decade later, why that discovery came too late to question the suspect, and how Mike's murder forever changed safety practices for real estate agents across Washington.

If you have any information regarding the murder of Mike Emert, please contact the King County Sheriff's Office.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to submit a case, please email courtney@forensictales.com.

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