Norse Gang Slaughters Beloved Horse – SICK!

Hands in handcuffs wearing an orange jumpsuit

A Washington gang leader stands trial for a double murder where the aftermath involved slaughtering a cherished horse as a ritual sacrifice to the Norse god Odin, intended to provide his dead accomplice a steed into Valhalla.

Story Snapshot

Brandon Gerner, 42, faces murder charges for allegedly directing the 2023 killings of Robert Riley and Ashley Williams with accomplice Kody Olsen in King County, Washington
After Olsen died in a police shootout following a DUI chase, Gerner and associates killed a horse named LeMon in a ritual sacrifice to Odin for Olsen to ride into Valhalla
Gerner founded a white supremacist prison gang during 20 years of incarceration, with members sharing Norse mythology beliefs and pagan warrior ideals
Trial opened January 28, 2026, with prosecutors alleging conspiracy while defense claims Olsen acted alone and Gerner only helped move bodies

When Viking Mythology Meets Suburban Violence

The King County Superior Court heard opening statements that combined elements you’d expect from a crime drama and a History Channel special. Prosecutors outlined how Gerner allegedly ordered Olsen to shoot Riley after Riley pointed a gun at Gerner during a dispute at a commercial property. Gerner then allegedly stabbed Ashley Williams before Olsen shot her fatally. The bodies were dumped in bushes near Maple Valley, discovered the following morning by a neighbor walking the area. What distinguishes this case from typical gang violence is the bizarre religious overtone that followed.

The horse sacrifice occurred hours after Olsen died from wounds sustained in his December 2023 shootout with Pierce County deputies. Gerner and his associates traveled to a stable on 132nd Street East and Vickery Avenue East, where they killed LeMon, a horse described by its owners as cherished. Witnesses later reported the men bragging about providing Olsen with a proper steed to carry him into the Norse afterlife reserved for warriors. This wasn’t theatrical posturing; police reports confirmed the killing through witness statements and arrest documentation.

Prison Gang Foundations and Norse Warrior Culture

Gerner spent two decades in prison for felony convictions from the early 2000s, during which he founded a white supremacist gang built around Norse mythology ideals. The gang structure incorporated worship of Odin, the Norse god of death and war, and embraced concepts like Valhalla, the hall where slain warriors feast eternally. Olsen, described as Gerner’s best friend, belonged both to Gerner’s organization and a separate Nazi gang. This fusion of ancient pagan beliefs with modern extremist ideology creates a disturbing worldview where violence becomes sacralized through mythological frameworks.

The gang’s adherence to these beliefs wasn’t superficial. The ritual horse sacrifice demonstrates members took their Norse theology seriously enough to kill an innocent animal in service of their religious convictions. For anyone who values animal welfare and common sense morality, using mythology to justify cruelty reveals the depravity underlying these organizations. The horse’s owners lost a beloved companion because criminals elevated their twisted interpretation of ancient religion above basic decency and the law.

Defense Strategy and Prosecutorial Response

Defense attorney Lisa Mulligan admitted Gerner helped move the bodies but insisted he bears no responsibility for the murders themselves. She argued Olsen acted alone, genuinely afraid when Riley pointed a weapon at Gerner, and that fate already punished the real killer through the fatal shootout. This strategy attempts to separate accessory actions from the killings while painting Olsen as the sole violent actor. Prosecutors counter that Gerner directed the violence, specifically instructing Olsen to shoot Riley and personally stabbing Williams before Olsen finished her execution.

The evidence will determine which narrative prevails, but several factors complicate the defense position. Gerner’s leadership role in the gang establishes a pattern of control and influence over Olsen. The horse sacrifice demonstrates Gerner’s continued devotion to his dead friend, suggesting a relationship where Gerner held significant sway. Joshua Jones, 36, already pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance for helping move bodies and received a 72-month sentence, confirming multiple participants beyond just Olsen. The prosecution’s conspiracy theory gains credibility when examining the group dynamics and coordinated post-murder actions.

Community Impact and Law Enforcement Challenges

The Maple Valley and Tacoma communities endured multiple traumatic events: bodies discovered in residential areas, a dangerous police chase ending in gunfire where one deputy’s life was saved only by a bullet striking his handcuff pouch, and the killing of a family’s horse. These incidents expose how prison gang violence extends far beyond institutional walls into suburban neighborhoods where families raise children and build normal lives. White supremacist organizations operating under religious cover present unique challenges for law enforcement monitoring gang activity.

The trial’s outcome will likely influence how Washington authorities approach prison gang surveillance and intervention strategies. Gerner’s ability to maintain gang leadership and orchestrate violence after two decades of incarceration raises questions about prison rehabilitation effectiveness and gang containment measures. The Norse mythology angle adds complexity, as genuine religious practice receives constitutional protection while criminal conspiracies disguised as faith warrant prosecution. Drawing that line requires careful legal navigation, but sacrificing horses and coordinating murders clearly crosses into criminal territory regardless of claimed religious motivation.