170 The Ray Anderson Case – Washington State

What began as a baffling discovery in a Washington State clearcut quickly turned into one of the most significant wildlife cases in the region – mainly because of the sentence that followed. Officers Lanny McOmber and Sergeant Brian Alexander walk us through a long, technical investigation involving multiple poached elk, complex necropsies, geofence warrants, cutting-edge tech and a suspect who just couldn’t stay away.    Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Iron Skillet Seasonings Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association   Here’s what we discuss: ·        Why officers called it the Ray Anderson case ·        Four elk found dead in a clearcut ·        “There was no question - this was a poaching incident.” ·        Necropsies on multiple elk in field conditions ·        No bullets or brass recovered ·        A fifth elk tied to the incident ·        Early frustration with limited evidence ·        Asking the public for tips ·        Turning to geofence warrants ·        A complex, multi‑step warrant process ·        Waiting months for data returns ·        Separate trespassing issues on timber land ·        Cut gates and trail cameras ·        A familiar vehicle keeps reappearing ·        The suspect returning near the scene ·        Contact with a convicted felon ·        Firearms located in the vehicle ·        Quietly keeping cases separate ·        Geofence data starts lining up ·        An interview that slowly tightens ·        Initial denials turn into admissions ·        The claim of “guiding” elk by shooting at them ·        Washington’s spree‑killing statute explained ·        Elevating wildlife violations to felonies ·        How prior case law came full circle ·        The gut punch of sentencing day ·        A delayed - but meaningful - outcome ·        Mentorship and career‑defining cases ·        “You create your own luck in this job.”   Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches   Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices