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.

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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

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