The founder of a white supremacist gang and accused killer allegedly slaughtered a horse in a bizarre ritual so that his friend — and accomplice — could ride the stallion “into Valhalla.”
Brandon Gerner, 42, who is on trial for a double murder and first-degree animal cruelty, allegedly slaughtered the animal, Lemon, so his pal Kody Olsen could get into the mythological paradise for warriors, Valhalla — or Viking afterlife, according to a police report obtained by KATU-TV.
Gerner is accused of conspiring with Olsen to kill Robert Riley, 57, and Ashley Williams, 34, in what investigators believe was a “drug deal gone bad” on Nov. 16, 2023.
However, roughly a month after the alleged slayings, Olsen died following a shootout with sheriff’s deputies in Pierce County, Washington.
The deputies had attempted to stop Olsen on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to KATU.
Gerner then carried out the animal sacrifice in the hours after Olsen was shot, and the sick act was deemed a sacrifice to the Norse god of death, Odin — and so that Olsen “had a steed to ride into Valhalla,” according to the police report.
“He (Lemon) was killed in the most senseless way possible,” Delanie Greer-Breakall, the horse owner’s daughter, told the Tacoma News Tribune.
Lemon was shot point-blank and found dead in front of a stable.
Karen Greer, Lemon’s owner, found the dead animal.
“I found him in the morning just lying out dead, and I’ll never get that out of my head,” she said.
Tattoo-clad Gerner, who founded a white supremacist group while behind bars on a previous conviction, was eventually arrested and charged with both the double murder and the separate animal sacrifice in February 2024.
The bodies of Riley and Williams were found dumped under trash and covered up by a blue tarp and a blanket.
Williams was stabbed more than 20 times, according to the docs.
Gerner had previously served around 22 years in prison after being convicted of a slew of offenses, including burglary, robbery, and assault.
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