Ringleader charged in string of burglaries targeting Seattle athletes, including Julio Rodriguez, Richard Sherman

A Seattle man was charged late last week as the ringleader for a string of burglaries that targeted prominent Seattle athletes, including Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez and former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.

Earl Enderson Riley IV, 21, is facing four counts of residential burglary and one count of robbery, because there was somebody home during one of the burglaries, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

“It’s a pretty terrifying set of circumstances,” Casey McNerthney, director of communications with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, said. “Anytime that you have a home burglary, it’s a pretty violating feeling. And what he was allegedly doing was going after pro athletes when they were out of town.”

Specific Seattle athletes targeted

Among the thefts Riley and his crew conducted included stealing more than $6,000 in Louis Vuitton bags from Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo’s home and more than $194,000 in high-end purses and jewelry from Rodriguez’ home.

Castillo’s home was robbed twice, once on Feb. 7 and again on March 28.

“It’s difficult because, man, I just want to go play baseball and have everybody enjoy what I do and kind of bring joy to people once I’m on the field and things like that,” Rodríguez said in a statement Friday. “And to have people trying to hurt me and my family, trying to take away the things that I’ve worked so hard my whole life to be able to have, and be able to provide for my family.”

Rodríguez’s home was burglarized May 1, according to court documents. His girlfriend was the only one at home and had to barricade herself in the main bedroom bathroom. She whispered into her phone to notify police before using her body weight against the bathroom door to stop the suspect.

Sherman lost several watches worth more than $100,000, while Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, who has a house in Washington, was a victim of a break-in, although nothing was stolen in that instance, according to court documents.

Riley also targeted baseball Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez’s home.

“We often think of pro athletes as exceptional in every way, which they are for sports, but they also have that flip side to where they’re human, like the rest of us, and it can really rattle you and affect your life,” McNerthney told “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. “It’s such a violating feeling.”

Gary Ernsdorff, a senior prosecuting attorney for King County, said the investigation leading to Riley’s arrest didn’t start with the high-profile athlete robberies.

“This investigation started early this year, January or February, with a string of residential burglaries that weren’t associated with professional athletes,” Ernsdorff said. “The robberies targeted what appeared to be higher-end homes, and we began working with law enforcement at that time, not recognizing that this case could evolve into something much different. But we started working and coordinating efforts because these burglaries expanded across multiple jurisdictions. I think we’re probably working with six different police jurisdictions at one point in order to coordinate the effort.”

Riley is being held in the King County jail on $1 million bail. McNerthney said there’s a possibility he may face more charges as the investigation continues.

Listen to the full conversation here.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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