A 21-year-old Seattle man, Earl Henderson Riley IV, has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of burglaries targeting the homes of several current and former professional athletes. According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the burglaries impacted at least four athletes, including Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, and former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.
Riley faces four counts of residential burglary and one count of first-degree robbery. The King County Prosecuting Attorney, Leesa Manion, stated that her office worked extensively on multiple search warrants leading to the charges. Riley is currently being held in King County Jail on a $1 million bail.
The investigation, which began earlier in 2025, involved a coordinated effort between the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and six different police jurisdictions. Authorities emphasized their intention to disrupt this burglary ring, identifying Riley as the alleged ringleader. Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Gary Ernsdorff clarified that while the arrest of Riley is a significant step, the investigation is ongoing, aiming to identify and potentially charge other individuals involved.
Interestingly, court records show Riley was previously arrested and released on February 7th after pleading guilty to three separate robbery charges. This recent arrest highlights the ongoing issue of burglaries targeting professional athletes’ homes, a trend that has prompted warnings from the FBI in the past. The case underscores the vulnerability of high-profile individuals and the complexities of bringing perpetrators to justice in such high-profile cases. The investigation continues to unfold, with the possibility of further arrests and charges in the near future.
