Offender Record · OFF-2026-161
George Waterfield Russell Jr.
Also known as The Charmer, East Side Killer, Bellevue Killer
Sex
Male
Race
African American
Height
6'0"
Born
1958
Custody
Incarcerated
States
WA, FL
Distinguishing featuresVery smooth talker; described by acquaintances as personable and charming in initial interactions
Custody
Incarcerated at Clallam Bay Corrections Center
Custody record at the facility
Sentenced November 27, 1991, to life without parole plus 28-29 years; currently housed at Clallam Bay Corrections Center per Wikipedia (2025) and court records.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
George Waterfield Russell Jr., born April 1958 in Florida, was convicted in October 1991 of murdering three women in the Seattle metropolitan area between June and August 1990. Russell was convicted of one count of first-degree murder of Mary Ann Pohlreich and two counts of aggravated first-degree murder of Carol Beethe and Andrea Levine. He was sentenced on November 27, 1991, to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus an additional 28-29 years. Russell is currently incarcerated at Clallam Bay Corrections Center in Washington.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Jun 22, 1990, Bellevue, Washington
First-degree murder
King County, Washington · King County Superior Court · Docket State v. Russell, No. 60673-1 · RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a) · Arrested Sep 12, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without possibility of parole
Mary Ann Pohlreich, a 27-year-old Bellevue Community College student, was met by Russell at Papagayo's bar on June 22, 1990. She was strangled and beaten with blunt force, suffering a fractured skull and ruptured liver. Her nude body was found posed the next day behind a restaurant with arms and legs crossed as if in a coffin, with a plastic lid covering one eye and a pinecone in her hands. She had been raped after death.
SourcesState v. Russell; Russell Sentenced To Life In Prison; Police Without Clue In Baffling Murder Of Redmond Woman; Murder Suspect Familiar With Jail -- Man Charged In Slaying Of Redmond Woman Has Long Criminal Record; Radford University serial killer biography: Russell, George Waterfield
Offense date Aug 09, 1990, Bellevue, Washington
Aggravated first-degree murder
King County, Washington · King County Superior Court · Docket State v. Russell, No. 60673-1 · RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a) · Arrested Sep 12, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without possibility of parole
Carol Beethe, age 35, was found dead in her Bellevue home on August 9, 1990, by her ex-husband. She had been severely beaten with a blunt instrument causing 13 Y-shaped wounds to her skull, with bite marks on her arms and two broken ribs. Her body was posed nude on the bed with a pillow over her head and a rifle inserted into her vagina. She was killed while her young daughters slept in the home.
SourcesState v. Russell; Russell Sentenced To Life In Prison; Washington Serial Killer Posed Victims' Bodies 'For Shock Value' After Brutally Murdering Them; Radford University serial killer biography: Russell, George Waterfield
Offense date Aug 31, 1990, King County, Washington
Aggravated first-degree murder
King County, Washington · King County Superior Court · Docket State v. Russell, No. 60673-1 · RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a) · Arrested Sep 12, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without possibility of parole plus 28-29 years
Andrea Sue 'Randi' Levine, age 24, was found dead on September 3, 1990. She had been stabbed approximately 230-250 times and beaten with an aluminum baseball bat, with her skull bashed in. Her body was posed spread-eagled on her bed, nude. An electric vibrator had been inserted into her throat and a copy of 'More Joy of Sex' was placed in her left hand. A ring was stolen from her body.
SourcesState v. Russell; Russell Sentenced To Life In Prison; George Russell: Who Were His Victims? Where is He Now?; Radford University serial killer biography: Russell, George Waterfield
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
3
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1990–1990
Victim profile
Young women, Acquaintances, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Thrill
Range from home
local
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Mercer Island Police Department · WA
Had prior records on Russell for petty crimes; involved in multi-agency investigation
King County Police Department · WA
Led investigation into Andrea Levine murder; gathered forensic evidence across all three cases
Clallam Bay Corrections Center · WA
Prison facility where Russell was initially incarcerated
Source: Wikipedia
King County Jail · WA
Held Russell on unrelated charges during investigation and prosecution
Kirkland Police Department · WA
Investigated Andrea Levine murder in Kirkland jurisdiction; collaborated in multi-agency task force
Washington Court of Appeals · WA
Agency case 60673-1-1
Certified appeal to Washington Supreme Court
Source: Washington Supreme Court
Bellevue Police Department · WA
Arrested Russell on outstanding warrant; led investigation into murders of Mary Ann Pohlreich and Carol Beethe
Source: Seattle Times
Washington Supreme Court · WA
Agency case 60673-1-1
Affirmed convictions in 1994
Source: Washington Supreme Court
King County Superior Court · WA
Agency case 60673-1
Trial court; jury of 6 men and 12 women convicted Russell October 25, 1991
Source: Washington Supreme Court
Washington State Penitentiary (Walla Walla) · WA
Current incarceration facility; Russell remains imprisoned with life sentences
King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office · WA
Deputy Prosecutor Rebecca Roe and Jeffrey Baird prosecuted; Prosecutor Norm Maleng made capital punishment decisions
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
FL
Florida
approx. 1958 – 1964 · Born in Florida; parents separated at 6 months old
WA
Mercer Island, Washington
approx. 1964 – 1990 · Moved to Mercer Island at age 6 with mother and stepfather (dentist Wonzel Mobley); spent juvenile years and early adulthood in Mercer Island area
Mercer Island, Washington
1971 – 1972 · Mercer Island Police Station (work detail as juvenile)
King, Washington
approx. 1976 – 1976 · King County Jail; multiple short stays (3 days initial, 4 days after re-offense, 32 more days after second re-offense, 35 days later)
Seattle, Washington
approx. 1977 – 1979 · Assistant manager of teen disco 'Tonite's The Nite' (TTN); stole thousands over 2-year period
Seattle, Washington
1988 – 1988 · Nintendo arcade employee; skimmed $23,000 in 8 months before being fired
Bellevue, Washington
approx. 1989 – 1990 · Lived with Mindy Charley; began physically abusing her; moved to Bellevue area during murder series
Bellevue, Washington
1990 – 1990 · Papagayo's Cantina bar; Overlake dance bars including Papagayo's; Black Angus restaurant; other Bellevue and Seattle area nightclubs
King, Washington
Sep 12, 1990 – Nov 27, 1991 · King County Jail awaiting trial; arrested September 12, 1990; convicted October 25, 1991; sentenced November 27, 1991
Walla Walla, Washington
approx. Nov 27, 1991 – 1992 · Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla; initially imprisoned there after sentencing
Clallam Bay, Washington
approx. 1992 – present · Clallam Bay Corrections Center; transferred to CBCC to serve life sentences
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1990Truck borrowed on night of Mary Ann Pohlreich's murder (June 22, 1990); blood found inside matching Pohlreich's blood type
approx. 1990 – 1990
Borrowed from someone; used during first murder; linked via forensic evidence
Timeline
Apr 1958
George Waterfield Russell Jr. born in Florida.
1964
Russell moved to Mercer Island, Washington, at age 6 with his mother and stepfather, dentist Wonzel Mobley.
1975
Russell arrested for marijuana possession and giving beer to minors; found carrying kitchen knives in each sleeve; put on probation.
1976
Russell charged with criminal trespass, marijuana possession, second-degree burglary, possession of stolen property, and nuisance noise; sentenced to King County Jail with multiple re-offenses.
1987
Russell formally diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder; MMPI results showed self-centered personality, limited capacity for interpersonal relationships, impulsiveness, and poor judgment.
May 18, 1987
Russell released from jail after 7 months; five weeks later pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and possession of dangerous weapon; spent 5 days in jail and underwent psychological counseling.
Jun 22, 1990
Russell murdered Mary Ann Pohlreich, a 27-year-old woman, by strangling and beating her; body found posed behind restaurant in Bellevue.
Aug 09, 1990
Russell murdered Carol Beethe, age 35, beating her to death in her Bellevue home; body posed on bed.
Aug 31, 1990
Russell murdered Andrea Levine, age 24, stabbing her approximately 230-250 times and beating her with a baseball bat in King County; body posed on her bed.
Sep 12, 1990
Russell arrested and taken into custody following investigation of the three murders; found warrant for his arrest related to impersonating a police officer.
Oct 25, 1991
Russell found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated first-degree murder after jury deliberated 22 hours.
Nov 27, 1991
Superior Court Judge Patricia Aitken sentenced Russell to two consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole plus an additional 28-29 years in prison.
Oct 13, 1994
Washington Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Russell's convictions in State v. Russell, finding no abuse of discretion and rejecting all claims of error.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other government record · Wikipedia ·
Clallam Bay Corrections Center“George Russell- serial killer [housed at] Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay, Washington”
News report · Encyclopedia.com ·
George Russell, Jr. Trial: 1991“George Waterfield Russell, Jr. Crimes Charged: Murder. Date of Trial: September 13-October 18, 1991. Verdict: Guilty. Sentence: Life in prison without parole. Place: Seattle, Washington.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
George Russell (serial killer)“George Waterfield Russell Jr. (born April 1958), known as 'the Charmer', is an American thief and serial killer responsible for the murders of three women in Seattle over the summer in 1990. For his crimes, he was sentenced to two life imprisonment terms. Imprisoned at: Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay, Washington”
News report · The Cinemaholic ·
George Russell: Who Were His Victims? Where is He Now?“George was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated first-degree murder in November 1991. The court sentenced him to two life imprisonment terms plus 28 years.”
News report · Oxygen Media ·
Washington Serial Killer Posed Victims' Bodies 'For Shock Value' After Brutally Murdering Them“Russell was charged with all three murders and found guilty on Oct. 18, 1991. He was given two life sentences plus an additional 29 years in prison.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Russell, George Waterfield“George Waterfield Russell, Jr., born April 1958 in Florida, known as 'The Charmer', 'East Side Killer,' 'Bellevue Killer'”
Court record · Washington Supreme Court ·
State v. Russell“George W. Russell was convicted by a King County jury of the first degree murder of Mary Ann Pohlreich and the aggravated first degree murders of Carol Beethe and Andrea Levine. The Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc, October 13, 1994.”
News report · Seattle Times ·
Russell Sentenced To Life In Prison“After hearing tearful testimony from family and friends of three Eastside women beaten to death in the summer of 1990, Superior Court Judge Patricia Aitken gave Russell the mandatory sentence for his crimes, two sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole and one sentence of nearly 29 years in prison.”
News report · Seattle Times ·
Murder Suspect Familiar With Jail -- Man Charged In Slaying Of Redmond Woman Has Long Criminal Record“George Waterfield Russell, 32, was charged with first-degree murder yesterday in the death of 27-year-old Mary Ann Pohlreich of Redmond. Police believe Russell raped Pohlreich, and tests showed that fluid found in the victim's body matches Russell's blood type.”
News report · Seattle Times ·
Police Without Clue In Baffling Murder Of Redmond Woman“Mary Ann Pohlreich, a 27-year-old Bellevue Community College student, went out to a Bellevue bar on Friday and never returned. Bellevue police discovered Pohlreich's nude body Saturday near a restaurant in the Crossroads shopping mall, 10 blocks from the bar.”
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