Bad Breakup, Dog Lead To Busts

In an interview with KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, Jeff Skinner said his ex-girlfriend ran the ring and that she had clients from among Seattle's business and political elite.

Should Public See Little Black Book? Should the names in the 'black book" involved in the Seattle-area prostitution ring be released to the public? Yes, the "customers" were committing illegal acts. No, they are not necessarily guilty of a crime and should keep their privacy.

Skinner said the decision to bring down the ring centers on a dog.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News first reported on Jeff Skinner in October, when he came to us asking for help finding his dog.

He told us his dog was a service dog that was stolen by his ex-girlfriend.

Video: Client List Is 'Who's Who' Of Seattle

That ex-girlfriend turned out to be the alleged mastermind behind the prostitution ring. "Joker" is a miniature Doberman pincher.

Skinner said his ex-girlfriend ran the Seattle Garden of Eden escort service from a room in their house in Lake Stevens.

When things went sour, Skinner said she emptied out the house, took his computer and his beloved dog. That's when he went to sheriff's deputies.

"The only way that I had to track her, find her, 'cause I had no clue where she went, was to go to the police and say, 'Look, if you'll help me get my dog back, I'll provide you with everything you need to you know [to] bring her down,'" he said.

What he told them exposed a prostitution ring he says she operated through her website, which is now shut down.

Of the client list, he said "I was shocked."

He would not name names.

"But I will tell you that there were very prominent businessmen. There were sports athletes from the local Seattle professional sports teams. There were politicians, people involved in public service, doctors, lawyers."

One of the apartments where police say these high powered clients met women for sex is the Nettleton apartments at 8th and Madison.

It was there that Skinner helped set up a police sting that led to them to the woman and her daughter, both now accused of running the prostitution ring.

Both women have been arrested but have not yet been charged.