On August 1, 1998, Christine Smith filed a police report for assault and robbery after she was hit in the head during a sex act. -------------------------------------------------------------. The couple filed a bankruptcy petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. He has five children (four daughters and one son) with second wife Linda, whom he married in 1976. (CN) - Robert Lee Yates Jr., a serial killer who admitted to murdering more than a dozen prostitutes, failed to show proof of trial error, the Washington Supreme Court ruled. April 1997 - He joins the Washington National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 4, assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation, a component unit of the 66th Aviation Brigade Headquarters at Fort Lewis near Tacoma. September 1999 - Investigators interview Yates in connection with the serial slayings. March 1999 - Yates picks up a prostitute in his Honda Civic for oral sex, according to court documents. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Obviously, this was a shocking revelation for the wife. He also seemed to have a talent for writing poetry. However, as reported by SeattlePi, she ultimately reunited with her husband for the sake of their five children. He sang in the choir, pitched baseballs, hunted deer. TACOMA A jury today sentenced serial killer Robert Lee Yates Jr. to death by lethal injection for the aggravated murders of two women. He is a convicted murderer and it is unknown exactly but estimated that Yates has killed over 18 women. He floated through high school without making many solid connections. There was even the body of Melody Murfin which had been buried in his own front yard. "They (police) called me at work and said that they found a body in your yard. Yates said she was his friend's daughter, and he was driving her home. However, there is another side to Robert Lee Yates. In 1995, Yates was transferred from New York to Fort Rucker. The couple had a son and then a daughter. All 18 women used drugs, worked as prostitutes or lived on the streets. She was buried beneath his bedroom window. The arguments were rejected in 2007 by the Washington Supreme Court. "He would overstep his boundaries.". He takes vacation in Washington in September 1994, to buy a white 1977 Corvette from Sarah Marsh in Walla Walla. She moved back to her home town, Walla Walla. Yates shot a pig in Somalia from his helicopter. The Pierce County Superior Court jury of seven men and five women began deliberating late yesterday. Stockpiling of mifepristone and proposed laws lower costs and ensure access for patients, protect those who perform abortions. Who was Robert Lee Yates and what did he do? And I said, Oh my God. I turned ice cold," Linda Yates said. This week through the youtube crime community we bring you another fascinating case about an American Serial Killer from Oak Ha. Someone spilled coffee in his hard hat, and Yates shouted, jokingly at first, and then seriously. His luck had started to run out. In addition to serving in the United States military for 18 years, Yates was married for 24 years and had five children. Zielinski had a lengthy criminal record and worked as a prostitute. It seems like Linda and her children continue to live a quiet life in the state of Washington. These dates are when their bodies were found, not necessarily when they were killed. June 1974 - Yates and Linda Brewer, of Benton County, apply in Walla Walla County for a marriage license. They interviewed hundreds of potential suspects and considered Yates to be only one of them. In the early years of the marriage, Linda handled the family's finances and paid all the bills. Yates was plucked from the enlisted ranks in 1980 to go through a warrant-officer basic course at Fort Rucker, Ala., the Army's aviation center, which has more flights every day than anywhere in the country. Few people remember his wife. As reported by The Cinemaholic, Linda Yates was at work when she received a call telling her the body of Melody Ann Murfin was found buried in the backyard. "We were in a pinch for instructors, and Bob filled the position nicely," says Rick Ponder, his boss. His divorce from Nylander is not yet final. [11][12], Stacy Elizabeth Hawn [5], In 2001 Yates was charged in Pierce County, Washington, with the murders of two additional women. Detectives then talked to the "friend's daughter," who said Yates had agreed to pay her $20 for oral sex, according to police. 103.130.218.240 Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. Two were for meritorious service. [47] A September 19, 2008 execution date was stayed by Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander pending additional appeals. October 1984 to October 1987 - Yates is a support aviator in a different unit in Fort Rucker. Yates is an Army veteran and National Guard helicopter pilot who served tours in Germany and at several U.S. bases. He is charged with killing Jennifer Joseph, a 16-year-old prostitute. "If he did do these things, the way I feel about it is, my friend Bob Yates died a long time ago. Yates was charged with misdemeanor assault. Almost all of these crimes involved sex workers on Spokanes East Sprague Avenue, who died due to gunshot wounds to the head. The family settled in Spokane, Washington, and Robert was seen as a doting father as well. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Most of his victims were prostitutes who wereinvolved with drugs. Former landlords in College Place don't remember him. It was Linda Yates first interview since the arrest of her husband in Spokane the morning of April 18. November 1998 - Yates and a known prostitute are pulled over by a police officer at 1:25 a.m., near the area where women are disappearing. This petition claimed that the assets equaled $136,000 but the liabilities were $475,000. On December 28, 1988, the partial skeleton of Stacy Hawn, 23, was found near Big Lake. Just before he pulled into Kaiser, police pulled him over. Why do people love Robert Lee Yates? They wanted a barbecue after more than a month of eating Army food, says Dennis Mills, who later served with Yates. On October 26, Yates received a 408-year prison sentence for the 13 murders he. One of the creditors listed is Christine L. Smith, a woman who survived a 1998 attack and in July filed a lawsuit against Yates. The children's birth years range from 1974 to 1989. . They thought they were actually seeking a white Camaro and let him go. . "Boys aren't attached to their mothers like girls are," he says. However, there is another side to Robert Lee Yates. However, they described him as "a loving, caring, and sensitive son, a fun-loving and giving brother, an understanding, generous, and dedicated father, who enjoys playing ball, fishing and camping with his kids.". His wife, his three youngest daughters and his son moved to a motel after his arrest, and it's not clear where they are now. Born on May 27. At this point, he has 32.5 days of unused leave. He worked his way up to an elite post flying helicopters in the Army, but left two years shy of full retirement. About one in 40 soldiers in the Army is an aviator. "Especially when he said he was going hunting, and he was dressed up nice and had cologne on," she told "Dateline." Outside the Army, Yates had a tough time holding jobs. He is one of hundreds interviewed and asked for blood samples. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Victims whose names are followed by an asterisk ( # ) have been linked to Robert Yates, through DNA and other evidence, according to the Spokane County sheriff. Interesting update on Robert Lee Yates, the 48 year old Army veteran/torture victim in Washington, who is shaping up to be the MOST prolific newly discovered year 2000 serial killer in. Law enforcement officers in many of those places are studying unsolved crimes to see if Yates might be involved. She had been missing since October 29, 1997. Yates' father and three sisters gave only one public statement: "Bobby is a loving, caring sensitive son; a fun-loving and giving brother; an understanding, generous and dedicated father, who enjoys playing ball, fishing and camping with his kids. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. As reported by The Cinemaholic, Linda Yates was at work when she received a call telling her the body of Melody Ann Murfin was found buried in the backyard. "Bob was really kind of quiet. March 1999 - He applies to fly helicopters for the only air ambulance service in Spokane. As an adult, he was a man's man, a soldier. The four youngest children enroll in the public school system. She described the man as about 50 years old, 5'10" tall, 175 pounds, with sandy blond hair. He mostly chose sex workers as his victims, and they died as a result of gunshot wounds. Following his sentencing hearing, Yates made a statement apologizing to the families of all the victims he had killed. On April 18, 2000, Yates was arrested for the murder of Jennifer Joseph. Seattle Times staff reporter Susan Gilmore contributed to this report. He denied the cheating allegations and said that he went there to use their hot tub after his 12-hour shifts at the aluminum plant. April 5, 2000 - The fibers removed from the white Corvette match fibers found on Jennifer Joseph's shoes and a towel found near her body, police say. July 1975 - Yates takes a job as a prison guard in Walla Walla. March 1974 - Nylander and Yates separate. He Tried To Use Necrophilia As A Defense. "Already prepared in his mind, I think.". He has to rush back to New York to go to Haiti. Authorities believe the Spokane Killer waited 13 years before killing his third victim Stacy Hawn. In late 1999, Linda caught her husband burning credit card statements in the fireplace. Robert Lee Yates is a serial killer. [51][50], In July 2015, the Washington Supreme Court once again rejected an effort by Yates to overturn his conviction and death sentence. Authorities seized the Corvette. It is headed to Gov. [44], After searching the Corvette, police discovered blood that they linked to Jennifer Joseph, and DNA from Yates that they then tied to 12 other victims. For the appalling killing spree, Yates was charged with 13 counts of first-degree murders and one count of attempted murder at Spokane County Superior Court. September 1996 - Yates is hired to assemble circuit boards at Pantrol, a Spokane company. SeattlePi reports Linda also noticed Robert was making an unusual number of withdrawals from their bank account and as a result, they were "running out of money." The next year, Robert Lee Yates signed up with the Army. While speaking to Dateline, she stated, When youre so close to somebody you dont see it. Moreover, when she was initially informed of Roberts acts, she said that there was a history of murdering in the Yates family. The Cinemaholic reports Linda Yates granted interviews to a number of news organizations and talk shows to discuss her relationship with Robert and the aftermath of his arrest. May 1998 - Yates sells his Corvette to Rita Jones in Spokane. 1965 - Anna Mae Yates and Robert Lee Yates Sr. are baptized into Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oak Harbor. Six months later, Linda gave birth to a daughter. April 1996 - Yates moves to Spokane without a job, rents a house with his wife and five children. He also refused to give a blood sample for a DNA test. Smith also told police the man told her he was a National Guard helicopter pilot and had five children. He and his wife had six children, including Yates' mother, Anna Mae. He also confessed to killing a total of 18 women in several counties. However, in 2018, it was declared that the death penalty was unconstitutional in the state, and Yates, who was once on death row, is now serving life in prison without the possibility of parole at the Washington State Penitentiary. Another thought he planned to be a pilot in Spokane. "How could you not see the signs?" [15], Heather Louise Hernandez August 1972 - Marries Nylander in Fall City at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. in Spokane, Wash., after her father pleaded guilty, Oct. 19, 2000. Yates, a decorated former military helicopter pilot, pleaded guilty in 2000 to murdering 13 women in Spokane County and was sentenced to . "But, see, youre so close to somebody you dont see it.". The Seattle Times reports Robert Yates' first victims were 22-year-old Susan Savage and 21-year-old Patrick Oliver. October 1972 - Enrolls at Walla Walla College, a Seventh-day Adventist school, majoring in pre-med. [45] On September 19, 2002, Yates was convicted of those murders and subsequently sentenced to death by lethal injection on October 3, 2002. Mercer did not have a criminal record, nor any ties to prostitution, and reportedly worked as a waitress. When the family's church burned down, Robert and his father worked together to help rebuild it. Yates had three cars, and he fiddled with them and washed them in front of his home. They celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday. She went straight to the police and gave them a description of her assaulter. From 1975 to 1998, Yates is known to have murdered at least 13 women, all of whom were sex workers working on East Sprague Avenue, in Spokane. A mother-of-pearl button was found that matched one missing from Joseph's jacket. "If he did do these things, knowing Bob like I do, he'd 'fess up to it," Gatti says. Six months after moving to Spokane, Yates found a job at Pantrol, a tiny company that makes circuit boards. In July 2015, the Washington Supreme Court refused to change Yatess sentence. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. He's charged with a misdemeanor assault. "The worst thing I know about Bob is he wouldn't play football his senior year," says Berner, now a dentist. A killing spree was embarked upon by Yates, a U.S. Army veteran, and a family man with five children. Sheriff Mark Sterk says DNA and other evidence link Yates to at least 12 of the slayings. He then dumped their bodies at a variety of locations throughout the "skid row" section of town. By Seattle Times staff and news services. April 18, 2000 - Yates is arrested on the way to work. Detectives are also investigating whether Yates might have killed five women found dead between 1990 and 1995 and a woman who disappeared in 1998. He worked as a guard at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla - Linda's dad had worked there for 18 years - but Yates lasted only four months. Can you add recessed lighting to existing ceiling? He ended his letter, "Do not seek what seems like the simple solution, because it isn't.". Yates refuses to give a blood sample for a DNA test. Yates also served three years in the Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot from April 1997 through April 2000. "He was very methodical. Son Kyle born - starts neglecting daughters. 38. Police discovered bullet fragments in her hair; Smith was unaware that she was actually shot. He also admitted to killing five other women in the surrounding area. Yates sweated profusely, the detectives said. The politician asserted that there was no conclusive evidence to show that the penalty actually worked. He is unemployed for several months. The newlyweds moved to College Place, where they enrolled in Walla Walla College, a Seventh-day Adventist school. Kyle was first introduced to pickleball by his uncle, Mike Welter, while he was in high school. In 1916, he bought land. As reported by Kitsap Sun, Yates' family described him as "a loving, caring and sensitive son, a fun-loving and giving brother, [and] an understanding, generous and dedicated father.". Wikipedia External References Robert Lee Yates on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018. 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