The next day, he was charged in Spokane County District Court with killing Jennifer Joseph. Police later say they found a button matching one missing from Joseph's jacket and traces of blood on a seat and seat-belt buckle. March 1999 - He applies to fly helicopters for the only air ambulance service in Spokane. He sweats, police say. Yates is 47, a father of five, a silver-anniversary husband. According to a website he established in his childrens memory, Yates is a former NASA engineer who remarried after divorcing Andrea a few years after the killings. When she confronted him about his unusual behavior, she learned Robert Yates used his credit card multiple times to book a hotel where customers paid by the hour. He was anything but atypical. Her e-mail address is kmorris@seattletimes.com, ------------------------------------------------------------. In the show, the audience is made privy to someone who was pretty much living a double life. And after their five kids came along, he was a doting dad who enjoyed fishing and camping trips. He told a neighbor he thought he'd be a bus driver. He also enrolled in pre-med at the Walla Walla College. In 2007, the Washington Supreme Court denied the appeal, and even the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the decision. All of these women were shot and dumped in remote areas. Well, this stark reputation was replaced with the moniker of a serial killer by April 2000. Women's bodies started showing up along the Spokane River in 1990. They loved their dad and I just kind of suffered through it. They also expect to move the case to Spokane County Superior Court, at which time Yates will enter a formal plea. I know him too well," says Al Gatti, who met Yates in sixth grade in Oak Harbor, then a town of fewer than 5,000 people on Whidbey Island anchored in the Navy and farming. A heck of a teacher, say Army subordinates. [50] His case was further complicated by Washington Governor Jay Inslee's 2013 declaration that he would not sign death warrants for anyone on death row while he is in office. A john. "He never used any profanity. Meticulous. The bankruptcy revealed the couple had $136,000 in assets and $475,000 in liabilities at the time of Robert's arrest. Yates sweated profusely, the detectives said. They attended a local Seventh-day Adventist church. [38][39][40], Michelyn Joann Derning A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. He bought a white 1977 Corvette from Sarah Marsh, and he drove the car back to New York. He then married his first wife, Shirley Nylander when he was 20 years old. Robert Lee Yates Jr. Born: 05-27-1952 Spokane Serial Killer American Serial Killer Crime Spree: 1975-1998 Incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. If anything, Linda thought her husband may have been having an affair. 1990. "There's absolutely no doubt," says Sterk, adding that DNA links Yates to eight of the deaths. Records show that for one year, his oldest daughter was in the sixth grade in Walla Walla. This was clearly not an ordinary situation, and if the Army was not downsizing, Yates would have had to serve another year and a half before being eligible for full retirement with benefits. The next was when Yates was on duty in Alabama in the mid-80s. He stays in College Place, home of Walla Walla College. These dates are when their bodies were found, not necessarily when they were killed. On April 18, sheriff's deputies arrested Robert Lee Yates Jr., 47, on his way to work. They flirted with being park rangers and game wardens. Yates was 22. All rights reserved. Sheriff Mark Sterk says DNA and other evidence link Yates to at least 12 of the slayings. 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. Yates was sentenced last month in Spokane to 408 years in prison for 13 murders 10 women in Spokane since 1996, a woman in Skagit County in 1988 and a couple near Walla Walla in 1975 and one attempted murder. Jay Inslee essentially halted the state's death penalty by refusing to sign any execution orders. He was found guilty and was given the death penalty. As reported by Radford University's Department of Psychology, Yates Jr.'s childhood was far from ideal. [41][20], Christine Smith He wasn't thin. October 1972 - Enrolls at Walla Walla College, a Seventh-day Adventist school, majoring in pre-med. Vegas was produced by Aaron Spelling and was created by Michael Mann.The series (with the exception of special episodes filmed in Hawaii and San Francisco) was filmed in its entirety on location in . July 1975 - Yates takes a job as a prison guard in Walla Walla. As reported by The Seattle Times, Yates, who may have killed as many as 18 people, was ultimately sentenced to death. He is currently serving life in prison at the Washington State Penitentiary. On November 5, 1997, the partially decayed remains of Darla Scott, 29, were found in a shallow grave near a golf course in Spokane. Al Gatti thought Yates had found a good deal on a house in Spokane and steady work. April 1996 - Yates moves to Spokane without a job, rents a house with his wife and five children. He mostly chose sex workers as his victims, and they died as a result of gunshot wounds. Linda Brewer met Robert Lee Yates when he was working at the Washington State Penitentiary as a corrections officer, and they married in 1976. Robert Yates Sr. told The Spokesman-Review newspaper that his son, then 6, was molested by an. 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. The three oldest girls slept in the basement, the neighbor says. There were rumblings that a serial killer might be loose in Spokane, but nothing official. [53], Yates had killed the following individuals:[5][1], Washington State Department of Corrections, List of serial killers in the United States, List of serial killers by number of victims, "Robert Yates: Son, husband, athlete, father, pilot, teacher, murder suspect", "One killer, two standards Experts say some inconsistency is expected", "Robert Lee Yates was the Spokane serial killer", "Police Looking for Worldwide Trail of Death", "Yates tells authorities about trail of killings", "Skagit skeleton not that of missing woman", "Few clues in death of young female transient", "Spokane shooting victim was Tacoma girl", "Authorities identify body of slain women", "Spokane seeking link in prostitute slayings", "Photos let mother reach the memories that daughter's killer could not erase (1/2)", "Photos let mother reach the memories that daughter's killer could not erase (2/2)", "3 Women sought for help in Spokane slayings", "Spokane task force looks for possible serial killer", "Two more women found dead in Spokane; task force at work", "Police prove mother's worst fears true (1/2)", "Police prove mother's worst fears true (2/2)", "Sixth victim tied to serial killings (1/2)", "Sixth victim tied to serial killings (2/2)", "Woman considered ninth serial victim (1/2)", "Woman considered ninth serial victim (2/2)", "Yates judge won't instruct jury on mercy, sympathy", "Spokane woman believed to be eighth serial killing victim", "Woman's death tied to serial killer (1/2)", "Woman's death tied to serial killer (2/2)", "Wash. Robert Yates was arrested for murder and detectives searched the entire property. Obviously, this was a shocking revelation for the wife. Although he denied having an affair, Linda was not convinced. People liked him, but they didn't know him well. Six months later, Linda gave birth to a daughter. It was Linda Yates first interview since the arrest of her husband in Spokane the morning of April 18. In 18 years, he earned 12 medals, two ribbons and a badge. "If he did do these things, knowing Bob like I do, he'd 'fess up to it," Gatti says. She is the only known survivor of Yates' crimes. However, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, said, I dont think Mr. Yates helps his cause by relying on the fact that hes a necrophiliac.. 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. Copyright 2000 Associated Press. As reported by Seattle Times, Robert Lee Yates Jr.'s parents were devout Seventh-Day Adventists, and Robert joined the church when he was 14 years old. The top 10 pickleball players in the world are Benjamin Johns, Kyle Yates, Matt Wright, Tyson McGuffin, Steve Deakin, Adam Stone, Collin Johns, Riley Newman, Wesley Gabrielsen, and Jose Farias according to global rankings for Mens Doubles. Wikipedia External References Robert Lee Yates on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018. Gatti and Yates hunted deer together. The couple had faced multiple problems in their marriage and even separated for some time. In October 1998, the final body linked to the serial killing was found, in Tacoma. 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. This petition claimed that the assets equaled $136,000 but the liabilities were $475,000. [5], In 2001 Yates was charged in Pierce County, Washington, with the murders of two additional women. After 19 years in service, Robert retired with a stellar career graph in April 1996. Linda even confronted her husband after she found evidence of an extra-marital affair in 1999. [26][27][28][20], Shawn Ann McClenahan and Laurie Page Wason Linda also recalled feeling suspicious when her husband went "hunting" because he "was dressed up nice and had cologne on.". September 1999 - Investigators interview Yates in connection with the serial slayings. He mostly chose sex workers as his victims, and they died as a result of gunshot wounds. He didn't remember his friend's name. In August 1997, more women's bodies started showing up, one after another. On Saturday, April 15, Yates returned home from Yakima, where he had been training with the National Guard. It seems like Linda and her children continue to live a quiet life in the state of Washington. The youngest - the only boy - is now 11. The house has been assessed at $113,000. Job: Criminal. She and the couples children were rousted from their home without notice law-enforcement officers who had come to search the house for evidence. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. In 1990, he returns to the United States to take a survival course. After high school, Yates bounced from job to job, town to town, never straying too far from Oak Harbor. Kim Barker's phone message number is 206-464-2255. [21][22][20], Melinda Lee Mercer While he was already incarcerated, Yates was also charged with two more crimes the murders of Melinda L. Mercer (in 1997) and Connie Ellis (in 1998). Yates' father last week revealed his son was sexually assaulted as a child by a neighbor. Robert Lee Yates is a serial killer. Mercer did not have a criminal record, nor any ties to prostitution, and reportedly worked as a waitress. "They (police) called me at work and said that they found a body in your yard. A profile of the serial killer Robert Lee Yates, who narrowly avoided . "Boys aren't attached to their mothers like girls are," he says. His uncle, Ernest Youderian, said his nephew was well-spoken and "never used any profanity." The couple filed a bankruptcy petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Yates and others in the helicopter landed, gutted the pig and put it in the back of the helicopter. He also admitted to killing five other women in the surrounding area. Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. March 25 - Body of Nickie Lowe (White, 34) prostitute. Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) aka The Grocery Bag Killer is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. In 1976, Robert Yates and Linda Brewer had a second wedding ceremony - this time in Oak Harbor, with Brewers' parents as the witnesses - most likely because his divorce hadn't been final the first time. 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.". [2], Yates graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1970. Pickleball: 21-year-old Kyle Yates of Fort Myers bringing national game to U.S. Open in Naples. Robert Lee Yates pleaded guilty to murdering 13 women in Spokane, Washington, killing them and dumping their bodies in rural areas. Can you add recessed lighting to existing ceiling? plead guilty to in Spokane County, Washington. The kids thought it was Shakespeare. 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. Police discovered bullet fragments in her hair; Smith was unaware that she was actually shot. He takes vacation in Washington in September 1994, to buy a white 1977 Corvette from Sarah Marsh in Walla Walla. He brought the family to company picnics. Robert Lee Yates Jr. kept trying to hold his life together. Sonja Yates, a daughter of Robert L. Yates Jr., leaves a courtroom with an unidentified man. 1970 - Robert Lee Yates graduates from Oak Harbor High School. He threw the coffee on the other crew members as they waited to punch out. However, there were no reports of criminal activity prior to 1975 when he killed his first two victims at the age of 23. His vehicle was described as a 70s era black van with an exterior yellow/orange stripe, bucket seats, wood panelling, and a raised bed. However, as reported by SeattlePi, she ultimately reunited with her husband for the sake of their five children. He Tried To Use Necrophilia As A Defense. Meanwhile, in September of that year, the police asked Yates for a DNA sample, which he refused to give because it was an insinuating and extreme request from a family man. August 1974 - Yates' and Nylander's divorce is official. When Linda Brewer tied the knot with Robert Lee Yates, she thought she was marrying a big-hearted military hero. From 1975 to 1998, he is known to have murdered at least 11 women in Spokane. October 1987 to May 1988 - Yates is a support aviator and a standardization pilot at Fort Rucker. The First Bodies of Robert Lee Yates Jr. A mother-of-pearl button was found that matched one missing from Joseph's jacket. Robert Lee Yates threw fast pitches in high school, but didn't have much of a curve. As reported by HeraldNet, law enforcement officials descended on the family's home, forcing Linda and her children to leave with little warning. He says the prostitute is a friend's daughter he's driving home. About one in 40 soldiers in the Army is an aviator. He also confessed to killing a total of 18 women in several counties. A white Corvette had been identified as the vehicle in which one of the victims had last been seen. In addition to serving in the United States military for 18 years, Yates was married for 24 years and had five children. All of his victims worked on the city's E. Sprague Avenue,. Two days later, his middle daughter Amber, then 19, showed up at the county jail lobby. Two days later, his middle daughter complains to police that her father "hits me all the time." It didn't hurt a damn thing. Click to reveal Robert and Linda went on to have five children one son and four daughters. They interviewed hundreds of potential suspects and considered Yates to be only one of them. Read More: Where is Robert Lee Yates Wife Now? He's driving a Honda Civic. January 1999 - He's told the misdemeanor charge for striking his daughter will be dropped if he doesn't do anything similar for two years. The couple filed under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which allows individuals to keep certain belongings while selling off other property to repay creditors. [1] As part of a plea bargain, Yates confessed to the murders to avoid the death penalty. Bobby is the type of person you would want to have as your best friend.". Robert Lee Yates Jr., who is commonly referred to as The Spokane Killer, was convicted of killing 15 women and one man in Spokane, Washington, and the surrounding area, between 1975 and 1998. In addition, Snohomish County sheriffs detectives are probing a Yates connection to the unsolved murders of a young British Columbia couple whose bodies were found in 1987 near High Bridge south of Monroe. [44] In 2000, he was charged with 13 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in Spokane County Superior Court. He dreamed in college of being a doctor, but those dreams fell apart about the same time as his first marriage. He refused, stating that it was too extreme of a request for a "family man. He's charged with a misdemeanor assault. His oldest daughter moved out. He was posted internationally as well, and some of the countries he went to were Germany, and eventually, Haiti and Somalia for UN peacekeeping missions. By Seattle Times staff and news services. Profile from Radford University Dept of Psychology students, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Lee_Yates&oldid=1146503786, This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 08:45. Robert and Linda Yates jointly filed a personal bankruptcy petition in late October. They thought they were actually seeking a white Camaro and let him go. Vegas (stylized as Vega$) is an American crime drama television series starring Robert Urich that aired on ABC from September 20, 1978, to June 3, 1981, with the pilot episode airing April 25, 1978. He is a convicted murderer and it is unknownexactly but estimated that Yates has killed over 18 women. 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