Few people remember his wife. A stand-up guy, say his high-school friends. He even worked as an usher in a movie theater, says Gatti, who started logging after he got back from the war. He was found guilty and was given the death penalty. They were shot and dumped like yesterday's yard clippings. Wason, who was last seen on November 3, was the devoted mother of a 12-year-old son until a relapse with heroin unravelled six years of sobriety; she began working as a prostitute to fund her addiction. Mercer did not have a criminal record, nor any ties to prostitution, and reportedly worked as a waitress. Last month, the Washington State Patrol crime lab matched the carpet fibers from the Corvette to fibers found on Jennifer Joseph's shoes and a towel left near her body. All 18 women used drugs, worked as prostitutes or lived on the streets. [1] After his arrest, a search warrant was executed on a white 1977 Chevrolet Corvette that he had previously owned. On Nov. 10, 1998, a police officer pulled over Yates' car, with a known prostitute in the passenger's seat. 1970 - Robert Lee Yates graduates from Oak Harbor High School. His divorce from Nylander is not yet final. Yates is 47, a father of five, a silver-anniversary husband. (2013) Investigation Discovery: A serial killer plagues Spokane, Washington, claiming the lives of more than a dozen victims. Jay Inslee essentially halted the state's death penalty by refusing to sign any execution orders. In a 2000 interview, Linda Yates admitted how painful it was to learn her husband of 24 years was a serial killer and how difficult the situation was for their entire family. By the time Yates moved to town, five women were already dead. His wife and her family have declined interviews. Kari & Associates Robert Lee Yates, Jr. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. There was even the body of Melody Murfin which had been buried in his own front yard. It's not clear who in his family came with him. In early September 1994, Yates came to Walla Walla. July 1975 - Yates takes a job as a prison guard in Walla Walla. In March 1996, the tail end of another reduction in Army forces, Yates accepted a special incentive that allowed him to continue receiving 45 percent of his normal pay, probably about $20,000 a year. Wikipedia External References Robert Lee Yates on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018. "I said, Do you know why you killed these women? " Linda Yates recalled in an interview that aired Friday night on NBC televisions "Dateline" program. Linda even confronted her husband after she found evidence of an extra-marital affair in 1999. In 2001, Yates was charged in Pierce County with the murders of two additional women. He chose to go to Skagit Valley Community College with Gatti, about 28 miles from home. Christine Smith was a sex worker who survived a murder attempt at Yatess hands and had also been robbed by him. They interviewed hundreds of potential suspects and considered Yates to be only one of them. On April 18, 2000, authorities descended on the Yates' home. Yates' father last week revealed his son was sexually assaulted as a child by a neighbor. "I didn't get to know him that much," says Mary Nylander, Shirley's mother. Authorities expect to bring additional charges in the deaths of other women within the next two weeks. In 1975, he was hired by the Washington State Department of Corrections to work as a correction officer at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. He declined to comment on the specifics of the case: "The place where I do battle is in the courtroom.". The victim was Melody Ann Murfin, and Robert claimed that he planted her there because he wanted to see her every day. May 1998 - Yates sells his Corvette to Rita Jones in Spokane. She says she never exchanged more than 10 words with Linda Yates, who stayed at home with the children. He refused, stating that it was too extreme of a request for a "family man. "I don't think Mr. Yates helps his cause by relying on the fact that he's a necrophiliac," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. On Sept. 19, the same panel convicted Yates of . "And how you could have done this, and still be married to me?". Robert Yates Sr. told The Spokesman-Review newspaper that his son, then 6, was molested by an. Outside the Army, Yates had a tough time holding jobs. In his only yearbook picture, he wore his hair short. In 1916, he bought land. Copyright 2000 Associated Press. Yates retired from the military after 18 years and rented a home with his family in a maze of Spokane subdivisions. "If you've got two of those, you've probably done a heck of a good job somewhere," says Martha Rudd, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon. His luck had started to run out. But inside the Army, he learned to fly helicopters so well that he taught other pilots how to teach flying. Linda Yates said, according to a transcript of the interview supplied by "Dateline." I didnt love him like a wife should. Robert Lee Yates was born in Grants, N.M., on Jan. 1, 1967, to Bob and Sherri Yates. He drilled for seven hours a day with two students. "You dont go out hunting with cologne on.". [11][12], Stacy Elizabeth Hawn At this time, the military was reducing its numbers, so he received full retirement despite being short of the customary 20 years served. He still maintained that, when stopped the year before, he had been driving a friend's daughter home. In addition to serving in the United States military for 18 years, Yates was married for 24 years and had five children. She described the man as about 50 years old, 5'10" tall, 175 pounds, with sandy blond hair. He then dumped their bodies at a variety of locations throughout the "skid row" section of town. Gatti and Yates hunted deer together. The couples two-story house on Spokanes South Hill was their biggest asset, valued at $113,000. Scott, who had a history of drugs and prostitution, died of a gunshot wound to the head, likely in September or October. February 1984 to October 1984 - Yates is a support aviator in the Brigade Support Company, Aviation Training Brigade, Fort Rucker, Ala., the Army's flight training center. Bobby is the type of person you would want to have as your best friend.". She started using methamphetamine and became involved in prostitution. While there, he learns to teach soldiers to fly Huey helicopters. He left for work about 6 a.m. on April 18, driving his Honda Civic. 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. We have lots of information about Kyle: religious views are listed as unknown, ethnicity is unknown, and political affiliation is none. He later told police that he held her by one arm and slapped her face lightly several times because she was "disrespectful." Yates and others in the helicopter landed, gutted the pig and put it in the back of the helicopter. [41][20], Christine Smith He is currently serving life in prison at the Washington State Penitentiary. They fished, hiked and built rafts. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. But the plea bargain included another bombshell for his wife: Her husband revealed that for two years the body of one of his victims had been buried in their yard just outside their bedroom window. Upon seeing Yates' photo in the newspaper following his arrest, Smith contacted police and identified Yates as the man who assaulted her. plead guilty to in Spokane County, Washington. However, she has been very open about her relationship with Robert and the aftermath of his arrest and conviction. Although he was described as a bit of a loner, Robert Lee Yates Jr. participated in a number of extracurricular activities, including football and choir. They thought they were actually seeking a white Camaro and let him go. The next was when Yates was on duty in Alabama in the mid-80s. On April 1, 1998, the remains of Linda Maybin, 34, also known as "Barefoot Linda," was found in Spokane, just 100 yards from the bodies of Shawn McClenahan and Laurie Wason. He would say, `I think there might be a better way,' " Merrill says. Detectives then talked to the "friend's daughter," who said Yates had agreed to pay her $20 for oral sex, according to police. They got divorced two years later, and he then worked at the Washington State Penitentiary as a corrections officer in 1975 for a few months. Nylander takes back her maiden name. Detectives are still investigating, taking the house apart, piece by piece, looking for evidence. "I want to know why, like anybody else," Linda Yates said she asked her husband. She is the only known survivor of Yates' crimes. [33][34][32][20], Linda Marie Maybin It didn't hurt a damn thing. They avoid meat, drugs and alcohol. The children's birth years range from 1974 to 1989. He mostly chose sex workers as his victims, and they died as a result of gunshot wounds. In 1970, he graduated from Oak Harbor High School. In August 1997, more women's bodies started showing up, one after another. A lover of the outdoors, Robert would often head out alone to go . March 1998 - The Yateses buy a home a mile away from their rental house. Yates displayed anger only once, another co-worker says. As reported by Radford University's Department of Psychology, Yates Jr.'s childhood was far from ideal. Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) aka The Grocery Bag Killer is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. She was last seen on July 7, 1988 in Seattle. Sometime in mid-May 1998, Melody Murfin, 43, went missing. "They (police) called me at work and said that they found a body in your yard. Click to reveal [45] Charges were dropped without prejudice in the murder of Shawn McClenahan so that, if Yates appealed his other guilty sentences, he could be tried for her murder and possibly sentenced to death. [3], Yates left the active duty Army in April 1996, apparently a year and a half short of being eligible for his full retirement benefits and pension. Kim Barker's phone message number is 206-464-2255. At the time Yolanda Sapp, Nickie Lowe and Kathy Brisbois were found, police linked them to a single killer, investigators have said. Who was Robert Lee Yates Jr? Yates is an Army veteran and National Guard helicopter pilot who served tours in Germany and at several U.S. bases. 6 Who was Andrea Yates married to after the killings? The showcase for the late Paul Allens private collection of vintage aircraft and military vehicles reopens May 27. Rob and Tonya were married at the Arriola Bible Church in November 1991 and had their son, Bradey Rey, in January . As a kid, Bobby Yates liked peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. December 1974 - Linda Yates gives birth to a daughter. In 18 years, he earned 12 medals, two ribbons and a badge. She had been missing since October 29, 1997. The veterans legal team, in 2013, filed a habeas corpus petition claiming that Yates was mentally ill, and suffered from a severe paraphilic disorder, which contributed to his killing spree. As reported by Radford University's Department of Psychology, Robert Lee Yates' father said his son was "moody and violent" at times when he was a teenager. The same month, he picked up a prostitute, detectives say. 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. One Army colleague says he thought Yates planned to join a friend at a company cleaning paper mills. For one, he always wore cologne when he claimed to go on hunting trips, which was a red flag in itself. Two were for meritorious service. He threw the coffee on the other crew members as they waited to punch out. Yates, 48, still faces two aggravated first-degree murder charges and a possible death penalty in the deaths of two women in Pierce County. Although Yates was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death, Washington Gov. His facades and damning secrets are brought to life through meticulous investigations and interviews. Performance & security by Cloudflare. It seemed as though Robert could not hold a job outside the military. He also enrolled in pre-med at the Walla Walla College. 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. Had brown hair he combed from right to left. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. They were last seen the day before, on their way for an afternoon swim and picnic. However, there were no reports of criminal activity prior to 1975 when he killed his first two victims at the age of 23. A profile of the serial killer Robert Lee Yates, who narrowly avoided . Zodiac Sign Gemini . "It all turned into a big joke after a while. He wasn't ticketed. When he decided to row a boat, he rowed five miles, Gatti says. The couple went on to have four daughters and one son. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Yates then moved to the base in Goeppingen, Germany, and served there until 1991. 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. Oct 3, 2002. People liked him, but they didn't know him well. At Yates' trial, it was revealed that even after she was shot in the head, Mercer had chewed through two of the bags before succumbing to her injuries. A single parent. The military, at that time, was diminishing its numbers, and so Robert was granted an early retirement with full pension and benefits. Robert Lee Yates pleaded guilty to murdering 13 women in Spokane, Washington, killing them and dumping their bodies in rural areas. She had been missing since December 18. However, as reported by SeattlePi, things started to change in 1999. So, a question naturally arose were his loved ones aware of the grim reality? [51][50], In July 2015, the Washington Supreme Court once again rejected an effort by Yates to overturn his conviction and death sentence. He takes an advanced aviator course. "I don't believe it. "He was a very moody person," she said. [47] A September 19, 2008 execution date was stayed by Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander pending additional appeals. He apologized to the family members of his victims as well. 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. Detectives are still investigating the killings. They loved their dad and I just kind of suffered through it. He told me, `Through all those years, Linda and I are the best of friends.' For obvious reasons, Roberts incarceration was quite tough on the family, financially speaking. The couple went on to have four daughters and one son. No trace of criminals on either side, points out Ernest Youderian, Yates' uncle, and no way is his nephew capable of such horrific acts. Obviously, this was a shocking revelation for the wife. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. He's driving a Honda Civic. He sweats, police say. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Last September, they called him into the office. He has five children (four daughters and one son) with second wife Linda, whom he married in 1976. Seattle Times staff reporter Susan Gilmore contributed to this report. Both women were shot twice in the head and their heads were wrapped with three plastic bags each. "I don't believe I ever heard him use a profanity," says Gordon Kidder, his boss of 25 years. September 1996 - Yates is hired to assemble circuit boards at Pantrol, a Spokane company. When Linda Brewer tied the knot with Robert Lee Yates, she thought she was marrying a big-hearted military hero. 1990. ", When Yates was a teenager, the only fast-food restaurant in Oak Harbor was Kow Korner, where burgers cost 19 cents. 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. And I said, Oh my God. I turned ice cold," Linda Yates said. The Spokane Serial Killer: An American Monster by Investigation Discovery explores gruesome crimes committed by Robert Lee Yates. As an avid tennis player, his transition to pickleball was fairly quick. Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) aka The Grocery Bag Killer is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. The family settled in Spokane, Washington, and Robert was seen as a doting father as well. But in April 2000, his murderous streak was revealed to . The couple had a son and then a daughter. [49], Yates remains incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. While there, he wrote a letter to the local newspaper, defending the National Rifle Association, the Second Amendment and the right to own a weapon. August 1974 - Yates' and Nylander's divorce is official. 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