She had been missing since October 29, 1997. Then Robert Yates moved to Fort Drum, N.Y. Marelle Sturrock, 35, was found in the couple's home on Jura Street, Glasgow, on Tuesday morning , prompting a police search for her fianc, 36-year-old David Yates in connection with her death. #inline-recirc-item--id-922979d6-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { He ended his letter, "Do not seek what seems like the simple solution, because it isn't.". Jay Inslee essentially halted the state's death penalty by refusing to sign any execution orders. He could one minute he could be real easygoing, and go into a room and come out and be a totally whole different person. Even his daughters alleged in an interview that their father was a strict disciplinarian, who was emotionally and physically abusive towards them if they did not follow his instructions exactly. As reported by The Seattle Times, Yates, who may have killed as many as 18 people, was ultimately sentenced to death. He stayed at home, mostly, for the next two days, throwing a baseball with his son in his front yard. On December 28, 1988, the partial skeleton of Stacy Hawn, 23, was found near Big Lake. 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. Meet the candidates and likely candidates vying for your vote. Robert Yates was arrested for murder and detectives searched the entire property. Obviously, this was a shocking revelation for the wife. They raised their four children as Seventh-day Adventists, who believe in the Second Coming, when Christ will separate the saints from the wicked and start his 1,000-year kingdom. Here's how. Youderian said if he had ever had children he would want them to "come up as good" as Robert. [16][17], Jennifer Ann Joseph They clipped out carpet fibers and sent them for testing. She previously worked as a hairdresser in Spokane, but fell into drugs and prostitution six years after she moved, following the death of her son, who was waiting for a heart transplant. They flirted with being park rangers and game wardens. He's played longer than most as he started in his teenage years. Yates pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder in that attack. October 1984 to October 1987 - Yates is a support aviator in a different unit in Fort Rucker. The remarks came Tuesday after a boy, 13, was shot in a suspected drive-by shooting Saturday. Yates sweated profusely, the detectives said. Chris Oliver, brother of victim Patrick Oliver, who was killed in Walla Walla in 1975, asked Yates. Also under investigation are the deaths of Darrin Wade Gehrke, 23, in 1995 and the disappearance of Linda Fisher Moran, 27, in December 1976. He grew up in Whidbey Island, Washington where he came from a solid . The attempted murder charge involves a woman who survived a gunshot wound to the head. He bought a white 1977 Corvette from Sarah Marsh, and he drove the car back to New York. The Army hasn't yet released a complete time line of Yates' duty, but state records show he returned to Washington state at least once. The family settled in Spokane, Washington, and Robert was seen as a doting father as well. After high school, Yates bounced from job to job, town to town, never straying too far from Oak Harbor. Obviously, this was a shocking revelation for the wife. Joels widow did not want a longer term. A killing spree was embarked upon by Yates, a U.S. Army veteran, and a family man with five children. He killed that.. In August 1997, more women's bodies started showing up, one after another. Following his sentencing hearing, Yates made a statement apologizing to the families of all the victims he had killed. They were shot and dumped like yesterday's yard clippings. November 1997 - Yates is cited for speeding in his Corvette, about 2.5 miles from where a slain woman's body was found three weeks earlier. As reported by In Touch Weekly, Yates had sex with all of his victims before killing them with one gunshot to the head or heart. The prosecution sought the death penalty for the deaths of Melinda L. Mercer in 1997, and Connie Ellis in 1998, which were thought to be linked to the killings in Spokane County. He's driving a Honda Civic. Yates refuses to give a blood sample for a DNA test. Yates, who has five children, offered no explanation for the killings. "He was always neat as a pin," says Barbara Youderian, Ernest's wife. The family settled in . 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. Kyle Yates Obituary - LaGrange, GA Linda Brewer met Robert Lee Yates when he was working at the Washington State Penitentiary as a corrections officer, and they married in 1976. "They tried to court-martial him because he didn't go through the proper channels," Mills says. "If something didn't go his way, he would try to take charge," says Chazz Wellington, a former crew leader. Few people remember his wife. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, the Yates family went into hiding. Robert Yates Sr. told The Spokesman-Review newspaper that his son, then 6, was molested by an 11-year-old boy. Gatti's lottery number came up, and he went to war. She was shot five days earlier according to detectives. Despite his apparently favorable demeanor, authorities have no doubt Yates is a cruel and calculating killer. It seems like Linda and her children continue to live a quiet life in the state of Washington. display: none; The son of Joseph and Maria Yates, Robert Yates was born in Schenectady, NY, on January 27, 1738. ", When Yates was a teenager, the only fast-food restaurant in Oak Harbor was Kow Korner, where burgers cost 19 cents. Because this isn't the same Bob Yates I know.". At times, he pushed himself impulsively. Richard Fasy, the Spokane County public defender assigned to Yates' case, says police statements implying Yates' guilt are premature and inappropriate. 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 were last seen the day before, on their way for an afternoon swim and picnic. June 1974 - Yates and Linda Brewer, of Benton County, apply in Walla Walla County for a marriage license. Robert Lee Yates Jr. kept trying to hold his life together. Yates is a force to be reckoned as the former #1 in the world pickleball player. NASCAR legend Robert Yates dies at 74, racing world honors a true Police discovered bullet fragments in her hair; Smith was unaware that she was actually shot. Robert Yates, 1943-2017 | Official Site Of NASCAR All 18 women used drugs, worked as prostitutes or lived on the streets. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. She was found nude and partially obscured by a hot tub cover. Body found in reservoir after killing of pregnant teacher in 'murder Unlike many serial killers, Robert Lee Yates Jr. was known throughout his community as a family man.He and his wife, Linda, had five children together and were still married at the time of his arrest. As part of the deal, Yates pleaded to premeditated first-degree murder, but not aggravated murder. Championship engine builder and car owner Robert Yates honored - ESPN Nearly $1 million in state funds could mean free testing and other services for sexually transmitted infections. He still maintained that, when stopped the year before, he had been driving a friend's daughter home. What happened to Robert Yates Racing? : r/NASCAR - Reddit But inside the Army, he learned to fly helicopters so well that he taught other pilots how to teach flying. On April 18, 2000, authorities descended on the Yates' home. In his only yearbook picture, he wore his hair short. Robert Yates's House in Cornelius, NC (Google Maps) View Full . Robert and Linda Yates jointly filed a personal bankruptcy petition in late October. At Kaiser, Yates followed the rules, the only overhead crane operator to actually drive the crane as slowly as he was supposed to. [4], Yates' first murders were committed in 1975, when he shot and killed two college students who were picnicking. Reward offered as manhunt for Texas shooting suspect reaches "dead end", Louisiana's health care deserts put women, babies at risk, doctors say, Second convoy of U.S. citizens fleeing Khartoum arrives at Port Sudan, How a tall Texan became an unlikely Australian rules football star, Surviving the torturous hell of the Hanoi Hilton, Texas surfer pushed offshore by strong winds rescued by Coast Guard, Tornado flips cars, downs trees after touching down in South Florida, Shaquil Barrett's 2-year-old daughter dies in drowning accident, Investors sue Adidas over Kanye West Yeezy deal. July 1975 - Yates takes a job as a prison guard in Walla Walla. He had a dog named Lassie. Robert Yates, 1943-2017. [13][14], Shannon Rene Zielinski A john. The younger Allison became his driver and they won immediately, earning 15 victories . He didn't remember his friend's name. robert lee yates son kyle - handsawpress.com September 1999 - Investigators interview Yates in connection with the serial slayings. In March 1999, Yates tried to get a job flying helicopters for Spokane's air-ambulance service, but no positions were available. 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. He will be . 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. [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. Kyle Yates Pro Pickleball Bio - Backcourt Pickleball The couple had a son and then a daughter. In retrospect, Linda accepted that there were a few dubious signs that should have alerted her. She had been missing since December 18. Most Facebook users can now claim settlement money. "It doesn't throw us over the edge.". 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. 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.". 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "The worst thing I know about Bob is he wouldn't play football his senior year," says Berner, now a dentist. He almost had enough credits to be a junior there. December 1998 - Yates crosses picket lines to go to work at Kaiser Aluminum as a carbon setter. As an adult, he was a man's man, a soldier. He didn't eat pork. Between 1996 and 1998, Robert Lee "Bob" Yates hired, then killed, 13 female sex workers in Spokane, Washington. His divorce from Nylander is not yet final. March 1998 - The Yateses buy a home a mile away from their rental house. Anna Mae Yates did the hair of neighborhood ladies and worked as a housekeeping supervisor at the local hospital. He and his son helped rebuild it. April 18, 2000 - Yates is arrested on the way to work. January 2000 - Detectives track down the white Corvette, parked in the garage of Jones' sister, who works for the Spokane police. "Do you have any idea what it's like to go to a cemetery for a family reunion for 25 years?" For that, he was almost court-martialed. Snohomish county is heating up Saturday, so soak up the sun before its too late. "We were in a pinch for instructors, and Bob filled the position nicely," says Rick Ponder, his boss. "If I raised kids, I'd like them to come up as good as him," says Ernest Youderian, who always received Christmas cards from his nephew. He received a classical education in New York City and later studied law with William Livingston. [15], Heather Louise Hernandez Had brown hair he combed from right to left. She was shot once in the head and had three plastic bags covering her head. By the time Yates moved to town, five women were already dead. "I still love you dad, even though you did this," she said as her father looked away. "He has disgraced and dishonored every uniform he ever wore," said John Joseph, father of Jennifer Joseph, killed in 1997. At the time Yolanda Sapp, Nickie Lowe and Kathy Brisbois were found, police linked them to a single killer, investigators have said. "Bob was really kind of quiet. On August 26, 1997, Jennifer Joseph, 16, was found shot in the head in a field in Spokane. She was shot once and had two plastic bags covering her head. He's telling me, `It's greater than anything I can imagine.' When Linda Brewer tied the knot with Robert Lee Yates, she thought she was marrying a big-hearted military hero. The .25 caliber bullet casing was still in her hair. Joined choir his senior year, baffling Al Gatti. 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. He declined to comment on the specifics of the case: "The place where I do battle is in the courtroom.". Obviously, they went to JGR. As reported by HeraldNet, law enforcement officials descended on the family's home, forcing Linda and her children to leave with little warning. Last week, the 48-year-old Army veteran and National Guard helicopter pilot admitted to 10 Spokane-area slayings from 1996 to 1998, the murders of a young man and woman in southern Washington in 1975 and the murder of a woman in the state's northeastern corner in 1988. There are no openings. Six months later, Linda gave birth to a daughter. Kyle Larson . July 1976 - Robert and Linda Yates have another wedding ceremony, in Oak Harbor, with her parents as the witnesses. His choir teacher drove him home from practice for "Plenty of Money," the school musical. 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. On July 14, 1975, the bodies of Patrick Oliver, 21, and Patricia Savage, 22, were found shot in the head near Walla Walla. September 1996 - Yates is hired to assemble circuit boards at Pantrol, a Spokane company. Gatti and Yates hunted deer together. Linda Brewer met Robert Lee Yates when he was working at the Washington State Penitentiary as a corrections officer, and they married in 1976. He lasts four months. March 1999 - Yates picks up a prostitute in his Honda Civic for oral sex, according to court documents. Yates confessed to the killings in October as part of a deal to escape the death penalty. May 1998 - Yates sells his Corvette to Rita Jones in Spokane. He sweats, police say. The Founding Fathers: New York | National Archives 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. In fact, Christine Smith, the only victim to have ever survived Roberts murder spree, was also listed as a creditor. People liked him, but they didn't know him well. Despite his outward appearance, something sinister was lurking under the surface of the killer's seemingly ordinary exterior. In 18 years, he earned 12 medals, two ribbons and a badge. [49], Yates remains incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. Profile from Radford University Dept of Psychology students, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Lee_Yates&oldid=1152090421, Crimes against sex workers in the United States, People convicted of murder by Washington (state), Prisoners sentenced to death by Washington (state), United States Army personnel of the Gulf War, Violence against women in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 April 2023, at 03:59. Scott, who had a history of drugs and prostitution, died of a gunshot wound to the head, likely in September or October. The first time was when she found out that her husband had drilled a hole in their attic to voyeuristically watch a couple have sex. [11][12], Stacy Elizabeth Hawn The newlyweds moved to College Place, where they enrolled in Walla Walla College, a Seventh-day Adventist school. He is unemployed for several months. Through it all, Yates, the son of a preacher, was just as honest and humble as the day he started his career as an unknown, doing nothing more mentally challenging than sweeping the floors at . Sheriff Mark Sterk says DNA and other evidence link Yates to at least 12 of the slayings. Yates replaced Sadler with an unproven an probably undeserving rookie in David Gilliland. [1] As part of a plea bargain, Yates confessed to the murders to avoid the death penalty. The Truth About The Spokane Killer's Childhood. Anna Mae and her first husband had two daughters. He was 74. The victim was Melody Ann Murfin, and Robert claimed that he planted her there because he wanted to see her every day. October 1976 - Anna Mae Yates dies after a long bout with cancer. Yates leaves Walla Walla College without a degree. If anything, Linda thought her husband may have been having an affair. 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. Although Yates was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death, Washington Gov. A mother-of-pearl button was found that matched one missing from Joseph's jacket. They wanted a barbecue after more than a month of eating Army food, says Dennis Mills, who later served with Yates. Meets Shirley Nylander from Fall City. 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. 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. 1990. Robert Yates' son Doug shares why when his father was announced as a 2018 inductee, it became the "most gratifying moment of his whole career." . On July 7, 1998, Michelyn Derning, 47, was found shot once in the head in Spokane. Her e-mail address is kbarker@seattletimes.com, Keiko Morris' phone message number is 425-745-7804. The couple went on to have four daughters and one son. He liked cars, especially muscle cars. Last September, they called him into the office. Her death didn't seem to affect Yates much, Gatti says. A local artist has been overwhelmed at generosity that will allow project to continue at South Everett/Mukilteo Boys Girls Club. He worked his way up to an elite post flying helicopters in the Army, but left two years shy of full retirement. He later works as a janitor in a hospital and as a theater usher. All of these women were shot and dumped in remote areas. Yates was charged with misdemeanor assault. In May, Yates was selected for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2018. From 1975 to 1998, he is known to have murdered at least 11 women in Spokane. Yates only surprised occasionally: Quit football his sophomore year. Yates also served three years in the Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot from April 1997 through April 2000. The children's birth years range from 1974 to 1989. A family guy. The bankruptcy petition lists their two-story home on Spokanes South Hill as the familys biggest asset. Nylander takes back her maiden name. Oster, a mother of two, was last seen in October; she disappeared the day after completing a drug treatment program. "[10][1], Patrick Allen Oliver and Susan Patricia Savage Authorities expect to bring additional charges in the deaths of other women within the next two weeks. On June 14, 1996, Shannon Zielinski, 38, was found shot in the head in Mead. Honorary pallbearers will be David Goff, Jake Vincent, Seth Taylor, John David Kersey, Ricky King, Chris Pritchett, Trent Allman, Jeremy Barnes, Kyle Bailey, Jack Parker and Sammy McCollum.