The Spokane serial killer targeted sex workers, leaving behind a distinctive signature of plastic grocery bags on the victims' heads, making it difficult for police to generate public awareness and support.
Robert Yates Jr., an unassuming family man and former military pilot, emerged as the prime suspect in the Spokane serial killings, shocking the community and leaving the victims' families devastated.
Deep dives
The Pattern of Serial Killings
Between 1990 and 1997, a series of shootings and murders occurred in Spokane, Washington, primarily targeting sex workers. The killer left behind a signature: covering the victim's head with plastic grocery bags. The police were struggling to catch the killer, and the community's perception of the victims as sex workers made it challenging to generate public awareness and support.
The Investigation and Suspect Profile
Law enforcement formed a task force to track down the killer. They enlisted the help of a profiler, Mark Safarik, who advised them that the killer would likely appear unassuming and gain the trust of the victims. The suspect profile indicated an older, possibly married man with military experience and a calm demeanor after the crimes. Robert Yates Jr., a seemingly ordinary family man and former military pilot, emerged as a prime suspect.
The Arrest and Shocking Revelations
After collecting evidence from Yates' old Corvette, including fibers matching those found on one of the victims, his arrest became imminent. Once in custody, Yates confessed to killing 14 people, including sex workers and victims from previous unsolved cases. The investigation also led to the discovery of a victim buried in Yates' own yard, shockingly close to his home where he lived with his wife and children.
The Impact and Trial
The arrest and subsequent revelations left the victims' families devastated, forcing them to come to terms with the unimaginable acts committed by someone they knew and potentially trusted. Yates' wife, Linda, also grappled with the unsettling realization that her husband led a secret life of violence. Yates eventually pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
It haunted the city of Spokane, Washington for years, as one after another women turned up dead with few clues and few answers for grieving families. The search for the killer would lead investigators to a most unlikely suspect. Keith Morrison reports in this Dateline classic that originally aired on NBC on November 10, 2000.
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