The Case of The Spokane Killer Quiz

Answer: East Upriver Drive

On Thursday, February 22, 1990, at 8:30 a.m., the body of 26 year-old Yolanda Sapp was found on East Upriver Drive, an embankment near the Spokane River.

Sapp was well known as a prostitute and heavily into drugs. She was last seen on February 20, 1990. An autopsy of her body indicated that she was shot several times, one being at point blank range.

When Yolanda's body was found, police were called to the 4100 block of East Upriver Drive, and they conducted a thorough search of the area, but found no evidence or any of her personal belongings. The police determined, after interviewing several acquaintances, that Yolanda was last seen wearing black jeans, black slip-on shoes, black t-shirt and panties, and a tan-colored rabbit fur coat. They also determined that Yolanda had been wearing several bracelets, nine to be exact, rings, a sliver necklace, and was carrying a denim purse. None of Yolanda's belongings were found where she was discovered.

Was this murder a one time only deal? Or, was a serial killer in Spokane's midst? Only time would tell...

Answer: Nickie I. Lowe

A little after 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, March 25, 1990, police were dispatched to the 3200 block of East South Riverton Avenue, because of the discovery of a deceased woman.

The woman was 34 year-old Nickie I. Lowe, a prostitute and also heavily into drugs, who was last seen March 24, 1990, on East Sprague Street. An autopsy of her body indicated that, like Sapp, she too had been shot several times, with one shot being at point blank range. During the autopsy, a .22 caliber bullet was retrieved, almost intact, from Lowe. Analysis of her blood indicated that she had been high on cocaine.

The detectives working the Sapp and Lowe cases determined that they were both murdered the same way. However, the detectives didn't release this information to the public, as they didn't want the killer to change his modus operandi.

When the killer failed to murder again, the police were left to theorize that he left the vicinity. However, little did they realize just how wrong they were.

Answer: Tire tracks

On Tuesday, May 15, 1990, around 7:45 p.m., the body of 38 year-old Kathleen Brisbois, a prostitute who was into drugs, was discovered in the Trent and Pines area near the banks of the Spokane River. Like the other two victims, Brisbois was nude except for some rings on her fingers.

An immediate search of the area revealed women's clothes, a plastic bag with blood on it, shoes, a cigarette butt, and tire tracks. The discovery of the tire track became a crucial piece of evidence to the police. With it, they would be able to determine what kind of tires, and possibly what kind of car, the killer was driving.

During the autopsy of the latest victim, it was discovered that the killer had changed his modus operandi slightly. Fibers and hairs were discovered during the autopsy, which led the detectives to believe that the killer was in a rush when disposing of Brisbois.

With this latest victim, it became apparent to the police that they had a bona fide serial killer on their hands, one that could possibly create a havoc in Spokane. Yet, the police did not officially announce this to the public, and the public was left believing that the murders were isolated.

Answer: Al's Motel

During the evening of Friday, May 1, 1992, 19 year-old Sherry, a fledgling prostitute, left the relative safety of Al's Motel to go meet her boyfriend at a specific location. Palmer hailed a taxi to go to her destination, but never arrived. When she failed to show up, her boyfriend reported her missing to the police.

Almost two weeks later, on Wednesday, May 13, 1992, her body was discovered on Bill Gulch Road, a short distance away from Mt. Spokane Park Drive. When the police were sent to the scene, they discovered clothing caught in and around her arms and head. They also discovered other articles of clothing, shoes, and what appeared to be a bullet. The police didn't find spent casings or blood. It was determined that Palmer was not killed at the place she was found, but instead was dumped there.

During the autopsy, fibers and hair were retrieved, and the cause of death was gunshot wounds.

Why did the killer stop for almost two years and then start up again? Was it possible that he was killing in another locale?

Answer: Kitsap County

On Tuesday, August 22, 1995, 60 year-old Patricia Barnes, who was not a prostitute but was known for her drinking, was last seen wearing hair curlers. Barnes, a native of Kitsap County, Seattle, was considered a street person because of her drinking, and because she was always seen walking the streets.

On Friday, August 25, 1995, her body was discovered in Kitsap County, in the area of the 15900 block of Peacock Hill Road. The elderly woman's body was covered with cut foliage, and a few of her hair curlers were found nearby. The detectives, searching the area for additional evidence, discovered another pile of cut foliage about a mile away from Barnes' body. Searching the second pile, detectives uncovered a plastic bag with hair curlers identical to the ones found near Barnes, and they also discovered blood. The blood turned out to be Barnes'.

During the autopsy, two .22 bullets were recovered from her body, and the cause of death was gunshot wounds at point blank range.

Considering the fact that Palmer was killed in the western part of the state, an area used by the Green River serial killer, was it possible that he was the one killing the prostitutes in Spokane?

Answer: She was clothed

On May 27, 1996, 39 year-old Shannon Zielinski, who was a prostitute and known to use drugs, was last seen in the area of Sprague and Helena streets in Spokane drinking with a group of men.

Less than a month later, her body was found on Friday, June 15, 1996, near the intersection of Mt. Spokane Park Drive and Holcomb Road. When the police arrived, they noticed one startling difference between Zielinski and the previous victims, she was clothed. She was found wearing the same gray dress that she last seen in. The detectives also found a spent shell casing, which indicated that Zielinski was more than likely shot.

During the autopsy, it was revealed that Zielinski was indeed shot, in fact several times. Who was killing these women? Was it the Green River serial killer? Was it someone who idolized Ted Bundy? Or, was it someone who wanted notoriety of his own?

Answer: White

On August 16, 1997, 16 year-old Jennifer Joseph, a prostitute not into drugs, was last seen by another prostitute in the East Sprague section of Spokane at 11:45 p.m., in the company of man driving a white Corvette. The man was thought to be between 30 and 40 years-old.

Jennifer Joseph's body was found on Tuesday, August 26, 1997, near the 9800 block of Forker Road. Her body was nude, and when the detectives examined the immediate area they found black pants, a pair of shoes, and a blouse that was missing a button. The autopsy revealed that she died of multiple gunshot wounds, one at point blank range, just like the previous victims.

Exactly when 20 year-old Heather Hernandez disappeared is questionable. What is known is that she suffered the same fate as the previous victims of the Spokane killer. Her body was found in a field behind 1817 E. Springfield in Spokane, and, like Shannon Zielinski, she was clothed. Hernandez' body was discovered with a bra and a shirt, and a trail of blood led away from her body. Hernandez' autopsy revealed a fact that the police suspected, she died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Was the killer trying to emulate Jack The Ripper? Was the man driving the white Corvette responsible? One can only theorize.

Answer: A packing peanut

Just when 29 year-old Darla Scott, a prostitute who was heavily into drugs, disappeared is not known. What is known is that her body was discovered by a man out for walk near South 12600 Hangman Valley Road.

When the police arrived they were stunned to see that Scott had been buried in a shallow grave, an obvious attempt to hide her body. The only piece of clothing that was found at the scene was a blouse; however, upon searching the area, the police found a plastic grocery bag, that was common in most local stores, and a styrofoam packing peanut.

Exactly what the packing peanut meant to the investigation would be found out later when a suspect was arrested.

Answer: Tacoma

On Saturday, December 6, 1997, 34 year-old Melinda Mercer, a prostitute who was into drugs, disappeared. She was last seen in the company of a male driving a newer, burgundy colored minivan.

On Sunday, December 7, 1997, around 1:30 p.m., the body of Mercer was found in the western part of Washington, on the 5000 block of South Adams Street. Mercer's nude body was partially covered brush, and clothing was found nearby. However, it could not be determined if the clothes were Mercer's. Other items of Mercer's were not found, and this made the police theorize that the killer was keeping items from his victims as souvenirs.

During the autopsy, it was discovered that Mercer was killed by shots fired from a .25 caliber gun. This news made the police wonder if Mercer was really connected to the other victims.

Was Mercer connected to the previous victims? If so, then why did the killer use a different caliber gun?

Answer: She had plastic bags over her head

On October 17, 1997, 36 year-old Shawn Johnson, a prostitute, disappeared. She was last seen going into a KMart, and her car which was left behind was reported abandoned by a store employee. The car was not taken into evidence until after her body was discovered.

Two months to the day she disappeared, Johnson's body was found in the 11400 block of Hangman Valley Road. Like Zielinski and Hernandez, Johnson was clothed. The police noted that she had several plastic bags on her head, and wondered if maybe was suffocated. However, that was not to be the case.

During the autopsy, it was discovered that she was shot multiple times. Also, hairs and fibers were removed from the body.

On December 23, 1997, Johnson's car was taken in as evidence and processed. Hairs and fibers, not belonging to the victim, were removed.

Was it possible that the killer was getting disorganized? Or, was it a ploy to trick them?

Answer: Laurel Wason and Shawn McClenahan

On Friday, December 26, 1997, the bodies of 39 year-old Laurel Wason and 39 year-old Shawn McClenahan, both prostitutes, were discovered in the 4800 block of East 14th Avenue in Spokane. Their bodies were clothed, but missing their shoes, and like Johnson, they had plastic bags over their heads.

When the police arrived, an immediate search of the area discovered a plastic tree tag, a red feather, cherry pits, paint chips, plant matter, debris, and peanut shells.

During the autopsies, the coroner stated that the cause of death to both women were multiple gunshot wounds.

Answer: A pair of shoes

On November 1, 1997, 41 year-old Sunny G. Oster, a prostitute and drug abuser, disappeared. Her body was found almost four months later on Sunday, February 28, 1998.

When the police went to the scene of the discovery, they found that Oster was fully clothed and that she had three plastic bags on her head; found near her body was a pair of shoes. The autopsy report stated that she died of gunshot wounds, like the previous victims found.

Answer: Linda Maybin

On November 21, 1997, 41 year-old Linda Maybin, a prostitute and drug user, disappeared. She was reported missing eight days later by a Spokane County Health District employee that works with prostitutes. No one had seen or heard about Maybin until her body was discovered months later.

On Wednesday, April 1, 1998, Maybin's body was found in the 4800 block of East 14th Avenue, a short distance from where Wason's and McClenahan's bodies were discovered. When the police searched the area, they found plant matter that didn't grow in the immediate vicinity and pieces of plastic bags. However, because she missing, and probably dead, for a long time it was difficult to retrieve much evidence.

When the results of the autopsy was released, it was discovered that Maybin had died like the previous victims of the Spokane killer, by multiple gunshot wounds.

Answer: Lower denture with her name engraved on the gum

On Saturday, July 4, 1998, 47 year-old Michelyn Derning, a prostitute and drug user, disappeared. She was last seen going with a client. Derning, who had bad teeth all of her life, wore full dentures, with the lower denture engraved with her name. Her dentures, or rather lack of, would be prime piece of evidence to the police.

On Tuesday, July 7, 1998, Derning's nude body was found in a lot near 218N. Crestline in Spokane. She was covered with bits of plastic and styrofoam that was in a pile nearby, and her bottom dentures were missing. Police theorized that the killer had taken them as souvenirs of the event.

An autopsy of Derning's body revealed what the police already guessed, that she died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Answer: 9mm

On Tuesday, October 13, 1998, the body of 35 year-old Connie LaFontaine-Ellis was found in the area of the 1700 block of 108th Street South in Tacoma. Her head was covered with three plastic bags, and a 9mm bullet was lying next to her. Initially, the police believed that the gun belonged to the killer, but an investigation revealed that Ellis also carried a small hand gun, which many believed to by a 9mm. Ellis died from a gunshot wound to the head. The Pierce County detectives investigating Ellis' murder, notified the Spokane Killer Task Force in Spokane. Since all evidence and modus operandi pointed to the same killer, Ellis was counted as one of the victims.

Would the killer keep going until he was caught? How close were the police to finding out the identity of the killer?

Answer: Robert Lee Yates

On August 1, 1998, 30 year-old Christine Smith was picked up on the corner of East 124 Short Street in Spokane by a person described as 5'10" tall, 175 pounds, with a medium build, sandy blonde hair, and about 50 years-old. During her encounter with the man, he tried to knock her unconscious, but failed in the attempt. Smith escaped and ran to the police to file a report.

Several months later, on Tuesday, November 10, 1998, police pulled over a white Civic Honda. In the passenger seat was Jennifer Robinson, a known prostitute, and driving the car was middle aged man. Robinson said the man, whose name was Robert Lee Yates, was a friend of her father's and that he had come to take her home.

The policeman made a report of it and handed it over to the Task Force. The investigation went into 1999 before the task force realized what they had. When the Task Force investigated the report on September 14, 1999, they realized that the man with Robinson closely match that of the person who tried to harm Smith. An investigation into Yates' life revealed that he drove a white Corvette and white Civic Honda. It also revealed that he was a member of the Washington National Guard.

The Task Force knew, without a doubt that they had their man, but they had to prove it. Luckily, all the fibers, hairs, and orifice swabs taken from the victims over the course of many years was saved. But, before any testing could be done, they had to interrogate him.

Yates was brought to the police station for questioning on September 15, 1999. The police asked him about Robinson, and when he stuck to the same story that he originally gave, the detectives told him that they didn't believe him. After several hours, the detectives concluded the interrogation by requesting that Yates give them a sample of his blood for DNA testing. Yates flatly refused.

Answer: Jennifer Joseph

On August 16, 1997, 16 year-old Jennifer Joseph was last seen in the East Sprague section of Spokane at 11:45 p.m., in the company of man driving a white Corvette. It was soon found out that that man was Yates.

When the investigators searched the title records of cars, they discovered that Yates had owned a white Corvette from September 8, 1994, through May 7, 1998. However, On May 7, 1998, Yates had sold the car. The investigators contacted the new owner of the Corvette and after talking with the owner, they learned that when Yates sold the car, he told the new owner that he had changed the carpeting a year before.

The police asked the owner of the Corvette if they could search the car for any evidence. The owner readily agreed. When the car was processed, they found blood, as well as hairs and fibers, and was taken away to be tested.

On April 5, 2000, the tests performed on the blood, fibers, and hairs, conclusively matched that of Jennifer Joseph. Also, a button found in the Corvette, matched that of the missing button from Joseph's blouse when she was found. This was the news that the police were waiting for.

Answer: Packing peanuts

On Tuesday, April 18, 2000, Robert Lee Yates was arrested for the murder of Jennifer Joseph. When the investigators, armed with a search warrant, went to Yates' home, they found wood with white paint peeling from it, vegetation that matched with several of the victims, and packing peanuts. The police knew they had the right person when they saw the packing peanuts.

Fingerprints taken from Yates at the time of his arrest were matched against several latent fingerprints found on the plastic bags of several of his victims. The prints matched. When Yates' vehicles were processed, two guns were recovered, a .22 caliber and a .25 caliber.

Yates was charged with eight first degree murders, first degree attempted murder, and two additional first degree murders for the Pierce County slayings.

Answer: Melody Murfin

On May 20, 1998, 43 year-old Melody Murfin disappeared. The police always assumed that she was the victim of the Spokane serial killer, but because her body was never found, they didn't have a case.

However, on October 16, 2000, Yates, knowing he was going to be sentenced to death if he went to trial, struck a plea bargain. Yates would tell all he knew as long as he was guaranteed life in prison. He told the police where they could find Murfin's body. He drew a map of his former house and led the police to Murfin's body, which was buried in a flowerbed underneath the master bedroom window.

Answer: 408

After striking a plea bargin, Yates confessed to thirteen counts of first degree murder, but did not plead guilty to the Pierce County murders.

For the thirteen counts of first degree murder, Yates was sentenced to 408 years in prison. However, since he did not plea bargain for the Pierce County murders, he went to trial. Yates was sentenced to death in Pierce County on October 3, 2002, for the murders of Connie LaFontaine-Ellis and Melinda Mercer.