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| You are to select a serial killer/serial criminal (Robert Yates) and explain the biological, situational, environmental and developmental factors that may have contributed to the criminal’s behavior. Examine their crimes and provide motive, intent, MO and Signature analysis. The paper should be 4-6 pages in length (no more than 6—I will stop reading at page 6). References should be from various sources, including but not limited to textbooks, academic journals, professional journals, documentaries and internet based research materials (Wikipedia is not a proper source). You will need a minimum of 4 source. 1 – Profile paper needs to be thorough and detailed with a comprehensive description of the subject’s background (both criminal and non- criminal) 2 – Seek to explain the subject criminal’s behavior utilizing techniques, typologies and theories learned in class (routine activities, crime pattern theory, organized/disorganized). 3 – Include information on the criminal’s M.O./Signature, motive and intent 4 – Examine victimology and provide forensic victimology if victim information is available I have chosen Robert Yates as my serial killer and I want the paper to be about him. |
Answer
Criminal Profile of Robert Yates
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Criminal Profile of Robert Yates
Over the years, the wave of crimes in major cities and suburban areas has been on the rise. The majority of the dominant crimes include child molestation, murders, and outright assaults. Recently, it has been observed that the number of serial killers has been steadily increasing at an alarming rate. Many theories have been put forth in an attempt to understand why serial killers behave the way they do. This essay will look at the profile of the well-known serial killer, Robert Lee Yates, his background, criminal behavior, motive, and signature in his work.
Robert Yates was born on 27 May in 1952 in Spokane Washington, USA. He was raised in a middle-class family in Oak Harbor Washington. His family members, more so his parents, were staunch followers of the Seventh Day Adventist church which he joined later when he grew up. Five years after graduating from Oak Harbor High School, he secured a job as a prison guard in 1975 at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, where he worked under the Washington State Department of Corrections. In 1977, his life took a major turn in the positive direction as he enrolled in the U.S. Army. He became a proficient pilot who was authorized to fly national transport airplanes and helicopters. In addition to this, he was posted to several countries outside the U.S. jurisdiction, including Somalia and Germany during the Cold War. He also participated in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Haiti during the early 1990s.
Furthermore, Yates had quite a number of accolades during his time in the army. He bagged several military awards and medals including three Army Achievement and three Army Commendation Medals in addition to two Armed Forces Expeditionary and three Meritorious Service Medals. He served in the US army for 18 years and retired in April 1996.
His criminal background can be dated back to 1975 where he committed his first murder. Yates confessed to killing 22 year old Susan Savage and her 21 year old spouse Oliver who had gone for a picnic on Mill Creek near Walla Walla. Unfortunately, Yates happened to be in the same vicinity and he shot Oliver thrice in the head and then turned to Susan whom he shot twice. He proceeded to bury their bodies, but they were found within days. However, the initial murder in this serial killing series was that of Jennifer Joseph who was found dead on 26 August 1997. This murder paved way for a series of others that followed between 1996 and 1998. Most of these murders that followed in Spokane County involved prostitutes in Sprague Avenue.
Reports detailing these heinous murders revealed that all targets were beseeched into prostitution by Yates who would in turn have sex with them in his 1979 Ford van where he had laid out a mattress. Moreover, he would indulge in drug abuse with his victims before proceeding to murder them and later on dump their bodies in remote areas. One of the uncanny murders committed by Yates involved Melody Murfin who was murdered in 1998. According to the Crime Library, he apparently found it fit to bury her body outside the bedroom of his family home (Turvey, 2011). These details show that he was a demented psychopath who had no regard whatsoever for the dignity and value of both his victims and parents.
Yates further went on to pursue other vulnerable prostitutes and saw to their demise. For instance, the body of Darla Sue Scott was discovered on 5 November 1997 by a stranger who happened to be walking his dog off Hangman Valley Road. She had been shot twice in the head and her head was covered with two plastic bags. On December 7 of the same year, yet another body was found in Tacoma. Twenty-four year old Melinda Mercer was covered with four plastic bags on her head in addition to being shot thrice. As if that was not enough, Shawn L. Johnson who was aged 36 was found dead on the same year on December 18. Her decomposing body was found on Hangman Valley Road just like Darla’s. She had been shot twice and was also covered with two plastic bags on her head. A myriad of other murders were committed in 1997 and this was cause for alarm. Speculations ran high among the citizens of Spokane County since there had been reports of yet another serial killer who was accorded the name ‘Green River Killer’.
The task force that had been assembled to handle this issue made profound discoveries from the series of murder that had transpired during this period (Morlin, 2001). The detectives, for starters, revealed a pattern that was common to all victims. To begin with, all the victims were found to have similar backgrounds either as drug addicts, prostitutes, or both. Moreover, all had been murdered in a particular style that involved being shot twice or thrice in the head with a small handgun. In addition to this, they all had been disposed of in isolated areas but near frequently travelled roads in close proximity to one another as seen in the case of Shawn and Darla. This discovery raised quite a number of questions about the killer, but at the same time, the detectives had come up with a suspect in the course of their investigations.
The pattern exhibited by Yates work also enabled the detectives to establish his signature. This went a long way in distinguishing him from other killers who were prevalent during this period. His work was characterized by gunshot wounds to the victims’ heads as well as plastic bags wrapping the victims’ heads. Furthermore, he was accustomed to taking with him trophies from his numerous victims including money, identification documents, and purses since none of these things were recovered from almost all victims’ bodies. Moreover, according to Barer (2012), medical autopsies and post mortems of two of the victims strongly indicated that the killer was aiming for the heart.
Accordingly, forensic evidence revealed useful information that contributed to the apprehension of the killer – Robert Yates. Numerous samples were taken from the victims’ bodies and the crime scene in general. Hair samples and grass clippings that had been used to hide the bodies were submitted to the State Crime Laboratory for analysis. The results clearly showed without doubt that most of the DNA found in the victims’ remains came from one person meaning that all murders were committed by one person. Furthermore, semen unruffled from the bodies was a positive match with Yates’ DNA. To back this discovery by forensic investigators, a ballistics report was compiled. Comparisons of bullet wounds and bullet fragments retrieved from the crime scenes and from several victims revealed that the murder weapon in play was a 25-caliber gun, which was assumed to be automated.
The work presented by Yates prompts researchers to look back at what could have triggered this bizarre behavior. A close look at his early life shows that he underwent some traumatic experiences that could have influenced his current behavior. In line with this view is the psychological approach that is supported by the attachment theory. According to this theory, early childhood experiences especially those relating to mother-child relationship have a significant role to play in one’s behavior during adulthood. The theory further presents the idea that a breakdown in the relationship between parents and children can result to the child turning to a life of crime and delinquency during adulthood (Myers et al., 2008). Looking back at Yates childhood, it emerges that he was molested by an older neighborhood boy at the age of six. Later on, at the age of 12, he had an unusual relationship with his mother whom he perceived to be authoritative. As such, this could have created a gap between him and the mother causing their relationship to be strained and estranged. This gap left him feeling detached from his mother, and it could have easily left him feeling emotionally and mentally deprived. Additionally, his father revealed that young Yates started becoming temperamental and violent when he was aged sixteen. This could be attributed to the lack of affection from his mother as a kid and as such, could have propelled him to pursue a life of crime.
The fact that Yates was molested as a child could have resulted to him resenting his place and role in society. This resulted into him trying to fit into society by wanting to be in control and getting attention from all who surrounded him. Consequently, he resulted to objectifying women, more so prostitutes, to the point where he would finally get the attention he wanted from them. He would further go on to derive pleasure by killing his victims and dumping them.
Ultimately, Robert Yates was apprehended and tried in court. He had initially been sentenced to death by lethal injection, but he appealed for life imprisonment in exchange for his confession. He is now on death row. but has apologized to the victim’s parents. He claims that he has struggled to overcome his guilt and shame and has turned to God for repentance and forgiveness.
References
Barer, B. (2012). Body count. New York, NY: Kensington.
Morlin, B. (2001). Bad Trick: The hunt for the Spokane’s serial killer. New York, NY: New Media Ventures.
Turvey, B.E. (2011). Profiling, fourth edition: An introduction to behavioral evidence analysis. London: Academic Press.
Myers, W.C., Bukhanovskiy, A., Justen, E., Morton, R.J., Tilley, J., Adams, K., Vandagriff, V.L. and Hazelwood, R.R. (2008). The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. Forensic Science International, 176(2), 187-195.
