Over a three year period in the late 1990's, police suspected a serial killer was responsible for several murders in the Spokane, Washington area. At least a dozen women died, most of whom were sex workers. Former Los Angeles Police Detectives Mark Fuhrman and Mike Fitzsimmons co-hosted a local radio talk show alleging that Spokane police botched their investigation and that their delay in finding the killer led to more murders. “48 Hours" correspondent Harold Dow reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 2/15/2002. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What happened in Spokane in the late 1990s?
Just one little piece of information could make the difference. Do you know anything about Darla Sue Scott?
Early on, Furman profiled the serial killer on the air.
I would say he's a male white, maybe early to late 30s, a resident in this county. He's very comfortable with the area. He's a predator. He's going out looking for a victim. I mean, he's killing people right now.
And then, Shawn Johnson was found.
Two days before Christmas, we got her knock at the door.
Debbie Fine is Shawn Johnson's older sister.
She loved her children so much.
A mother of two young boys, Shawn was struggling to overcome a drug problem when she was murdered.
A lot of people might think that because someone might have been a part of that street life, that they're not loved, they don't have a family, no one cares about them. But that's not true in Shawn's case. No.
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Chapter 2: Who were the key figures in the investigation?
Chapter 3: What mistakes did the police make during the investigation?
That would be ludicrous. All fairness to Mark Furman, I have all the respect for him that I do any other convicted felon in this community.
Do you think the task force was unhappy with you and Mike Fitzsimmons?
I think they were extremely unhappy. I think the biggest reason is we wouldn't go away.
A car passing by here on the side of the road is only... Furman and Fitzsimmons began to openly question the thoroughness of the task force investigation.
The representatives of the sheriff's department and the police department made some overture that we were interfering with an investigation and that they should reel us back. Of course, the TV and radio stations said, they're journalists. They're working on a case. If they're interfering, you know, deal with them. Arrest them.
In late February of 1998, the police commissioned a National Guard helicopter equipped with an infrared camera to fly over the crime scene where the two bodies were found, looking for heat emanated by decomposing bodies.
They find nothing here with that technology, and they do a press conference and make a statement. There's no more bodies at 14th and Carnahan.
And, of course, the next day, April 1st. Another body was found at the site. That's when the task force got knocked on their heels. Nine women had been murdered in 21 months' time, and the police seemed nowhere in their investigation.
That is a slow, long, slow process. Obviously, on a situation like this, we pick up everything that's in the area.
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Chapter 4: How did the community react to the murders?
Al Gaddy corresponds with Yates regularly.
Do you think Bob Yates realizes all the harm he's done? I don't think that he really comprehends the magnitude of what he's done.
All rise. At his sentencing on October 26, 2000. This is the time for the sentencing. Yates faced not only justice.
I am the daughter, a daughter of Melody Murfin.
But the relatives of the people he killed.
God will not forgive you, Mr. Yates. You killed my mom. John's death has quite simply damaged me in ways that can never be repaired. How can you take my mother and bury her in your yard?
I feel the pain and the fear that she went through in the hands of you.
Mr. Yates deserves to die. And finally, Robert Yates Jr. spoke.
Nothing I can say will erase the sorrow, the pain, and the anguish that you feel. And I apologize. I am sorry. I am sorry.
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