Original subtitles

- HELLO, DADDY! - HI.

A TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY

FILMING THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES DOING EVERYDAY THINGS.

WE PLAYED IN THE WOODS. WE PLAYED WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.

THOSE WERE THE HAPPY TIMES.

THESE ARE THEIR NEVER-BEFORE-BROADCAST

HOME VIDEOS...

MICHELLE, DID YOU CATCH SOME OF THOSE FISH?

YES.

...BUT THIS IS THE YATES FAMILY,

AND THESE HAPPY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

WILL BE WIPED OUT FOREVER

AS THE FAMILY WALK INTO A WORLD OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

TO SEE ONE DEAD BODY IS HARD ENOUGH,

BUT WHEN THERE'S A SECOND ONE, IT REALLY STRIKES AT THE HEART.

OFFICERS TOLD US

FINDING THE KILLER WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

IT FELT LIKE A BAD DREAM, BUT YOU CAN'T WAKE UP FROM IT.

Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT CAN GET PRETTY HOT, BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S RAINY.

YOU WANT MORE? THERE'S MORE.

THE SMALL TOWN OF WALLA WALLA

IN WASHINGTON STATE IS HOME TO THE YATES FAMILY.

THE CHILDREN SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME

PLAYING IN THE YARD...

KYLE.

...WHERE EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND THEIR NEWEST MEMBER.

YOU CAN'T MESS WITH THAT CAMERA, KYLE!

KYLE, DON'T YOU DARE MESS WITH THAT CAMERA.

DAD, KYLE IS MESSING WITH THE CAMERA.

KYLE.

LEAVE IT ALONE.

MY FATHER WAS EXCITED WHEN HE HAD A BABY BOY

BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN

WANTING A BOY FROM THE BEGINNING.

WELL, HERE'S SASHA AND HER LITTLE BROTHER.

THEIR DAD LOVES TO CAPTURE HIS KIDS ON CAMERA

WHENEVER HE IS HOME.

ARE YOU HAVING FUN, BOY?

AT 17, SASHA IS THE OLDEST OF FIVE YATES CHILDREN.

LOOK AT THAT BELLY.

DID YOU CATCH THEM FISH?

YES, I ONLY CAUGHT ONE.

- TODAY? - YES.

OH, OKAY.

14-YEAR-OLD SONYA IS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I CAUGHT THEM AT THE MILL CREEK LAKE.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO CATCH THEM?

10 MINUTES.

10 MINUTES, OKAY. GOOD.

AND HERE IS AMBER YATES.

HELLO!

AMBER HAS JUST TURNED 12.

MICHELLE.

AND 7-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE IS THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER.

MY EARLIEST MEMORIES, WE WOULD JOKE AROUND.

I WAS HAPPY IN MY CHILDHOOD.

- LET'S GET YOUR SHORTS ON. - HELLO, MICHELLE.

THE FAMILY FREQUENTLY PASSED THE CAMERA AROUND

TO RECORD EACH OTHER.

ARE YOU TAPING?

NOW IT'S SONYA'S TURN TO FILM HER MOM.

WAIT, I'M TAPING MOM.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

LINDA IS THE GLUE

THAT'S BEEN KEEPING THE FAMILY TOGETHER.

MY MOTHER WAS A NATURAL WHEN IT CAME TO TAKING CARE

OF FIVE KIDS.

JUST PUTTING SHORTS ON HIM.

HEY, LITTLE 2-YEAR-OLD BOY.

STAND UP.

SHE HAS TO MANAGE THE CHILDREN ALONE

WHENEVER THEIR FATHER IS AWAY.

WE WERE HAPPY LIVING WITH OUR MOTHER,

BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS A SENSE OF, LIKE, LOSS,

LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR FATHER WITH US HERE.

LOOK. LOOK AT MOM.

LOOK AT MOM.

THERE'S MOM.

SEE?

HEY, KYLE.

HEDGI-BIDGI-BOO. HEDGI-BIDGI-BOO.

SAYS, "I WANT TO GET DOWN AND WALK TO YOU."

UH-OH, MOM, YOU GOT THE CAMERA.

BOB IS IN THE ARMY, A HELICOPTER PILOT

WHO'S BEEN STATIONED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

OKAY, UP HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

DO IT AGAIN!

YAY! YAY!

OKAY. DO IT AGAIN.

SO THESE MOMENTS AT HOME WITH HIS KIDS ARE PRECIOUS.

OKAY. HERE, YOU DO IT NOW.

YOU DO IT.

WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE OUR DAD COME HOME FROM WORK

OR COME HOME FROM THE FIELD OR A MISSION.

DO IT AGAIN.

BOB HAS SERVED HIS COUNTRY FOR 14 YEARS.

AT AGE 16, HIS UNCLE TOOK HIM UP IN A CESSNA

AND WAS TEACHING HIM HOW TO FLY,

AND HE GOT THE FLYING BUG.

AND THEN WHEN HE WAS IN THE MILITARY,

HE WAS REALLY INTO IT.

HE GOT UP TO A, WHAT, A CW4, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER.

MY FATHER WAS SENT TO SOMALIA,

AND HE WAS ALSO DEPLOYED TO HAITI

WHEN HURRICANE ANDREW HIT.

WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I'M LIKE, "YEAH.

OUR DAD WAS KIND OF A HERO."

THIS HOME VIDEO MARKS A SPECIAL OCCASION.

KYLE, SAY HI!

SAY HI!

BIRTHDAY BOY.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN SEEN OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY.

BIRTHDAYS WERE GENERALLY HAPPY TIMES.

TAKE SOME MORE OFF LIKE THAT.

DO IT! RIP IT OFF.

TODAY IS KYLE'S SECOND BIRTHDAY.

TAKE IT OFF.

HE WANTS THAT AIRPLANE.

DID YOU GET IT OUT?

BATTERY-TYPE DRILL.

DID YOU GET IT OUT?

HERE, LET'S CUT IT OPEN.

THERE'S SOME BATTERIES THERE, TOO.

I GOT THE BATTERIES.

HE SAYS, "I WANT IT, DAD. HURRY UP."

OKAY. THERE WE GO.

THERE YOU GO.

I'LL TAKE THE PAPERS, AND YOU TAKE THE AIRPLANE.

GET IT OUT!

KYLE'S SPECIAL GIFT--

A TOY PLANE FROM HIS DADDY, THE PILOT.

WITH SO MANY CHILDREN TO ENTERTAIN,

THE YATES FAMILY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME OUTDOORS

AND ARE FREQUENT VISITORS TO THE LOCAL PARKS.

THE TIMES WHEN WE WERE ACTIVE,

AND WE WERE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY,

THOSE WERE THE-- THOSE WERE THE HAPPY TIMES.

AND THOSE ARE THE TIMES I MISS.

THIS HOME VIDEO IS A REMINDER

OF WHEN THE FAMILY WAS COMPLETE,

AND A PRELUDE TO THE TERRIFYING TRAUMA

THAT IS TO COME.

AS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, BOB WILL BE RETIRED,

AND THE YATES FAMILY WILL MAKE A MOVE TO THE CITY...

...150 MILES NORTH TO SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

LOOK AT THIS.

WOW.

- WHAT DO YOU THINK, KIDS? - IT'S HUGE!

HEY, LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD, ISN'T IT?

- YEAH. - THAT'S GREAT, HUH?

AHH.

YOU GUYS SHOULD JUST CARRY ON DOING THAT WHILE I SIT HERE.

I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE.

BUT WE SETTLED IN, AND WE MADE NEW FRIENDS.

BUT LIFE IN THE BIG CITY IS A FAR CRY

FROM THE SAFETY OF WALLA WALLA.

OH, THIS IS SO GREAT.

THEIR ONCE-COZY LIFE WILL UNRAVEL IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.

THE VICTIM SPENT WEEKS COVERED WITH BRUSH AND DEBRIS

RIGHT OFF THIS PIERCE COUNTY ROAD.

DETECTIVES WERE SHOCKED.

TIME IS ON THE KILLER'S SIDE.

IT WAS JUST SHOCKING FOR ALL OF US.

WE WERE IN DISBELIEF.

- HELLO, DADDY! - HI.

HI, DAD. I CLIMBED UP HERE.

THAT'S ME.

I WAS HAPPY THAT DAY.

THERE WERE GOOD TIMES WITH MY FAMILY.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I THINK BACK TO THE PAST,

AND I WISH I COULD GO BACK TO SOME OF THOSE DAYS.

LOOKING BACK AT HER HOME VIDEOS,

AMBER REMEMBERS TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD

WITH HER SIBLINGS, FOLLOWING THEIR FATHER,

ARMY HELICOPTER PILOT, BOB YATES.

ANYWAY, WE'RE CONTINUING TO VIEW THE CASTLE,

AND I'M GOING TO WALK OVER HERE

AND WALK UP THE STEPS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU CAN JOIN ME ON THIS FANTASTIC TOUR

OF THE CASTLE.

THIS FOOTAGE IS FROM THEIR TIME

IN GERMANY BACK IN 1991.

HELLO.

BOB WILL RETIRE IN FIVE YEARS

AND FINALLY SETTLE DOWN IN THE CITY OF SPOKANE.

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER, BYE.

THE NEW START COMES WITH A JOB

IN AN ELECTRONICS COMPANY,

WHICH ALLOWS BOB PLENTY OF FREE TIME

TO EXPLORE THE CITY.

I THINK MY DAD LIKED SPOKANE

BECAUSE IT WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN CITY.

IT HAD LOTS OF TREES.

IT WAS REALLY PRETTY.

I THINK IT REMINDED HIM OF HIS CHILDHOOD.

BUT SPOKANE IS A MUCH BIGGER CITY THAN WALLA WALLA,

AND IN THE SUMMER OF 1996,

THE CITY BEGAN EXPERIENCING A HORRENDOUS CRIME SPREE.

IT STARTED ON JUNE 14th.

TWO TEEN BOYS WERE WAITING AT A BUS STOP

WHEN THEY NOTICED A CONTINUOUS ODOR,

A STENCH, AND LO AND BEHOLD,

THEY FOUND A DECOMPOSED BODY.

THE VICTIM HAS BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD,

BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE.

THERE WAS NO POOLING OF BLOOD,

SO IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE BODY HAD BEEN DUMPED THERE,

AND SHE HAD BEEN KILLED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE BODY IS IDENTIFIED AS SINGLE MOM SHANNON ZIELINKSI,

A FORMER WAITRESS CAUGHT UP IN DRUG ADDICTION

AFTER FALLING ON HARD TIMES.

WE WERE SADDENED TO SEE THAT A HUMAN COULD TREAT

ANOTHER HUMAN WITH SUCH DISDAIN.

DETECTIVES START THEIR INVESTIGATION,

BUT THERE IS LITTLE TO GO ON FOR NOW.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, THE YATES FAMILY

IS SETTLING INTO LIFE IN SPOKANE.

GOING TO GIVE ME A HAND HERE.

THIS HERE IS WHAT MAKES THIS CAR GREAT.

BOB HAS MANY CARS HE LIKES TO WORK ON...

MY DAD REALLY LIKED THE HOT-ROD CARS, THE AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS.

...A HOBBY HE'S ENJOYED

SINCE THE GIRLS' CHILDHOOD.

I REMEMBER A VAN THAT MY DAD BOUGHT,

AND IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE PRIZE VEHICLE.

THAT'S THE VAN WE'RE RIDING IN.

AND THAT WAS PROBABLY MY DAD'S PRIDE AND JOY, I GUESS.

AMBER IS 17 NOW, AND MICHELLE 12,

SO BOB IS HAPPY TO SHARE HIS BIGGEST PASSION WITH THEM.

MY DAD HAD A WAY OF MAKING US EXCITED.

JUST THE TONE OF HIS VOICE AND MAKING IT SOUND EXCITING.

BUT LIKE MOST CAR BUFFS,

BOB IS VERY PROTECTIVE OF HIS FAVORITE RIDES.

AMBER, IT'S NOT A TOY!

SORRY.

MY DAD WAS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, DEFINITELY.

- DADDY. - OKAY, GO.

GO. HURRY UP.

YOU GOT MUDDY FEET.

GET YOUR FEET UP.

WHOO! WHOO!

BEING IN CHARGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO BOB.

YOU BETTER NOT BE RECORDING.

I AM.

PUSH THE BUTTON OFF RECORD.

WHAT HE SAID WAS WHAT WENT DOWN.

FOR A YEAR,

SPOKANE POLICE HAD BEEN WORKING THE CASE

OF SHANNON ZIELINKSI WITH LITTLE PROGRESS.

NOW THE PACE OF VIOLENCE IS ABOUT TO QUICKEN,

A BODY FACE-DOWN IN A VACANT LOT

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.

ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS A WOMAN,

AND SHE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.

THE BODY IS IDENTIFIED

AS 20-YEAR-OLD HEATHER HERNANDEZ,

BUT AS DETECTIVES ARE ABOUT TO GET TO WORK,

THINGS GET A WHOLE LOT WORSE.

YEAH. YOU'RE KIDDING ME.

WHERE?

ANOTHER HOMICIDE IS REPORTED JUST A 30-MINUTE DRIVE AWAY.

AND THIS TIME, THEY RECOGNIZE THE BODY.

THE VICTIM IS 16-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER JOSEPH,

A RUNAWAY REPORTED MISSING BY HER FAMILY.

A BUTTON TORN FROM HER BLOUSE SUGGESTS A STRUGGLE

BEFORE SHE WAS SHOT

AND THEN ABANDONED IN A FIELD.

I WAS DISGUSTED THAT THESE WOMEN WERE TREATED SO BADLY

AND THEN DISCARDED WITH NO REMORSE.

NEWS OF THE MURDERS SHOCKS THE CITY.

ALL THE MEDIA WERE ON TOP OF THIS STORY.

Reporter #2: POLICE SAY

NEITHER CASE HAS PRODUCED A SOLID LEAD.

TWO BODIES DISCOVERED ON THE SAME DAY, AND IT WAS ASTOUNDING.

I MEAN, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

Reporter #1: 16-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER JOSEPH

WAS FOUND PARTIALLY BURIED BELOW MOUNT SPOKANE.

JENNIFER A. JOSEPH'S STORY WAS INTERESTING TO ME

BECAUSE SHE WAS 16,

AND I WAS 17 AT THE TIME.

AND HER FATHER WAS MILITARY,

SO SHE WAS A MILITARY KID JUST LIKE I WAS.

SO IN A DIFFERENT WORLD, WE COULD'VE BEEN FRIENDS.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

JUST GOING TO STAND THERE?

JENNIFER REMINDS AMBER OF HER SISTERS.

SHE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THEY WON'T MEET THE SAME FATE.

GIVE ME A MINUTE, WOULD YOU?

WITH THE PRESSURE MOUNTING,

A TASK FORCE IS SET UP,

AND DETECTIVES START PIECING THE EVIDENCE TOGETHER.

IT TURNS OUT THAT ALL THREE VICTIMS HAVE TIES

TO PROSTITUTION OR DRUG USE,

AND ALL HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD WITH A SMALL-CALIBER WEAPON.

THEIR SEMI-CLOTHED BODIES ARE DUMPED AT REMOTE LOCATIONS,

AND THERE IS ONE MORE DISTURBING SIMILARITY.

THE KILLER WOULD WRAP THE VICTIMS' HEADS

WITH PLASTIC BAGS.

SOME HAD A SMILING FACE ON IT.

ALL OF THESE SIMILARITIES STARTED ADDING UP.

WHICH SUGGESTS ONE TERRIFYING THEORY.

MORE THAN LIKELY, THERE'S A SERIAL KILLER

ON THE LOOSE IN SPOKANE.

LUCKILY FOR AMBER, SHE'S ALWAYS FELT SAFE

AT HOME WITH HER FAMILY,

GOOFING AROUND WITH HER DAD IN THIS HOME VIDEO

AT JUST 11 YEARS OF AGE.

OKAY, CHECK THE WASHER.

OPEN IT UP.

WAIT TILL I GET DOWN HERE.

I CAN SEE YOUR HEAD NOW.

JUST WAIT.

AMBER HAS NO IDEA HOW MUCH HER LIFE WILL CHANGE

IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.

WITH A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE,

INVESTIGATORS FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS

ON IDENTIFYING A POSSIBLE SUSPECT.

BECAUSE OF THE LIFESTYLE THE PROSTITUTES LIVE,

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHO COMMITTED THE MURDERS.

A FRIEND OF THIRD VICTIM JENNIFER JOSEPH

TELLS DETECTIVES SHE SAW JENNY

GET INTO A WHITE CORVETTE THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.

UP TO THIS TIME, POLICE HAD NOTHING TO FOCUS ON,

AND SO THIS INFORMATION FROM THIS EYEWITNESS,

THE WOMAN THAT LAST SAW JENNIFER JOSEPH ALIVE,

WAS VITAL.

AMBER YATES REMEMBERS HER CHILDHOOD ADVENTURES

WITH DAD, BOB, BEFORE THE MURDERS,

ALL CAPTURED ON THESE NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN HOME MOVIES.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CASTLE?

UH, PRETTY GOOD.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD, BUT WHAT?

IS IT A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY HERE?

YEAH.

WELL, I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT'S NEAT.

AND WHAT IS NEAT ABOUT IT?

THE JAIL ROOM.

WERE THERE ANY DEAD PRISONERS IN THERE STILL IN CHAINS?

- NO. - YEAH, THERE WAS.

THERE WAS. - THERE WAS?

- AND LITTLE TUNNELS AND CAVES. - YEAH.

- I WAS WALKING ON THOSE STAIRS. - THAT'S ALL!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT, KYLE?

HUH?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT, BOY?

NOT TOO CLOSE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THE CASTLE?

HUH?

HUH?

OKAY, WELL, I GUESS KYLE DOESN'T HAVE MANY WORDS.

WHAT AMBER DOESN'T YET KNOW

IS THAT ONE OF THESE SMILING FACES

IS ABOUT TO HIT THE HEADLINES FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

LET ME ZOOM IN ON IT, OKAY?

HOW BIG DO YOU THINK THAT BIGGEST ONE IS?

14 INCHES.

- 14 OR SO? - YEP.

BOB YATES LOVES SPENDING TIME

WITH HIS FIVE CHILDREN.

- YOU LIKE THEM? - YEAH.

HOW MANY DID YOU CATCH ALL TOGETHER?

FOUR.

AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THEM?

THE OTHER TWO I CAUGHT GOT AWAY.

OTHER TWO GOT AWAY. OKAY.

BUT THOSE ARE PRETTY NICE FISH.

THE OTHER KIDS ARE JEALOUS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GO

BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO STAY AND WATCH A MOVIE.

DAD.

YOU SHOULD'VE WENT AND WENT FISHING, MICHELLE.

I WANT TO GO AGAIN.

NOT NOW. IT'S TOO LATE NOW.

WE'LL GO SOME OTHER TIME, OKAY?

- COME ON. - SEE, DAD, YOU WERE RIGHT.

YEAH, I WAS RIGHT.

MICHELLE, DID YOU CATCH SOME OF THOSE FISH?

- YES. - HOW MANY?

TWO, BUT ONE GOT AWAY.

FISHING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAVORITE YATES ACTIVITY.

HE WOULD SHOW US HOW TO PUT THE LINE ON THE POLE

AND SOME OF THE BEST BAIT TO USE

AND HOW TO THROW IT, CAST IT OUT.

DID YOU CATCH SOME FISH, TOO?

YES.

- HOW MANY? - TWO.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO CATCH THEM?

THE FIRST ONE CAUGHT BETWEEN 10 MINUTES

UNTIL THE SECOND ONE.

10 MINUTES. AND WHERE DID YOU CATCH THEM AT?

UM...

MILL CREEK LAKE?

MILL CREEK RESERVOIR.

WITH EVERY CATCH,

BOB MAKES SURE TO SHOW HIS GIRLS HOW TO PREPARE THEM.

SOMEBODY BETTER GO WATCH HIM.

AMBER, GO WATCH HIM, THEN YOU CAN GO IN.

MY FATHER WAS A MAN'S MAN.

MY DAD ENDED UP TEACHING US GIRLS A LOT OF THINGS

THAT HE WOULD TEACH A BOY.

FISH.

MICHELLE.

DADDY.

WHEN MY DAD STARTED GUTTING THE FISH, I WOULDN'T BE NEAR

BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY DISGUSTING.

I FELT LIKE MY DAD WAS PREPARING US AND TEACHING US

HOW TO SURVIVE IN THIS WORLD.

SURVIVAL SKILLS BOB'S DAUGHTERS WILL NEED.

SIX YEARS AFTER THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN,

THEY'RE LIVING IN SPOKANE,

AND THERE'S A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE.

IN THE FALL OF 1997, THREE YOUNG WOMEN HAVE BEEN MURDERED,

AND DETECTIVES ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK

TO CATCH THEIR KILLER.

I TOOK THIS CASE REALLY PERSONALLY.

THESE WOMEN, THEY WERE MOTHERS, SISTERS, DAUGHTERS.

THEY DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE.

SO FAR, THEIR ONLY LEAD

IS A WHITE CORVETTE THE KILLER MAY HAVE USED.

AND ACCORDING TO THE DMV, THERE ARE 4,900

REGISTERED CORVETTES IN THE GREATER SPOKANE AREA.

IT WILL TAKE TIME TO TRACK DOWN EACH ONE.

AT THE CRIME LAB, INVESTIGATORS SCOUR THE CLOTHES

OF THIRD VICTIM JENNIFER JOSEPH.

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, THEY FIND THEIR SECOND CRUCIAL CLUE.

WE FOUND CARPET FIBERS, PRESUMABLY FROM THAT CORVETTE.

IF WE CAN MATCH THE TWO, BINGO.

WE'RE IN THE GAME.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

READY? GO.

THE MURDER INVESTIGATION

IS FAR FROM THE MINDS OF THE YATES FAMILY.

THEY'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED LIFE

WITH THEIR MILITARY HERO DAD, BOB...

I REMEMBER MY DAD PLAYING WITH KYLE,

AND HE WOULD THROW HIM UP IN THE AIR.

...A STRONG, PROTECTIVE FATHER

WHO THEY CAN TRUST.

THAT WAS THE GOOD PART OF MY DAD.

BUT THESE MEMORIES WILL FADE.

SIX YEARS LATER IN SPOKANE,

13-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE HAS A FAR DARKER ENCOUNTER.

ONE DAY, I WAS IN THE VAN WITH MY DAD.

WE WERE GOING TO A STORE.

DAD, WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

IT STINKS IN HERE.

IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEN I TURNED AROUND,

AND I SAW A BIG, RED SPOT ON THE BACKSEAT.

WHAT'S THAT RED MARK?

OH, IT'S A FUNNY STORY.

I HAD, UH...

HE SAID HE HAD HIT A DOG COMING BACK FROM WORK,

AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE DOG WHERE HE HIT IT,

SO HE PUT IT ON THE BACK CHAIR,

AND HE TOOK IT TO THE VETERINARIAN.

I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CLEAN IT UP YET.

AND HE SAID, "OH, I'M SURE IT'S FINE."

AND THEN THAT WAS THE END OF IT.

AS SPOKANE HEADS TOWARDS THE HOLIDAYS, NORM BROWN

DOESN'T GET A LOT OF TIME TO RELAX WITH HIS FAMILY.

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, 1997, I RECALL GETTING A CALL

WHILE I WAS CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY WITH MY FAMILY.

ANOTHER BODY WAS RECOVERED.

WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS

A RECOVERY OF MORE THAN ONE BODY.

IT WAS ACTUALLY TWO.

TO SEE ONE DEAD BODY LIKE THAT WAS HARD ENOUGH.

BUT WHEN THERE'S A SECOND ONE, IT REALLY STRIKES AT THE HEART.

BOTH VICTIMS HAVE THE SAME M.O.

AS THE PREVIOUS THREE WOMEN.

THE HARDER WE WORKED, THE MORE VICTIMS TURNED UP DEAD.

ALL OF US WERE FRUSTRATED BY THIS

BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE POSSIBLY CAN,

AND YET THIS GUY IS STILL OUT THERE KILLING WOMEN.

AND IT WON'T BE LONG

BEFORE THE SPOKANE SERIAL KILLER STRIKES AGAIN.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED

BEFORE THEY CATCH THIS GUY?

YOU COMING TO DAD?

HUH? WHOA.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE USUALLY A GOOD TIME

FOR THE YATES KIDS WITH THEIR DAD.

KYLE.

CAREFUL.

YOU WANT TO GO WALK AROUND SOME MORE?

OKAY.

HOW ABOUT WAITING FOR DAD?

BUT BY CHRISTMAS, 1997, 6 YEARS AFTER THIS VIDEO,

EVERYTHING IS SET TO CHANGE.

THE BODY COUNT IN SPOKANE IS UP TO EIGHT.

THE CITY IS ON EDGE, BUT THE YATES HOUSE

IS TENSE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

MY DAD'S BEHAVIOR DID CHANGE.

- YEAH. - OH.

ALL YOU KIDS DO IS MAKE A MESS.

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST TIDY UP FOR ONCE?

DAD.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LUCKY YOU ARE.

STOP BEING SO SPOILED.

MY FATHER WAS WORKING A LOT OF LATE SHIFTS,

AND WHEN HE WOULD COME HOME,

THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE OF THE HOUSE WOULD CHANGE.

ANOTHER LATE NIGHT, BOB?

AND WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN THIS TIME?

DON'T TELL ME YOU'VE BEEN WORKING

BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T.

I THOUGHT MAYBE HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR OR SOMETHING.

AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

I FELT BETRAYED.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BOB IS LOSING CONTROL,

AND THE FAMILY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DAD SNAPS.

- KYLE. - KYLE, DON'T DO THAT.

KYLE.

KYLE!

KNOCK IT OFF.

GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF THERE.

HE DOESN'T LIKE WHEN YOU DO THAT.

I KNEW THAT THERE WAS TROUBLE COMING

BECAUSE THERE WAS TROUBLE COMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF TROUBLE,

BUT I JUST KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE COMING.

IT'S 1991.

THE YATES GIRLS ARE A PICTURE OF INNOCENCE PLAYING

IN THE PARK AS THEIR FATHER, BOB, FILMS THEM.

- HI, SHELLY. - DAD!

HOW ARE YOU?

FINE.

LOOK AT DADDY!

HEY, AMBER.

HI.

OVER THERE.

DADDY!

EIGHT YEARS LATER, THAT INNOCENCE WILL BE CRUSHED

BY A DISTURBING DISCOVERY.

SPRING 1998, AMBER IS SEARCHING FOR HER MUSIC

WHEN SHE UNCOVERS HER FATHER'S SECRET.

I JUST STARTED LOOKING IN MY DAD'S VEHICLE,

AND I FOUND SOME TYPE OF NOTEBOOK

WITH SOME PHONE NUMBERS IN IT.

BUT I ALSO FOUND SOME CONDOMS.

I'M LIKE, "OKAY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

AMBER TAKES THE NOTEBOOK TO HER MOM.

I REMEMBER FEELING AFRAID ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING

TO HAPPEN TO OUR FAMILY.

IF WE WERE GOING TO SPLIT OR SOMETHING ELSE,

SOMETHING MORE MAJOR WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HEY.

BOB, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

WHAT IS THIS?

- WHAT IS WHAT? - THIS.

THIS BOOK.

SHE WAS REALLY ANGRY.

SHE WAS REALLY ANGRY, AND SHE WAS REALLY UPSET.

WHO ARE ALL THESE WOMEN?

THIS CAN'T GO ON ANYMORE.

IF I FIND OUT THAT YOU ARE SEEING OTHER WOMEN...

DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.

BOB, I SWEAR TO GOD.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I SAID, "OH."

I SAID, "YOU JERK."

IT'S PROBABLY EDDIE'S.

I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO HIM.

I WILL NOT LET YOU RIP THIS FAMILY APART.

DO YOU HEAR ME?

I WILL KILL YOU, BOB.

BOB. BOB.

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE FIRST MURDER,

AND THE TASK FORCE IS NO CLOSER

TO CATCHING SPOKANE'S SERIAL KILLER.

THEY ARE YET TO MATCH A WHITE CORVETTE

TO RED FIBERS FOUND ON JENNIFER'S SHOES.

NOVEMBER 10, 1998, 1:25 A.M., INVESTIGATORS

STAKE OUT A STREET IN THE CITY KNOWN AS THE TRACK,

WHERE JOHNS ARE KNOWN TO PICK UP WOMEN.

DESPERATE FOR A LEAD, THEY QUESTION ANYONE PASSING THROUGH.

THE OFFICER ASKS, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"

MAY I ASK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE AREA?

WHEN THE OFFICER ASKED THE MAN HIS NAME, HE REPLIED,

"ROBERT LEE YATES."

THE UNASSUMING FATHER OF FIVE

HAS BEEN CAUGHT PICKING UP A PROSTITUTE

IN ONE OF HIS MANY CARS, A HONDA CIVIC.

HE TELLS POLICE THAT THE WOMAN COMPANION IN THE CAR

IS A DAUGHTER OF A FAMILY FRIEND,

AND HE'S JUST GIVING HER A RIDE HOME.

TECHNICALLY, THERE'S NOTHING ILLEGAL

ABOUT GIVING SOMEONE A RIDE,

AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A CORVETTE, NOT A HONDA.

THE POLICE OFFICER LETS YATES GO,

BUT THEY ADD HIS NAME TO THE LIST OF MEN

WHO FREQUENT THE TRACK AND HIRE PROSTITUTES OUT THERE.

GO DO IT.

THAT ONE BOUNCES GOOD.

I KNOW A GOOD BASKETBALL WHEN I SEE IT.

I'M TRAVELING A LITTLE BIT.

UH-OH.

BOB'S IMAGE AS THE LOVING FAMILY MAN

FORGED IN THESE PICTURES IS SLIPPING.

HE SAID, "HEY. THERE'S ONE STUCK UP THERE."

HIS FAMILY IS UNAWARE OF HIS RUN-IN WITH POLICE.

NOVEMBER 12, 1998,

14-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE IS NOW IN THE NINTH GRADE.

I WAS WORKING ON SOME MATH HOMEWORK,

WHICH I WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING.

AT 19, OLDER SISTER AMBER IS THE FIRST TO NOTICE

THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

I WOULD NOTICE

THAT MY FATHER ON SOME DAYS WOULD BE MOODIER.

I WASN'T REALLY SURE WHY.

NO, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

YEAH, I KNOW. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THESE RIGHT.

ALTHOUGH MY DAD WAS TRYING TO TELL ME HOW TO DO IT,

I JUST COULDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

DON'T JUST CORRECT IT.

START ALL OVER AGAIN.

AND HE WOULD CALL ME STUPID. "ARE YOU DUMB?"

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING

IF YOU DON'T GET THIS RIGHT.

I TURN AROUND, AND I GLARED AT HIM.

NO. NOT LIKE THAT.

NO. NO.

THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GO UNDER. - DAD!

DON'T YOU USE THAT TONE OF VOICE ON ME, YOUNG LADY.

- WHAT TONE OF VOICE? - THAT TONE OF VOICE!

WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH MY TONE OF VOICE.

- OH, DON'T YOU? - YEAH, I DON'T!

WELL, I DO SEE A PROBLEM.

WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE LOSING YOUR CONTROL, DAD.

OH, REALLY? I'M LOSING MY CONTROL?!

HE PICKED ME UP OFF THE COUCH AND THREW ME ACROSS THE ROOM.

AND THEN STARTED SLAPPING ME IN MY FACE.

IT FELT LIKE SUPER-HUMAN POWER.

I COULDN'T FIGHT AGAINST HIM.

DAD! PLEASE STOP, DAD, PLEASE!

HE JUST WOULDN'T STOP,

AND SO I STARTED SCREAMING BECAUSE IT SCARED ME.

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HER GET HURT.

DAD! PLEASE STOP, DAD, PLEASE.

DAD!

IT WAS LIKE HE WAS A BEAST, AN ANIMAL.

HE, LIKE, TOTALLY CHANGED.

SWITCHED FROM ONE MOOD TO ANOTHER LIKE THAT.

IT WAS SCARY.

NO, PLEASE LET HER GO!

AMBER REPORTS THE ATTACK TO POLICE,

BUT BOB IS LET OFF WITH JUST A WARNING.

IT FELT LIKE A BAD DREAM, BUT YOU CAN'T WAKE UP FROM IT.

YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE ANYTHING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CASTLE?

UH... IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD, BUT WHAT?

IS IT A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY HERE?

YEAH.

AMBER'S HAPPY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

ARE FADING FAST.

TASK FORCE INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN SEARCHING

FOR A WHITE CORVETTE WITH RED CARPET FIBERS.

A NEW LEAD TAKES THEM TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY.

THEY IDENTIFY ONE OF THE OWNERS OF A WHITE CORVETTE,

AND THEY ASK THAT PERSON,

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED THE CAR?"

AND THE ANSWER IS, "ONLY A SHORT TIME."

WOULD YOU MIND IF WE HAD A LOOK AT YOUR PAPERWORK?

AND THEN THEY SAID, "WHO WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER?"

INVESTIGATORS HUNTING SPOKANE SERIAL KILLER

THINK THEY'VE MADE A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH.

THEY'VE FOUND A WHITE CORVETTE WITH RED CARPETS

UNDER THE FRONT SEATS.

WHEN LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASKED THE OWNER

WHO SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM,

SHE SAID, "ROBERT YATES."

ROBERT YATES, THE SAME FAMILY MAN

AND DECORATED MILITARY VETERAN

WHO MOVED TO SPOKANE JUST FOUR YEARS AGO.

MY DAD IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THIS NOW.

IT'S...DIFFERENT SEEING HIM LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WITNESSES THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED YOUR CAR.

BOB IS ARRESTED AND INTERROGATED BY DETECTIVES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO PIN ON ME,

BUT I HAVE A FAMILY AT HOME, RIGHT?

YATES REFUSES A DNA TEST,

CLAIMING IT WOULD BE INSULTING FOR THE FAMILY MAN.

BUT DETECTIVES AREN'T BUYING IT.

WE KNOW THIS COULD BE OUR MAN.

IT TAKES FOUR MONTHS OF FORENSICS,

BUT BOB'S OLD CORVETTE DELIVERS

THE EVIDENCE THE TASK FORCE NEEDS.

CARPET FIBERS FROM THE CAR MATCH THE ONES FOUND

ON JENNIFER JOSEPH'S SHOE.

TUCKED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, A SINGLE PEARL BUTTON,

A MATCH FOR THE ONE MISSING FROM JENNIFER'S SHIRT.

AND FINALLY, DNA AND DRIED BLOOD SPLATTER

IS ALSO FOUND ON THE FRONT SEAT.

ANOTHER POSITIVE MATCH TO JENNIFER.

IT WAS JUST A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT

THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THEY FINALLY GOT THE GUY.

ROBERT YATES IS CHARGED WITH MURDER.

THE FAMILY HOME IS CORDONED OFF AND BECOMES A HIVE OF ACTIVITY.

RIGHT AFTER THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED,

OF COURSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHO IS HE.

WHAT'S HIS BACKGROUND?

HE'S YOUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR.

AND HERE IS AMBER YATES.

SHE'S SITTING ON THE CASTLE WALL.

SHE'S GOING TO TELL US WHAT HER IMPRESSION

IS OF GERMANY AND THIS CASTLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CASTLE?

UH... PRETTY GOOD.

AMBER'S AT WORK WHEN HER DAD IS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

I HAD A STRANGE FEELING LIKE SOMETHING HAD BROKEN.

LIKE, SOME TYPE OF EVIL HAD BEEN VANQUISHED.

AND I KEPT LOOKING UP TOWARDS THE SKY

BECAUSE I FELT SOMETHING,

AND THE ATMOSPHERE WAS DIFFERENT.

AND I GOT ON THE PHONE, AND MY MOTHER WAS LIKE,

"GUESS WHAT, AMBER?

YOUR DAD GOT ARRESTED FOR MURDER."

AND THE NIGHTMARE FOR AMBER AND HER FAMILY

ONLY GETS WORSE.

BOB'S JACKET HAS TRACES OF DNA

FOR SEVERAL MISSING OR DECEASED WOMEN,

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

INVESTIGATORS FIND ONE OF BOB'S VICTIMS' JACKETS

HANGING IN HIS DAUGHTER'S CLOSET.

THE VICTIM WAS WORKING THE TRACK AT THE TIME

JENNIFER JOSEPH WENT MISSING.

BOB GAVE THE JACKET AS A GIFT

TO HIS MIDDLE DAUGHTER, MICHELLE.

I FELT REALLY UPSET AND SAD

AND, JUST, REALLY, REALLY MAD

AT WHAT MY DAD DID.

IN THE FACE OF SUCH OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE,

ROBERT YATES PLEADS GUILTY TO 13 COUNTS OF MURDER.

GUILTY, YOUR HONOR.

HE THEN REVEALS WHERE

ONE OF HIS MISSING VICTIMS' BODIES CAN BE FOUND.

IT'S BURIED IN THE YARD, JUST FEET FROM HIS DAUGHTER'S WINDOW.

KNOWING THAT I WAS PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD

WHERE A WOMAN WAS BURIED, IT WEIRDS ME OUT.

IT FREAKS ME OUT BECAUSE WHAT IF WE STUMBLED

UPON THE BODY SOMEHOW?

THEN WHAT WOULD HE SAY THEN?

HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

AND FINALLY, BOB USED THE BLUE VAN TO MOVE THE BODIES,

THE SAME ONE HE WOULD TAKE HIS KIDS TO THE PARK IN.

THAT'S THE VAN WE'RE RIDING IN.

IT JUST SHOWED WHAT A SICK INDIVIDUAL WE WERE DEALING WITH.

BOB IS CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS

AND SENTENCED TO DEATH.

MICHELLE, DID YOU CATCH SOME OF THOSE FISH?

- YES. - HOW MANY?

TWO, BUT ONE GOT AWAY.

I WISH HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.

BECAUSE NOW I DON'T REALLY HAVE A DAD.

I SEE ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE DADS

THAT THEY CAN STILL DO STUFF WITH,

AND MY DAD IS BEHIND BARS.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH HIM LIKE WE USED TO.

FOR THE YATES FAMILY,

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE MAN IN THIS VIDEO

IS CAPABLE OF SUCH HORRENDOUS CRIMES.

KYLE.

HE SAYS, "I WANT TO GET DOWN AND WALK TO YOU."

UH-OH, MOM.

KYLE WOULD GET VERY UPSET BECAUSE HE'S A LITTLE KID.

THERE YOU GO!

HE STARTED SCREAMING AND RAN INTO THE NEXT ROOM.

AND MY MOM RAN AFTER HIM, AND WE JUST ALL STARTED CRYING.

GEEZ, I'M GOING TO START CRYING.

BUT WE ALL WANTED TO BE THERE FOR OUR BROTHER

BECAUSE HE WAS THE YOUNGEST.

WE WANTED TO TRY TO PROTECT HIM.

SHOCK TOOK OVER ALMOST EVERY OTHER EMOTION

BESIDES THE SADNESS.

FAMILY MAN TURNED SERIAL KILLER

BEHIND THE MOST RESPECTABLE OF FACADES,

LURKED AN EVIL THAT KNEW NO BOUNDS.

I'M RECORDING YOU.

STOP RECORDING.

AT THE END, I FELT SOMETHING COMING OFF MY FATHER,

BUT I COULDN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT EXCEPT THAT IT FELT

LIKE THE DEVIL WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR.