Robert Lee Yates

Spokane Serial Killer

  Active for 24 years
(1975-1998) in United States

18

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

23

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 11 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 14 Books About Robert Lee Yates
  14. 4 External References
  15. Internal References

Robert Lee Yates an American serial killer known as the Spokane Serial Killer. Yates was known to have murdered at least thirteen women, all of whom were prostitutes in the Skid Row area of East Sprague Avenue in Spokane, Washington between 1996 and 1998. He confessed to three additional murders from 1975 to 1988 and was convicted of two more murders in Pierce County. Robert Lee Yates was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2002 which was commuted to life without parole in 2018. Robert Lee Yates is currently serving life in prison at the Washington State Penitentiary.

Robert Lee Yates Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Robert Lee Yates (aka) Spokane Serial Killer, was active for 24 years between 1975-1998, known to have ( 18 confirmed / 23 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States

Robert Lee Yates was born on May 27th 1952 in Spokane, Washington, US. He was raised by both parents. His father, Robert Lee Yates. His mother, Anna Mae. Robert Lee Yates was sexually, and physically, and abused at some point of his life.

Robert Lee Yates a heterosexual male citizen of the United States of America. He completed 14 years of school, attended some college, no degree received. He married. He had five children.

Prior to his spree he had killed, and commited crimes.

In 1975 (Age 22/23) Robert Lee Yates started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, rape, and murder his victims. Robert Lee Yates used a weapon and was in possession of a firearm during his crimes. He was known to kill victims at his own home. He would keep personal items from the victim after the crime. Robert Lee Yates used a blindfold or simiar method of covering the victim's eyes. At the time of his crimes he was living with his wife and their five children, where he was known to work as a criminal, serial killer.

He was arrested on April 18th 2000 (Age 47), convicted on October 26th 2000 (Age 48), sentenced to death commuted to life without parole at Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla, Washington, US. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Profile Completeness: 84%
serial killers by profile completeness

Robert Lee Yates has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Robert Lee Yates a known:

Robert Lee Yates
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-05-01 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Robert Lee Yates
Nickname: Spokane Serial Killer
Victims: 18 - 23
Years Active: 1975 - 1998
Ages Active: 22/23 - 45/46
Active Countries: United States
Convicted Of: murder
Life Span: 1952 -     
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Citizenship: United States of America
Sexual Preference: heterosexual
Astrological Sign: Gemini
May 21 - Jun 21
Birth Month: May
Marital Status: married
Children: five children
Living With: his wife and their five children
Occupation: criminal, serial killer
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: May 27, 1952
Given Name: Robert
Birth Location: Spokane, Washington, US
Birth Order: N/A
Siblings: N/A
Raised By: both parents
Birth Category: N/A
Mother: Anna Mae
Father: Robert Lee Yates

Cognitive Ability
IQ: N/A
Highest School: 14 years of school
Highest Degree: some college, no degree

Incarceration
Arrested: Apr 18, 2000 (Age 47)
Convicted: Oct 26, 2000 (Age 48)
Sentence: death commuted to life without parole
Prison Location: Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla, Washington, US
Executed: N/A
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: FALSE
Previous Prison: FALSE

Death Information
Death Date: N/A
Cause of Death: N/A
Death Location: N/A
Killed In Prison: N/A
Suicide: N/A
11 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Robert Lee Yates

The 11 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Robert Lee Yates. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
May 27 1952Robert Lee Yates was born in Spokane, Washington, US.  #19520527
May 27 1972
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
1975
(Age 22/23)
Robert Lee Yates started his serial killing spree. #1975
May 27 1982
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
May 27 1992
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
1998
(Age 45/46)
Robert Lee Yates ended his serial killing spree. #1998
Apr 18 2000
(Age 47)
Robert Lee Yates arrested. #20000418
Oct 26 2000
(Age 48)
Robert Lee Yates was convictedand sentenced to death commuted to life without parole at Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla, Washington, US.  #20001026
May 27 2002
(Age 50)
50th Birthday
May 27 2012
(Age 60)
60th Birthday
May 27 2022
(Age 70)
70th Birthday
Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Robert Lee Yates (1975-1998).

Serial Killers By Active Year


32 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
living with children TRUE 268
physically abused TRUE 231
sexually abused TRUE 226
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous killed TRUE 208
kill at killers home TRUE 320
used weapon TRUE 453
used gun TRUE 451
rape TRUE 453
blindfold TRUE 363
totem personal item TRUE 354
robbed TRUE 418
father drug abuse FALSE 192
mother drug abuse FALSE 195
physically defect FALSE 300
speach defect FALSE 300
head injury FALSE 299
psychologically abused FALSE 224
forensic hospital FALSE 257
previous jail FALSE 352
previous prision FALSE 336
kill at victims home FALSE 323
torture FALSE 426
stalk FALSE 418
bound FALSE 406
strangle FALSE 443
sex with body FALSE 430
mutilated FALSE 447
ate part of body FALSE 451
drank blood FALSE 442
posed body FALSE 365
totem body part FALSE 365


Books that Mention Robert Lee Yates

Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: A Tragic Honesty (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
Blake Bailey
A Tragic Honesty
Book: Revolutionary Road (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
Richard Yates
Revolutionary Road
Book: Murder In Spokane (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
Mark Fuhrman
Murder In Spokane
Book: Body Count (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
Burl Barer
Body Count
Book: The Spokane Killer (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
Jack Smith
The Spokane Killer
Book: Extreme Killing (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
James Alan Fox
Extreme Killing
Book: Extreme Killing (mentions serial killer Robert Lee Yates)
James Alan Fox
Extreme Killing

14 Books that mention Serial Killer
Robert Lee Yates

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
0312423756 A Tragic Honesty 1
0307270890 Revolutionary Road 1
0061098736 Murder In Spokane 1
0786030259 Body Count 2
1539532917 The Spokane Killer 1
0761988572 Extreme Killing 2
1483352803 Extreme Killing 8
0786003480 Evil Secrets 1
0275973360 A Violent Heart 1
0816069875 The Encyclopedia of Seria... 108
0993823246 Serial Killer Quarterly V... 3
0595287808 The Big, Bad Book of Bob 3
1506349129 Extreme Killing 8

Robert Lee Yates Jr. (born May 27, 1952) is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. From 1996 to 1998, Yates is known to have murdered at least 13 women, all of whom were prostitutes working on E. Sprague Avenue, in Spokane.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Robert Lee Yates on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Robert Lee YATES Jr. on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018.
  3. Marianne Wells, Alicia Washburn, Yates, Robert Lee on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018.
  4. Q578579 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
Internal References

Robert Lee Yates is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #2 of 30[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in May
  2. #4 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Gemini Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  3. #20 of 327[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  4. #31 of 651[ Page 3 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  5. #36 of 307[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #66 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  7. #194 of 651[ Page 13 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  8. #643 of 651[ Page 43 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Robert Lee Yates is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: