Victims The Walla Walla Killings Name: Name: They were just two months out of college in 1975 when they set out for a Sunday afternoon swim and a picnic. At some point, the childhood friends crossed paths with another young man on a hunting trip -- 23-year-old Robert Lee Yates, Jr. For Oliver, fresh from studies in France, and Savage, a recent graduate of Washington State University, the chance encounter marked a tragic end. Yates killed both. Her skeletal remains were found five months later in Skagit County. Yates confessed to that crime 
Killed: July 13th 1975
Cause of death: Two gunshots in the head 
Killed: July 13th 1975
Cause of death: Three gunshots in the head 
as part of the plea bargain to spare his life.
The Spokane Killings
In the Spokane killings, all the victims were shot one, two or three times in the head with a .25-caliber gun.
The victims' bodies were found in remote locations near well-traveled roads, according to authorities.
Almost all the victims had been transported to the locations where they were found -- referred
to as "dump sites" in police parlance. Authorities do not know where they were killed.
Almost all had two to four small plastic grocery bags covering their heads. Investigators suggest that
the bags were a "signature" -- things serial killers do to their victims that are not necessary for murder.
Found: June 1996
Cause of death: Multiple gunshots
Date of birth: October 6, 1980
Age: 16
Killed: July 1997
Cause of death: Multiple gunshots
Found: August 1997
Cause of death: Multiple gunshots
Date of birth: September 18, 1968
Cause of death: Two gunshots in the head
Date of birth: March 27, 1961
Cause of death: 2 gunshots in the head.
Her body was found Dec. 18, 1997. Two plastic bags covered her head.
Date of birth: January 22, 1966
Cause of death: Two gunshots in the head.
Her body was found December 26, 1997 at approxmately East 4800 14th, Spokane County, Washington.
Date of birth: August the 7th 1956
Cause of death: Two gunshots in the head.
Date of birth: April 25, 1963
Cause of death: Single gunshot in the head.
Name: Melody Ann Murfin Police said she has an extensive history of drug abuse.She was reported missing on June 4, 1998. Her body was found 2000. Yates directing investigators to a body buried in his own side yard, evidence investigators missed in more than a month of searching his home. An autopsy failed to positively identify the body, and investigators said DNA samples would be required. However, jewelry found with the corpse matched jewelry that Murfin's family members described. "The family members verified the rings she had on and the necklace," "Everything matches. [Yates] hasn't told us anything that is not true yet."
Age: 43
Cause of death: Two gunshots in the head.
Her body was found July 7, 1998 at North 218 Creatline, Spokane County, Washington.
Name: Shawn A. McClenahan
Date of birth: May 30, 1958
Cause of death: Two gunshots in the head.
Her body was found December 26, 1997 at approxmately East 4800 14th, Spokane County, Washington. 
Name: Melinda L. Mercer
Age: 24
Date of Birth: June 27, 1973
Cause of death: Three gunshots in the head
Her body was found October 13, 1998 near the 1700 block of 108th Street South, Tacoma, Pierce 
County, Washington. In January 1999, LaFontaine was officially added to the serial killer cluster.
