Unusual Suspects Premiered ‘Monster in Spokane’ on ID: Serial Killer in Washington is Retired National Guard Pilot Robert Lee Yates, Jr. (July 19, 2010)

On July 19, 2010November 17, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, True Crime, VeteransLeave a comment

A serial killer plagues Spokane, Washington, claiming the lives of more than a dozen victims. The reexamination of an old clue finally helps investigators zero in on the murderer. -Monster in Spokane, Unusual Suspects (S1,E6)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $3.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict. Download the ID Go app or purchase ID True Crime Files & binge away.

Related Links:
The Spokane Murders | TIME
Death Sentence Upheld for Spokane Serial Killer
Social worker who served Yates’ victims supports end of death penalty
Robert Lee Yates | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
Retired Army National Guard Pilot & Serial Killer Robert Lee Yates, Jr. Convicted of 2 More Murders of Women in Washington (September 19, 2002)
American Monster Premiered ‘Family Snapshot’ on ID: Bob Yates’ Family Shocked Military Hero Father & Spouse is a Serial Killer (July 16, 2017)
Scene of the Crime w/ Tony Harris Premiered ‘Down by the River’ on ID: Retired Army Pilot Robert Lee Yates is the Monster in Spokane (June 3, 2018)
Washington State Supreme Court Outlawed Death Penalty; Serial Killer Robert Yates’ Death Sentence Converted To Life in Prison (October 11, 2018)
Monster in Spokane | Unusual Suspects | Investigation Discovery (S1,E6)
Monster in Spokane | Unusual Suspects | Investigation Discovery (website)
Monster in Spokane | Unusual Suspects | Investigation Discovery (Prime Video)
Cable show to feature Yates serial killer case

Fort Bragg Army Spc. Morganne McBeth Killed by Fellow Soldier in Iraq; Spc. Nicholas Bailey Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison (July 2, 2010)

On July 2, 2010July 3, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat Death1 Comment

Morganne McBeth.png — Spc. Morganne McBeth, U.S. Army

Army Spc. Morganne McBeth, 19, died July 2, 2010 of wounds sustained on July 1. This was considered a non combat death in Iraq and her death was ruled a homicide. Morganne was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on behalf of the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. McBeth was stabbed by a fellow Army soldier Specialist Nicholas Bailey. According to court testimony, Bailey stabbed Morganne McBeth while ‘horsing around’ in a tent in Iraq. Nicholas Bailey was sentenced to nine months in prison, demoted to private, and given a bad conduct discharge.

“Involuntary manslaughter can be committed in one of two ways,” an 82nd Airborne official said in an e-mail. “…through culpable negligence or by causing a death while committing or attempting to commit an offense directly affecting the person, other than burglary, sodomy, rape, robbery, or aggravated arson. Note that these are the five offenses covered in the felony murder rule. As the manual for court martials points out, culpable negligence is a degree of carelessness greater than simple negligence. It is a negligent act or omission which is accompanied by a culpable disregard for the foreseeable consequences to others of that act or omission.” -Army Times

Related Links:
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Army Spc. Morganne M. McBeth
Army Spc. Morganne McBeth | Military Wall of Honor Facebook
Morganne Marie McBeth, Specialist, United States Army
82nd Airborne combat medic dies in Iraq
Fredericksburg Service Woman Dies in Iraq
Army reported Va. medic’s death in Iraq as accidental, then self-inflicted, now murder
Soldier’s Death Called Murder
Army: 2 soldiers charged in medic’s death in Iraq
Two Ft. Bragg Soldiers Charged in the July 2, 2010 Death of Spc. Morganne McBeth in Iraq (Update)
2 Bragg soldiers charged in stabbing of spc. (Army Times)
Witness: Paratrooper tired of lying to cover up medic’s death
Stepmother of Slain Female Soldier Asks Court to Show Leniency
Guilty plea in death of local medic
Soldier pleads guilty in McBeth’s death
Soldier gets 9 months for stabbing death
Bragg soldier gets nine months in prison for medic’s death
Hiding Military Sexual Trauma
Military women die in suspicious non-combat events. Families ask: Why?
No End in Sight for a Family’s Agonizing Guessing Game
Violent Crime, Non Combat Death and Suicide at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (US Army)
Non Combat Deaths of Female Soldiers in the U.S. Military (Iraq)
Military Policy and Legislation Considerations for the Investigations of Non Combat Death, Homicide, and Suicide of US Service Members

The Nation | In the Name of Pat Tillman: Good Riddance to Stanley McChrystal (June 25, 2010)

On June 25, 2010June 1, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat DeathLeave a comment

In the Name of Pat Tillman: Good Riddance to Stanley McChrystal

When NFL player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman died at the hands of US troops in a case of “friendly fire,” the spin machine at the Pentagon went into overdrive. Rumsfeld and company couldn’t have their most high-profile soldier dying in such an inelegant fashion, especially with the release of those pesky photos from Abu Ghraib hitting the airwaves. So an obscene lie was told to Tillman’s family, his friends and the American public. The chickenhawks in charge, whose only exposure to war was watching John Wayne movies, claimed that he died charging a hill and was cut down by the radical Islamic enemies of freedom. In the weeks preceding his death, Tillman was beginning to question what exactly he was fighting for, telling friends that he believed the war in Iraq was ” [expletive] illegal.” He may not have known what he was fighting for, but it’s now clear what he died for: public relations. Today, after five years, six investigations and two Congressional hearings, questions still linger about how Tillman died and why it was covered up.

Army Spc. Christopher Opat Died of a Non Combat-Related Incident in Baquah, Iraq (June 15, 2010)

On June 15, 2010June 1, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Non Combat DeathLeave a comment

opat-older — Spc. Christopher Opat, U.S. Army

Army Spc. Christopher W. Opat, 29, died of a non combat related incident on June 15, 2010 in Baquah, Iraq. Spc. Opat was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on behalf of the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. According to the Department of Defense, at the time of the press release the circumstances surrounding the incident were under investigation.

Related Links:
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Army Spc. Christopher W. Opat
Cresco soldier dies in Iraq
Local residents show support for fallen soldier
Father of fallen soldier says son was dedicated to service
Christopher Wesley Opat | Remembering the Fallen
Spc. Christopher W. Opat
Christopher Opat, 29, Lime Springs
Procession for fallen Army soldier to go through Spring Valley Tuesday morning
U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Opat laid to rest
A family buries a hero
Flags lowered in Iowa in honor of soldier Christopher Opat
US troops who have died while serving in Iraq and Kuwait

Army Pvt. Elizabeth Lynch-Gonzalez Died By Suicide After Jumping Off the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York (June 10, 2010)

On June 10, 2010June 1, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Suicide1 Comment

Army Pvt. Elizabeth Lynch-Gonzalez, 19, died on June 10, 2010 after jumping off the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. Her death was ruled a suicide.

Related Links:
19-Year-Old Dies in Plunge Off Tappan Zee Bridge
Police Confirm Elizabeth Lynch-Gonzalez’s Body Washes Ashore
Witnesses recount pleading with TZ jumper
Community Says Farewell to Elizabeth Lynch-Gonzalez
Army pvt. bound for Hood jumps from NY bridge
Soldier who jumped to her death was upset about deployment

JBLM Army Soldier Nathan Smith Sentenced to 11 Years to Life in Prison for Kidnapping, Rape, Attempted Rape, Torture, and Arson (May 28, 2010)

On May 28, 2010May 4, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Military Policy, Scandals, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

screen-shot-2016-12-31-at-7-17-36-pm — Nathan Smith, US Army

According to ABC News, US Army Staff Sgt. Nathan Ryan Smith, 29, was charged with kidnapping, rape, arson, and tampering with evidence in the State of Washington. Fort Lewis Army personnel reported that Nathan Smith was Absent Without Leave (AWOL) as of January 5, 2009. Washington state investigators said Smith was suspected of kidnapping and attacking two women.

Smith was accused of grabbing one woman on January 1, 2009 in a Tacoma, Washington parking lot. He allegedly choked her until she became unconscious. The woman claimed when she woke up, she was naked and bound with zip ties in someone’s house. When she tried to free herself, she says she heard a man say, “If you fight, you’ll die.” Then she alleged the man put a knife to her face and said, “If you cooperate, you’ll go home.” According to this victim, the man believed to be Nathan Smith then gagged her and raped her. He also used electrified clamps to torture her and told the woman “If you tell anybody, police or anyone, I will kill you and your family. I can find you. I will find you.”

“After he allegedly raped one woman, Smith told her, I have killed several people in Iraq. I’m crazy in the head, and if I get caught by police I will come looking for you and kill you.” –ABC News

The second victim the police identified was a woman who was kidnapped on January 3, 2009. She claimed once they arrived at the assailant’s home, he choked her until she blacked out. She told police that when she woke up, her hands were bound and she had a gag in her mouth. She managed to escape and ran to a neighbor’s house who called the Washington State police. The second woman gave a similar description as the first victim of the man who kidnapped her. She also identified the same car the first victim identified, the same car Nathan Smith drove.

In both instances the victims said their attacker fit Smith’s description and drove the same kind of car that is registered to Smith. Washington State Police reported that Fort Lewis Army soldier Nathan Smith served as a calvary scout in Iraq from September 2006 to October 2007 and has military and wilderness survival skills. Nathan Smith is considered extremely dangerous. When finally captured and arrested, The News Tribune in Tacoma reported that Smith pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. In 2010, Smith changed his plea to guilty; guilty of one count of second-degree rape, one count of attempted second-degree rape, and one count of first-degree arson. The prosecutor requested 12 years for Smith, adding the brutality he inflicted on the women was off the charts. On May 28, 2010, the Judge sentenced Nathan Smith to 11 years to life in prison and it will be up to the Washington state Indeterminate Sentence Review Board to determine when, if ever, Smith is released.

He apologized to the women before being sentencing, saying he hopes the pain he caused them does not endure. He also apologized to his former comrades in arms. “They’re in Iraq right now, which is where I should be,” said Smith, a former cavalry scout with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division…Defense attorney Wayne Fricke requested a low-end sentence of nine years, three months, saying his client had served his country honorably before going over the line with the women – prostitutes he’d hired to have sex with him. –The News Tribune

Related Links:
AWOL Soldier Wanted in Kidnappings, Rape
Ex-soldier gets 11 years to life in Parkland sexual assault case
Violent Crime, Suicide & Non Combat Death at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington (US Army)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Dirty Little Seacret’: Thrill Killers Erika and Benjamin Sifrit Murdered Two Tourists in Ocean City, Maryland (May 28, 2010)

On May 28, 2010October 11, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, True Crime, VeteransLeave a comment

Full Episode: The couple spent Memorial Day weekend at the beach, and then they simply vanished. Their clothes and personal items were still in the rented condo, their car was parked outside, and there were no signs of forced entry or foul play. A week later, police would get an unexpected lead from a robbery in progress, and the evidence they found helped them to solve a crime of unparalleled violence and brutality. -Dirty Little Seacret, Forensic Files (S13, E47)

Editor’s Note: Full episodes of Forensic Files are available on a variety of media platforms. FilmRise Channel and Forensic Files Channel both feature full episodes of Forensic Files on YouTube. You can also find full episodes of Forensic Files on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. On Netflix, the seasons are grouped as collection 1-9. On Amazon Prime Video, you can find Season 1-10 here; Season 11; Season 12; Season 13; Season 14; Season 15; Season 16; Season 17; Season 18; Season 19; Season 20; and Season 21. Start bingeing and see for yourself why Forensic Files is such a hit!

Daniel Wozniak Murdered Army Veteran Sam Herr & Stole $50,000 to Pay for Wedding; Sentenced to Death in California for Two Murders (May 21, 2010)

On May 21, 2010January 26, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name2 Comments

sam-herr-army — Sam Herr, U.S. Army Veteran

Daniel Wozniak was convicted of shooting and killing Army veteran Sam Herr on May 21, 2010 in Los Alamitos, California. Daniel Wozniak shot Sam Herr in the back of the head twice and decapitated him for the money in his bank account; he needed some cash to pay for his upcoming wedding. Daniel Wozniak was convicted of the pre-meditated murder of Juri ‘Julie’ Kibuishi and Sam Herr and sentenced to death in 2015.

In the News:

Sam Herr’s father Steve Herr found Julie Kibuishi’s lifeless body sprawled across his son’s bed. -ABC News

The Herr family believes Sam Herr, who had $62,000 saved from combat pay, may have been a victim himself. -ABC News

Daniel Wozniak, 31, stands accused of killing his neighbor and another woman while performing in a play in 2010. -ABC News

Daniel Patrick Wozniak was formally sentenced to death on Friday for using a firearm to murder his neighbor for financial gain and also murdering the victim’s friend in an effort to derail the investigation by framing the first victim. Michele Gile reports. -CBS Los Angeles

After several hours of interrogation, Daniel Wozniak reveals the motive and details behind Sam Herr and Julie Kibuishi’s murders. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

At trial, Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy urges jurors to impose death for Daniel Wozniak. Here are the reasons why he feels no other punishment is just. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

48 Hours” correspondent Tracy Smith on meeting Steve Herr, whose Army veteran son, Sam, disappeared in May 2010. As the search unravels a murder scene in Sam’s bedroom, his father hunts for answers — and the truth. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

Julie Kibuishi’s mother, June, and close friend, Katie Bitonio, share what they loved about the young dancer. Julie’s personality is captured as she performs and in a video she made with friends. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

Kara Kessener and Deborah Kennedy met Daniel Wozniak in a local theater production of “Nine.” They talk about his behavior the weekend of the murders. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

Investigation Discovery:

California student Julie Kibuishi is found dead in the bed of her friend, Sam Herr a decorated war hero. But Sam is nowhere to be found. As police hunt for their prime suspect, they’ll find this case is far more complicated than it first appeared. -Curtain Call, The Perfect Murder (S3,E13)

Costa Mesa, California is beautiful place to live, but it comes at a cost. The murder of a young girl and the disappearance of a former Army soldier leads investigators down a dark path into the mind of an unassuming killer. -Final Curtain, Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent (S9,E5)

Related Links:
Justice delayed: Why it took more than 5 years for trial of Daniel Wozniak, accused of killing 2, beheading one victim
Actor decapitates Army combat vet and kills vet’s girlfriend
Daniel Wozniak Murders: Killer Had a Larger-Than-Life Personality, Friends Say
Father describes horror of his dismembered son’s murder
Convicted killer Daniel Wozniak’s ex-fiancee Rachel Buffett appears in court
Actor is Convicted of Killing an Army Vet and His Friend to Get Money to Afford His Wedding
Actor who played lead in a musical after killing two, dismembering one, convicted of murder
Jury recommends execution for community theater actor convicted of decapitating Army veteran and then murdering victim’s friend to pay for his wedding
Community theater actor sentenced to death for killing, dismembering Afghanistan vet to pay for wedding
Ex-Actor Sentenced to Death After Being Found Guilty of Killing 2 People to Raise Money for His Wedding
How a California Community Theater Actor Tried to Frame a War Veteran for Murder
Community Actor Kills Veteran, Student for Money to Bankroll Honeymoon
Theatre actor murdered Army veteran and friend so he could steal money to pay for his wedding
Daniel Wozniak case: Full story of California double murder investigated on ’20/20′
Daniel Wozniak, Rachel Buffet: ‘Dateline’ NBC Examines Plot Twists of Actor in Bizarre Costa Mesa, California Murder Case
Sam Herr, Juri ‘Julie’ Kibuishi: ‘The Perfect Murder’ on Investigation Discovery—Afghanistan War Vet, California Tutor Killed by Actor in Plot to Have Lavish Wedding
Daniel Wozniak: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
48 Hours: Killer Performance
Curtain Call | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (S3,E13)
Curtain Call | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (website)
Curtain Call | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (Prime Video)
The Perfect Murder Premiered ‘Curtain Call’ on ID; Sam Herr & Julie Kibuishi Murdered in Costa Mesa, California by Unusual Suspect (August 24, 2016)
Final Curtain | Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent | Investigation Discovery (S9,E5)
Final Curtain | Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent | Investigation Discovery (website)
Final Curtain | Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent | Investigation Discovery (Prime Video)
Unusual Suspects, Deadly Intent Premiered ‘Final Curtain’ on ID: Sam Herr & Julie Kibuishi Murdered in Costa Mesa, California (November 1, 2017)

Video Links:
College Girl Found Dead in Veteran’s Apartment [Part 1] | ABC News
College Girl Found Dead in Veteran’s Apartment [Part 2] | ABC News
Community Theater Actor on Trial for Killing Two People | ABC News
Death penalty sought against actor | Orange County Register
Costa Mesa Actor Sentenced To Death For Double Murder | CBS Los Angeles
Daniel Wozniak: “I’m crazy and I did it” | 48 Hours
Prosecutor: Wozniak deserves death | 48 Hours
Reporter’s Notebook: How a father copes | 48 Hours
Remembering Julie Kibuishi | 48 Hours
What’s it like performing with a killer? | 48 Hours
Mystery in Apartment 410 | 20/20 ABC
Facing the Death Penalty
‘Curtain Call’ | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
‘Final Curtain’ | Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)

The Wounded Platoon: A Powerful Portrait of What Multiple Tours & Post-Traumatic Stress are Doing to a Generation of Young American Soldiers (May 18, 2010)

On May 18, 2010July 21, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat Death, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Stateside Death, Suicide, VeteransLeave a comment

“Since the Iraq War began, soldier arrests in the city of Colorado Springs have tripled. FRONTLINE tells the dark tale of the men of 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st battalion of the 506th infantry, and how the war followed them home. It is a story of heroism, grief, vicious combat, depression, drugs, alcohol and brutal murder; an investigation into the Army’s mental health services; and a powerful portrait of what multiple tours and post-traumatic stress are doing to a generation of young American soldiers. [Explore more stories on the original website for The Wounded Platoon.]” -PBS (May 18, 2010)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Waste Mis-Management’: Convicted Murderer Dishonorably Discharged by Military for Violence (May 14, 2010)

On May 14, 2010October 15, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, True Crime, VeteransLeave a comment

Full Episode: The evidence suggested the woman had been bound, sexually assaulted and murdered. Afterwards, the killer spent hours at the crime scene, wiping away his fingerprints and disposing of everything which might incriminate him, including the woman’s body. Police now face a daunting task: they not only have to find the killer, they also have to find the body of the victim. -Waste Mis-Management, Forensic Files (S13,E46)

Related Links:
Glenda Gail Furch – The Charley Project
Glenda Gail Furch – September 28, 2007 | Texas LostNMissing
Waste Mis-Management | Forensic Files | IMDb
Waste Mis-Management | Forensic Files | FilmRise (S13,E46)
Waste Mis-Management | Forensic Files | Full Episodes (YouTube)
Waste Mis-Management | Forensic Files | Netflix (Collection 1, E29)
Waste Mis-Management | Forensic Files | Amazon Prime Video (S13,E12)
Forensic Files: 13 Active Duty Military and Veteran Homicide Cases [Full Episodes]
Murder trial begins without victim’s body
Owens gets life in prison for Fort Worth woman’s murder
Man Convicted In FW Woman’s Murder Sentenced
Man who killed General Motors worker, scrubbed her Fort Worth apartment gets life sentence
No-Body Homicide Cases: A Practical Guide to Investigating, Prosecuting, and Winning Cases When the Victim Is Missing
Tale of meth, murder and Aryan gangs reminiscent of ‘Sons of Anarchy’
Tale of meth, murder and Aryan gangs reminiscent of TV’s ‘Sons of Anarchy’
Can you prove murder without a body?

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Category: Armed Forces

Unusual Suspects Premiered ‘Monster in Spokane’ on ID: Serial Killer in Washington is Retired National Guard Pilot Robert Lee Yates, Jr. (July 19, 2010)

Fort Bragg Army Spc. Morganne McBeth Killed by Fellow Soldier in Iraq; Spc. Nicholas Bailey Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison (July 2, 2010)

The Nation | In the Name of Pat Tillman: Good Riddance to Stanley McChrystal (June 25, 2010)

Army Pvt. Elizabeth Lynch-Gonzalez Died By Suicide After Jumping Off the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York (June 10, 2010)

JBLM Army Soldier Nathan Smith Sentenced to 11 Years to Life in Prison for Kidnapping, Rape, Attempted Rape, Torture, and Arson (May 28, 2010)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Dirty Little Seacret’: Thrill Killers Erika and Benjamin Sifrit Murdered Two Tourists in Ocean City, Maryland (May 28, 2010)

Daniel Wozniak Murdered Army Veteran Sam Herr & Stole $50,000 to Pay for Wedding; Sentenced to Death in California for Two Murders (May 21, 2010)

The Wounded Platoon: A Powerful Portrait of What Multiple Tours & Post-Traumatic Stress are Doing to a Generation of Young American Soldiers (May 18, 2010)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Waste Mis-Management’: Convicted Murderer Dishonorably Discharged by Military for Violence (May 14, 2010)

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