Murder Case Without A Motive Investigators Struggle To Assemble Profile Of Suspect In Trooper’S Shooting

He’s known here as a shy artist who drifted quietly about town.

Many describe Scott David Yager as different, but few in his hometown of Rathdrum figured the 34-year-old man would ever be accused of gunning down a state police officer.

There seems to be a lot that people don’t know about Yager, who kept to himself, showing up alone at bars and elsewhere in town.

“I don’t think anyone really knows Scott,” one bartender said.

Yager remains under guard at Kootenai Medical Center, the only suspect in the June 17 shooting of Idaho State Police trooper Linda Huff.

While Yager recovers, police and residents are struggling to piece together stories of his life, searching for a motive.

Around town, Yager’s acquaintances said it’s hard to believe the man accused of shooting Huff is the same one they’ve seen wandering down Main Street.

“The biggest question that continues to be posed regarding this case is the question of why,” said Coeur d’Alene police Capt. Carl Bergh. “A person that could give us an answer to that does exist. All he has to do is talk to us.”

In the meantime, investigators have spent hours interviewing friends, relatives, business owners anyone who may be able to offer details of Yager’s life. They have talked to dozens of people and expect to interview several more before they finish a profile of the man they are convinced killed Huff.

Police believe Yager arrived at ISP headquarters on his bicycle on June 17 carrying five magazines of ammunition for his pistol. He scuffled with Huff around 11 p.m. and wounded the officer 10 times before killing her with a shot to the forehead, investigators have said.

“At this point in time I don’t think we have a clear picture of who Mr. Yager is,” Bergh said.

Dozens of neighbors, former classmates and employees at businesses Yager used to frequent offer only a glimpse at the accused killer’s life. Most spoke on the condition that they remain anonymous because they know Yager’s family or don’t want to upset grieving police officers.

They use words such as eccentric, gentle and quiet to describe Yager. Violence is never mentioned.

“He was quiet,” said Dan Lyson, a former boss. “I don’t know what was going on in his head.”

Raised in a large family, Yager graduated from Lakeland High School in 1983.

He attended Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Coeur d’Alene where his parents have been longtime members.

“They’re just really no explanation for this,” said a woman who met Yager’s family at church. “I know they brought him up morally right. I think everything was done right.”

Yager’s father, Jerry, is a former superintendent of the Lakeland School District. He was also a high school principal and science teacher during his lengthy tenure.

On Sundays, Jerry Yager and his wife, Ellen, regularly took their four daughters and three sons to church. Both have been active at First Baptist for several decades, said pastor John Haven.

He described the family as “tight-knit,” although Scott Yager had not attended a service during the 18 months since Haven took over as pastor.

“We are shocked as his church family,” Haven said. “We have no idea what happened. We are as much at a loss as anyone.”

Yager’s immediate family has refused two requests for interviews.

A woman who described herself as an acquaintance said Yager is softspoken and kind.

“Mean, cruel or violent - never would these words be associated with Scott by anyone who ever had met or did know him,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified.

An artist skilled at sculpting, carving and painting, he regularly strolled along the railroad tracks hunting for stones to shape. Many described his work as detailed and precise.

Despite his talents, Yager struggled to fit in.

“Scott was aware he was somewhat different than his peers,” the acquaintance said. “He felt misunderstood and confused as a result of his thoughts. If someone hurt his feelings he emotionally overreacted, being a terribly sensitive young man.”

His classmates, the handful that remember him, said Yager had a reputation in high school as being a little more outgoing.

“There’s also the brothers Scott and John Yager who don’t care what side they’re on as long as someone’s fighting,” reads a senior class review essay written in 1983 by classmate Shawn McIntosh.

Still, no one saw trouble coming.

Kootenai County court records show Yager had been accused of only minor traffic violations until prosecutors filed the first-degree murder charge in the wake of Huff’s death.

“It’s a shock because there’s no indication,” Haven said. “In my own mind I would never have expected it because there was no history of violence.”

Yager worked sporadically during recent years spreading concrete, according to court records and acquaintances. He did not have a job when he was arrested.

Lyson, his former boss, described Yager as a hard worker during the five months he was a member of a concrete crew last fall. The Lyson Construction owner said he would have re-hired Yager, who relied on rides from his parents to get to and from the job site.

People in Rathdrum said they hadn’t seen Yager drive a car in two years. He walked everywhere - quietly and alone.

“I just saw a gentle side,” said the bartender. “I never saw a violent side. I never had to raise my voice at him.”