Island County Checks For Yates Link

A West Side county is reviewing three unsolved cases for possible links to a serial killer suspect arrested last week by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office is looking for evidence that might link Robert Lee Yates, 47, to two open homicide cases and a missing person case. But in a statement, Island County Sheriff Mike Hawley said there is no obvious link between Yates and the open cases.

Island County is north of Seattle and includes Whidbey Island. Yates grew up in Oak Harbor and went to Whidbey Island schools.

The cases under review include:

Darrin Wade Gehrke, 23, a gunshot victim found June 20, 1995, in North Whidbey on the outskirts of Oak Harbor. There were no signs of sexual assault.

Teresa Hesselgrave, 19, who died of asphyxiation. Her body was found April 15, 1976, in a wooded area of Coupeville, south of Oak Harbor. There were no signs of sexual assault.

Linda Fisler Moran, 27, who has been missing since Dec. 22, 1996. She disappeared from a gas station in the Bayview business area of south Whidbey.

This sidebar appeared with the story: More vehicles sought

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a motor home that was parked at the home of serial killer suspect Robert Lee Yates in January 1999. Investigators do not know the make or model of the motor home, which was white or beige and may have had stripes.

Inspector David Wiyrick said it’s not clear whether Yates owned the vehicle.

Investigators have already seized nine vehicles Yates currently owns or has owned in the past. They are being searched for clues.

Wiyrick asked anyone with information about the motor home to call the county’s homicide task force at (509) 477-2710 or (509) 477-2706.