February 13, 2002

"48 HOURS: 'MURDER IN SPOKANE'"--
MARK FUHRMAN ALLEGES SLOPPY POLICE WORK COST LIVES FRIDAY, FEB. 15

Correspondent Harold Dow will examine the chilling story of a serial killer on the loose, the women he terrorized, and the Spokane task force investigation that inspired Fuhrman's true crime novel, Murder in Spokane, on 48 HOURS Friday, Feb. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

In a little more than two years (1997 to 1999), at least a dozen women, mostly prostitutes, were murdered in Spokane, Wash. The deaths and the difficulty police had in finding the killer caught the attention of former Los Angeles Police detective Mark Fuhrman, by coincidence co-host of a Spokane radio talk show, "All About Crime." Fuhrman and his co-anchor began to publicly question police progress on the case and what they believe was sloppy police work.

The first two murder victims, both prostitutes, were found the same day and Fuhrman's radio co-host, Mike Fitzsimmons, had a gut feeling the murders were linked. As two more prostitutes were soon found dead, murdered with a small caliber weapon, as were the first two victims, Fuhrman began taking a close look at the police investigation and profiled the serial killer on his radio show. Soon, the number one topic on the radio show was what the police were doing to catch the killer.

The Spokane police formed a task force to better help them solve the mysterious murders, though Fuhrman counters it was "too little, too late." The newly formed task force was immediately faced with the murders of two more prostitutes on Dec. 26, 1997, bringing the total to six. Task force captain Doug Silver said, "The only common thread we had at that point was the fact that they were prostitutes." Prostitutes continued to turn up dead over the next year. "They got bodies stacking up like cordwood. We're going--what are they doing?" said Fuhrman. The task force, who had virtually no experience with serial killers, was keeping critical details and possible clues to the crimes from the public.

Upon learning this, Fuhrman and Fitzsimmons began showing up at crime scenes and then reporting on-air what had happened in hopes of getting feedback from the public that would help solve the case. Sheriff Mark Sterk claims, "If we start putting information out about our case, who are we communicating with?...Our suspect." Detective Ben Estes says, "Mark Fuhrman implied that we should be, for some reason, consulting him. In all fairness...I have all the respect for him that I do any other convicted felon in this community."

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The war between Fuhrman's camp and the police continued. Fuhrman believes that one crucial clue not made publicly known would have solved the crime sooner: That Jennifer Joseph, one of the first victims, was last seen climbing into a white Corvette the night she disappeared. Captain Silver countered that about 25 other vehicles had been mentioned being near the murder scenes throughout the investigations. Later, detectives created a list of people who owned white Corvettes and who had contact with prostitutes -- about 47 names. This finally led Detective Rick Grabenstein to a white Corvette whose carpet fibers matched those found on Joseph. Police also discovered blood on the passenger seatbelt and a missing button from Joseph's blouse in the car.

Finally, on April 18, 2000, nearly three years after the murders began, Robert Yates, Jr. was arrested for the murder of 16-year-old Jennifer. The police and community seemed satisfied, but Fuhrman wasn't. After close inspection of the arrest warrant, Fuhrman quickly concluded that police should have easily caught Yates. sooner and that some of the murders might have been prevented. "Errors were made, and people died because errors were made," Fitzsimmons states. Sheriff Sterk counters, "Isn't it easy to Monday-morning quarterback? We're not saying we didn't make mistakes. Did we cause some women to die as a result of that? I don't think so and I don't think that's a fair statement."

In October of 2000, Yates plead guilty to 13 counts of murder and was sentenced to 408 years in state prison and is facing the death penalty based on a new trial set to begin later this year.

48 HOURS: "Murder in Spokane" is produced by Randy Martin and Elena DiFiore is the associate producer. Reid Collins Jr. is the senior broadcast producer and Susan Zirinsky the executive producer.

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Press Contact: Marcy Erhard 212/975-2888 erhardm@cbsnews.com