In 1988, Ethiopian immigrant and college student Mulugeta Seraw was beaten to death on the streets of Portland by a group of white supremacist skinheads — a murder that exposed a violent underground movement growing in plain sight across America. In this episode, we trace the life of a young man chasing the American dream, the hate-fueled ideology that made him a target, and the shocking network behind the killers.

Seraw’s murder became a landmark civil rights case that reached far beyond one city — and forced the nation to confront the deadly consequences of organized hate.

Listener discretion is advised as this does touch some heavy topics.

Grab your caffeine, clock in and join the shift.

Check out our sources listed below!

• https://www.investigatewest.org/kicked-out-of-the-proud-boys-a-portland-neo-nazi-launched-his-own-group-and-hes-gone-to-war-with-his-former-allies/
• https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/seraw-mulugeta/
• https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/remember-mulugeta-30-years-after-splc-lawsuit-life-and-legacy-man-killed-hate-group/
• https://samepassage.org/when-portland-banned-blacks-oregons-shameful-history-as-an-all-white-state/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8wz-i0QLPU&t=1596s

Welcome to the first episode of Northwest Night Shift!

In the shadows of the Pacific Northwest, a quiet family man lived a double life. By day, Robert Lee Yates Jr. was a decorated Army veteran, husband, and father. But beneath the surface lurked one of the most chilling serial predators in Washington state history.

In this episode, we discuss the terrifying crimes of the Spokane serial killer — tracing the disappearances of vulnerable women throughout the 1970s and 1990s, the investigation that baffled authorities for years, the forensic breakthrough that finally exposed the truth, and examine how Yates evaded suspicion for decades.

Through court records, investigative timelines, and survivor accounts, this episode explores the dark intersection of violence, secrecy, and systemic failure in one of America’s lesser-known serial murder cases.

Listener discretion is strongly advised. This episode contains discussions of violence, murder, and crimes against women.

Grab your caffeine, clock in and join the shift.

Welcome to Northwest Night Shift — a true crime podcast focused on the dark, chilling, and often forgotten cases of the Pacific Northwest.

In our very first episode, we introduce ourselves, share why we started this podcast, and talk about our mission to bring awareness to real cases while staying respectful to the victims and their families. From unsolved disappearances to shocking crimes hidden in the forests and small towns of the PNW, we’re here to uncover the stories that deserve to be heard.

So grab a coffee, lock your doors, and join us for the first shift.

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