Heather Hernandez was 20 when she arrived in Spokane in July 1997 after moving from the Southwest. Described by people who knew her as smart, funny, and level-headed, she was arrested twice for prostitution within weeks of arriving. On August 16, 1997, Heather was shot to death. Her partially clothed, decomposing body was found in an overgrown lot in east Spokane on August 26.

Detectives initially had few clues and no clear motive; her killing was Spokane’s sixth homicide of the year and, alongside another body found that day, raised fears a serial killer was targeting vulnerable women. In April 2000 authorities arrested Robert Lee Yates Jr.; DNA linked him to multiple murders and he confessed to killing Heather among others. Yates received a lengthy prison sentence and additional death sentence later commuted to life without parole.

If anyone knew Heather or has information about her time in Spokane, please come forward.