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Vanessa Richardson
On the Crime House Original podcast Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, we're diving into the psychology of the world's most complex murder cases.
Dr. Tristan Ingalls
From serial killers to cult leaders, deadly exes and spree killers, we're examining not just how they killed, but why.
Vanessa Richardson
Is it uncontrollable rage? Overwhelming fear? Or is it something deeper? Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House Studios original new episodes drop every Monday and Thursday Friday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts.
Crime House Narrator
This is Crime House.
Katie Ring
Tonight's case dominated headlines not because of the crime itself, but because of the defense. Scott Flater claimed that the only reason he stabbed his wife 44 times is and drowned her was because he was sleepwalking and he doesn't remember a single thing. The trial was a sensation not because of the crime itself, but because of Scott Follater's defense.
Crime House Narrator
The notorious sleepwalking killer Scott Fileter stabbed his wife 44 times, then drowned her in the pool. Case made national headlines due to his novel defense. He was sleepwalking when he killed his wife and didn't remember a thing. Foreign.
Katie Ring
Welcome to Night watch on Crime House 24 7. I'm your host Katie Ring, and together we'll be following the cases making headlines now, where justice is still unfolding. Follow us wherever you are listening and if you want ad free episodes, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts plus subscribe to our YouTube channel at Night Watch Pod this episode discusses an active criminal case. The information we share is based on what's publicly available at the time of recording and may change as new evidence comes to light. We aim to inform, not to decide guilt or innocence. So everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Katie Ring
Yarmila Fleder was born on February 5, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. She was known for her intelligence, spunk and kind nature. In high school she met her future husband, Scott Flater, who said she was a quiet but popular girl with an artistic bent and a friendly nature. Scott was born on September 14, 1955 and also grew up in Illinois. He was the eldest of five and was raised in a middle class Catholic household where his mother Lois was a nurse and his father Frederick was an HR manager. Even though the Flers were devout Catholics, their home was not always a peaceful one. Behind closed doors, Frederick was reportedly a heavy drinker, prone to angry outbursts. He physically and emotionally abused his wife and children and drinking would only exacerbate the violence. As the eldest son, Scott bore the brunt of that stress. He cared for his siblings through the hard times and despite the chaos and violence at home, Scott excelled in school, played the clarinet and loved classical music. But the stress in Scott's home life manifested in maladaptive ways with which he seemed to have no control over. It started when Scott was about 10 and he started wetting the bed. This was bad enough for a child who was well past potty training age, but things only got worse. Soon Scott was sleepwalking. He never had any memory of what he did during these episodes. He only heard about it from his family. At first, Scott sleepwalking was relatively benign. He would walk around the house and even though his eyes were open, he was completely asleep. But without treatment and as his father's abuse continued, Scott's behavior while sleepwalking grew more severe. One night when he was around 12 years old, Scott emerged from his room completely naked, walked into his parents room and told them he was ready for school. Frederick got out of bed and placed his hands on Scott's shoulders to try and guide him back to his room, but Scott pushed back with alarming force. His father couldn't get him to move at all. Frederick was stunned and Lori was disturbed. The strength that Scott displayed was borderline aggressive and his parents weren't sure how to help him because they didn't want to trigger him while he was sleeping. For years, Scott's family believed his sleepwalking was something they could manage. But that night in his parents bedroom was a Warning because the line between sleep and violence was starting to disappear. Tonight we begin our three part deep dive on Scott Filator, the sleepwalking killer who claims he murdered his wife Yarmila Falator in his sleep. For Scott, he was clearly having difficulty coping with his home life as a child. But all the stress came to a head during his early teenage years when his father abandoned the family. Now Scott's mother, Lois was left to raise him and his four siblings alone. Even though Frederick had caused the family so much torment over the years, he was still Scott's father and Scott couldn't help but feel a huge sense of loss. His grief only got worse a few years later when Scott was 18 years old and one of his friends died in a drunk driving accident. As a result of all the misfortune he'd experienced, Scott's sleepwalking went from unsettling to dangerous. One night when Scott was around 20 years old, he walked into his kitchen partially clothed and began trying to open the back door. His sister Laura was in the room at the time and she knew that Scott was under a lot of stress because of his final exams. So when she noticed her brother's trance like state, she could tell what was happening and she didn't want him to wander off. Laura reached around Scott and tried to secure the deadbolt before he could leave. Then Scott turned and looked at her with an expression that Laura later described as demonic. The look sent a chill down her spine, but before she could do anything, Scott grabbed her, lifted her up and threw her across the room. Fortunately, it doesn't seem like Laura was badly hurt. But after this incident, Scott was aware of the harm he was capable of while unconscious. Still, Scott's mother and siblings knew he would never intentionally hurt them. So whatever happened at night stayed between the family. Keeping Scott sleepwalking a secret let him maintain a normal academic and social life and his social life was thriving. In high school, Scott met his first and only girlfriend, Yarmoula Kleskin. Scott, who is pretty soft spoken, was drawn to Yarmoula's confidence and dry sense of humor. The more they got to know each other, the more they realized they had in common. Yarmoula was also the eldest of her siblings and was raised in a Catholic household. We don't know if Scott told Yarmoula about his sleepwalking, but if he did, it didn't bother her. Yarmila saw a future with Scott. Both had dreams of going to college and one day starting a family. Not long after meeting the pair became inseparable. That changed after high school, when Scott and Yarmila were accepted to different colleges 50 miles apart. However, they were dedicated to each other and made their relationship work by visiting each other each month. Being apart so much was still difficult, especially because of how demanding their schooling was. Yarmula pursued a career in microbiology and Scott studied electrical engineering. He also worked part time to begin saving up for their future family. Despite how busy they were, the young couple stuck it out, and in 1975, during the summer before their senior year in college, Scott took Yarmila to her favorite restaurant and proposed. Yarmila said yes, which was a dream for both of them, and they planned to get married after they each earned their Master's grace. Through this happy time, Scott didn't experience any sleepwalking that we know of. However, big changes were just around the corner and when the pressures of adulthood became too much for Scott to handle, his old demons crawled back out from the shadows.
Vanessa Richardson
Par les tu francais hablas parle italiano.
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Katie Ring
In 1976, 21 year old Scott Filleder was thriving. He was engaged to his high school sweetheart Yarmoula Kluskin they were both on promising career tracks and already saving up to start a family. Scott's past struggles with parasomnia seemed to be behind him. With everything he had going on in life, he felt more content and fulfilled than ever. He had everything he needed. At least so he thought. One day, when a pair of Mormon missionaries appeared at Scott's doorstep, he was surprised at how much their conversation moved him. He and Yarmila were both raised Catholic, though neither of them felt deeply connected to their religion. And when Scott spoke to the missionaries, he realized that the Mormon faith called to him. His relationship with Yarmoula was still long distance. So on his own, Scott began attending Mormon services. Soon he was making new friends there and regularly attending church events. He told Yarmila how much his new faith meant to him and asked if she would be willing to convert as well. Yarmola was skeptical at first, but eventually her fiance persuaded her. That same year, they were both baptized in the Mormon Church and later got married. Their life progressed happily for the next few years. Then in 1980, when they were both in their mid-20s, the young couple left Illinois and moved to Melbourne, Florida to start new jobs in their respective fields. Scott as an electrical engineer and Yarmula in a medical lab. They bought a house there, and one year later they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Megan. They and a few years after their son Michael was born, Scott and Yarmoula were living a fairy tale. Their friends in Florida couldn't help but notice how happy they were together. They never fought or complained about each other at all. Once, while at a church party, Yarmoula's friends played a game where everyone had to write down 10 things they wanted to change about their spouse. Then they passed their notes around and laughed at each other's comments. But no one laughed at Yarmula's because hers was completely blank. Her friends teased her and tried to get her to say something that she didn't like about Scott, but she genuinely had nothing. In the end, Yarmila's friends couldn't argue. They were well aware of how Scott openly doted on his wife. He prided himself on the fact that they never fought and said her happiness was more important to him than anything. Even if Scott was a little conflict avoidant, his intention seemed pure, especially because he treated his children with just as much love and care as his wife. He was determined to be the loving father he never had. He and Yarmila took active roles in their kids lives, taking Michael to Cub Scouts and Megan to piano lessons. Megan and Michael always knew that they could count on their parents. Eventually, Yarmila quit her job so that she could be there for her kids around the clock. And while she stayed at home, Scott's career took off. He was the kind of steady, family oriented guy that his colleagues admired. And soon his reputation helped him land a new role in Minnesota. Yarmila and the kids were happy for him, but the only problem was that they'd have to leave behind the community they built in Florida. And when they got to Minnesota, they realized it didn't have as much to offer. This was mainly because their local church was smaller. Since Yarmila stayed home, this affected her more than anyone. She soon realized how hard it was to make friends in her new home state and she began feeling isolated. Yarmila had sacrificed her career and now her social life. The more time that passed, the more isolated she felt. Scott could see how unhappy she was and he didn't want her to have to keep feeling that way. At the same time, he didn't want to lose all of the momentum he'd gained at work. Fortunately, in 1987, he found a compromise in the form of a new job in Phoenix, Arizona. Not only was it a corporate level management position, but Arizona had a much larger Mormon population than Minnesota. Once they were in Phoenix, the Feladers quickly found a strong church community. Soon enough, everyone in the family was feeling at home and Yarmoula was starting to feel happy again. She even got a part time job as a teacher's assistant. And she loved it so much she planned to go full time when the kids were older. Both she and Scott decided that Arizona was where they wanted to settle down for good. They were even saving up for retirement. This bright new chapter was also thanks to Scott's success at work. His employees loved him. They viewed him as a level headed and good example of how to strike a healthy work life balance. Because no matter how hard he worked, he always went home to his family on time. And the higher ups noticed this as well. Within a few years, Scott was leading some of his company's most important projects. But by the late 90s, Scott's work life completely changed. One of the product lines he was in charge of wasn't performing well. And if things didn't improve, Scott would have to be the one to lay people off. He dreaded the thought of this. So he began pulling all nighters to get more work done and hopefully save people's jobs. Soon Scott was showing up at work bleary eyed and tired and even Falling asleep in meetings. Despite his Mormon faith, which prohibited caffeine, Scott started occasionally taking caffeine pills to stay awake. One pill apparently had twice the caffeine as two cans of Red Bull would have today. But in the end, it was all for nothing because Scott's superiors eventually informed him that at an upcoming department meeting, he would have to break the news to several people that they were being let go. That meeting was scheduled for January 17, 1997, and while we don't know how much notice Scott was given about the layoffs, we do know that it weighed on him heavily. As the stress mounted, Scott began sleepwalking again. By now, Yarmila had seen him sleepwalk a handful of times, but nothing serious ever happened. Usually he woke up in the living room or even their bedroom floor with no recollection of how he'd gotten there. However, as it started happening more and more, Yarmila was getting concerned. Scott was so worried about work that the upcoming meeting became the subject of every conversation at family dinner. His family could see the pressure was wearing on him. To try and alleviate things, the Feladers came up with an idea. They planned a trip to Sedona, Arizona. They thought a peaceful excursion among the vast canyons could help Scott relax and regroup. They went to Sedona on December 28, 1996. While there, they took in the views and had some quality time and shared laughs together. At one point, Yarmila turned on her video camera and Captured footage of 41 year old Scott with his arms around 17 year old Megan and 12 year old Michael. The trip was exactly what Scott needed. But little did the fleeters know that would be one of their last home videos. Because just a couple of weeks later, Yarmoula would be dead. And all signs would point to Scott as the killer.
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Katie Ring
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Vanessa Richardson
Is it uncontrollable rage? Overwhelming fear? Unbearable jealousy? Or is it something deeper? Something in the darkest corners of our.
Dr. Tristan Ingalls
Psyche Every Monday and Thursday, the Crime House Original Podcast Serial Killers and Murderous Minds dives deep into the minds of history's most chilling murderers. From infamous serial killers to ruthless cult leaders, deadly exes, and terrifying spree killers. I'm Dr. Tristan Ingalls, a licensed forensic psychologist. Along with Vanessa Richardson's immersive storytelling full of high stakes twists and turns. In every every episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, I'll be providing expert analysis of the people involved, not just how they killed, but why.
Vanessa Richardson
Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House Studios original new episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts.
Katie Ring
In December of 1996, 41 year old Scott Filleder took a hiking trip with his family in Sedona, Arizona. The trip was meant to help Scott alleviate some of the extreme stress he was under at work because in just a couple of Weeks on January 17, 1997, he would have to go into work and lay off several of his employees. Even though the trip helped Scott decompress, he was completely on edge the night before the layoffs. Still, he did his best to stay calm and handle things the way he would on any other day. When Scott got home from work on January 16, he had dinner with his family. Then he prepared materials for the church youth class that he taught. After that, Scott's wife, Yarmolo, reminded him that the filter in their pool was broken. Scott said that he would go outside and see if he could fix it. He went back into the yard around 9pm with a flashlight. When he glanced at the filter, Scott noticed that part of it was rusty, so he grabbed his hunting knife to try and dislodge it, but it was stuck. Around 9:30, he decided it was too dark outside to be able to to get anything done. So he went back inside where Yarmola was asleep on the living room couch. Scott woke her up, gave her a kiss and said that he would try and fix the filter the following day. Then he headed upstairs, changed into his pajamas and was asleep by 10pm But Scott didn't stay in bed for long. Around 10:30pm Scott and Yarmola's neighbors, Greg Coons and Stephanie Reedhead began to hear unusual noises coming from their yard. It sounded like faint moaning sounds. Then Stephanie thought that she heard a woman's voice saying something like Please help or Please stop. Greg and Stephanie were friendly with the fellators and wanted to make sure everything was okay. So Greg went outside to investigate and he stood on a planner and peered over the concrete fence between his house and the fellators. It was pretty dark outside, but soon Greg spotted a woman lying on her side several feet from the pool. She was groaning and moving slightly. At first Greg didn't recognize the woman and he thought she may have drunkenly stumbled into the flator's property. But then a light went on inside the flator's house and Greg spotted someone moving in a second floor window. His eyesight wasn't great and he could only make out their silhouette, but he watched as they entered the kitchen where it looked like they washed their hands. Then they went out into the backyard. Finally, Greg could see that it was Scott. He was in his pajamas and he walked over to the woman and stood over her for a few minutes before going back inside. Greg was silent the whole time. He remained standing there while Scott was inside. Meanwhile, the woman barely moved. At some point while he stared at her, Greg realized that it might be Yarmila. This only confused him more. He didn't understand why Scott wouldn't help her inside. A few minutes later, Scott re emerged from the house through a side door wearing a pair of black gloves. He went into the garage for a moment and when he came back out, he motioned to the family dog to stay quiet as he closed the door. Scott walked back over to the woman who Greg now believed was Yarmila. He crouched down, grabbed his wife and dragged her to the edge of the pool. Then, to Greg's horror, he pushed her in and held her head under the water until she stopped moving. Greg ran back to his house and immediately called 91 1. He told the dispatcher that his neighbor had thrown his wife into the pool and was drowning her. The dispatcher asked if they had been fighting and Greg said that he didn't know but that he was, quote, concerned. Shortly after, a pair of Phoenix police officers arrived. They hopped the wall between the two houses into the Fleeters backyard. All the lights on the property were off, but what they could see stunned them. The 911 dispatch had alluded to a possible drowning. The officers had expected to perform cpr, but there was clearly something more sinister going on. Not only was an unresponsive woman floating in the pool, but the water was completely red. One officer thought to himself it looked like the scene of a shark attack. And that wasn't all. Officers also noticed a flashlight shining on the pool pump, which was surrounded by blood. As one officer pulled Yarmila out of the pool, another searched the premises. He went into the garage and found a blood stained T shirt hanging on the trunk of the flator's parked Volvo. When he opened the trunk, he saw a plastic container full of more blood soaked clothing, including jeans, socks and an undershirt, as well as a garbage bag with blood stained gloves and leather boots inside and a hunting knife. It was clear that something gruesome had happened in the Fleeter home earlier that night. And back outside, his partner realized the same thing because yarmola was covered in stab wounds. The officer checked for a pulse, but he couldn't find one. Yarmila was declared dead at the scene. By the end of the night, Scott Filleder would be under arrest for the brutal murder of his wife Yarmouli, surrounded by evidence, eyewitness claims and questions he said he couldn't answer. In Part two, we follow what happens next as investigators, prosecutors and the public try and decide whether Scott was a calculated killer or a man who truly didn't know what he had done. What did you think of tonight's case? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. See you next time. If you haven't already. Make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to our YouTube channelightwatchpod. Your support means everything.
Vanessa Richardson
What drives a person to murder? Find out from a licensed forensic psychologist on Serial Killers and Murderous Minds. A Crime House Original Podcast New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts.
Host: Katie Ring
Date: February 17, 2026
This Night Watch episode, hosted by Katie Ring, delves into the infamous case of Scott Falater—the Arizona man convicted of murdering his wife, Yarmila, in 1997. The episode spotlights not just the violence of the crime, but the sensational legal defense that captured the nation's attention: Scott Falater’s claim that he’d committed the murder while sleepwalking, and thus had no recollection of the act. Part 1 provides a detailed exploration of the Falater family’s background, Scott’s lifelong struggle with sleepwalking, the dynamics of his marriage, and the events leading up to the tragedy.
[03:18] Katie Ring outlines Scott and Yarmila’s upbringing in Illinois:
[04:29] Katie Ring: “The strength that Scott displayed was borderline aggressive and his parents weren't sure how to help him because they didn't want to trigger him while he was sleeping.”
Backstory of Scott meeting Yarmila in high school; both eldest siblings in Catholic families.
Their relationship survived long-distance during college:
[06:56] Katie Ring: “Yarmila saw a future with Scott. Both had dreams of going to college and one day starting a family … Not long after meeting the pair became inseparable.”
[10:49] Katie Ring: By 1976, both were committed to their careers and life together.
Scott’s conversion to Mormonism, influencing the family’s religious life.
Marriage, relocation to Florida for Scott’s job, and eventual children (Megan and Michael).
[11:54] Katie Ring: “They never fought or complained about each other at all … Yarmila’s friends tried to get her to say something that she didn’t like about Scott, but she genuinely had nothing.”
By late 1990s, Scott faced the pressure of impending layoffs at work.
Stress caused renewed bouts of sleepwalking, which began to worry Yarmila.
[15:39] Katie Ring: “Even if Scott was a little conflict avoidant, his intention seemed pure, especially because he treated his children with just as much love and care as his wife. He was determined to be the loving father he never had.”
The family took a trip to Sedona, Arizona in December 1996, attempting to relieve Scott’s stress—a poignant moment, as this would be one of their last happy days together.
[20:16] Katie Ring recounts the night in detail:
[22:36] Katie Ring: “The 911 dispatch had alluded to a possible drowning. The officers had expected to perform CPR, but there was clearly something more sinister going on. Not only was an unresponsive woman floating in the pool, but the water was completely red. One officer thought to himself it looked like the scene of a shark attack.”
Scott is arrested, surrounded by evidence. His statement: he has no memory of what happened.
[25:48] Katie Ring: “In Part two, we follow what happens next as investigators, prosecutors and the public try and decide whether Scott was a calculated killer or a man who truly didn’t know what he had done. What did you think of tonight’s case? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. See you next time.”
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Introduction to the Scott Falater case and sleepwalking defense | | 03:18 | Scott and Yarmila’s early life and Scott’s childhood trauma and sleep disturbances | | 06:56 | Story of Scott and Yarmila’s meeting and relationship history | | 10:49 | Conversion to Mormonism, marriage, family life, and career ascension | | 15:39 | Approaching crisis: Scott’s work stress, return of sleepwalking, family Sedona trip | | 20:16 | Detailed account of the murder night; neighbor’s eyewitness testimony | | 22:36 | Police discover and process the brutal crime scene | | 25:48 | Episode close, teaser for Part 2, host invites listener theories |
Katie Ring’s narration is measured and compassionate, blending factual detail with humanizing insights into both Scott and Yarmila’s lives. She is careful not to pass judgment, repeatedly emphasizing the presumption of innocence and letting the evidence and accounts speak for themselves. The language is vivid and descriptive, especially in recounting shocking or disturbing details.
Part 1 of the Scott Falater deep dive offers a thorough foundation for understanding not just the tragic crime, but also the complex psychological, familial, and societal factors at play. The episode stands out for its careful balance of empathy, skepticism, and meticulous narrative pacing, setting the stage for further examination of the trial and aftermath in Part 2.
Next Episode Preview:
Part 2 will examine the investigation, trial, and public debates—was Falater a cold-blooded killer as prosecutors claimed, or a man tormented by a violent disorder beyond his control?