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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.
Narrator
This is Crime House. Scofflater walked down the stairs, stabbed his wife 44 times, drowned her, took off his clothes, stashed them and the murder weapon in the trunk of his car and. And changed into fresh pajamas and went back to bed. His defense team claimed he was sleepwalking. Through it all, but one question remained. Could someone actually do all of this without ever waking up? 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, Nitewatchpod. 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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Narrator
On the night of January 16, 1997, officers rushed to the home of Scott and Yarmila f. Their neighbor, a man named Greg Coons, claimed he saw Scott drown yarmola in their backyard pool and called 911. When police got there, they pulled Yarmoula out of the water and realized she hadn't just drowned. She had also suffered dozens of stab wounds and was declared dead at the scene. Now officers had to find out what happened and who was inside the house. That's when a light flickered on and through one of the windows, Officers saw Scott walking down the stairs slowly, which they thought was odd given the circumstances. The officers swiftly entered the home through a sliding glass door that had been left ajar. Once inside, they noticed a pebble at the foot of the staircase that looked just like the ones around the pool, and it was also smeared in blood, signaling that the killer had gone back into the house from the pool area and that the number one suspect was likely walking right towards them. They pointed their guns at Scott and told him not to move. He had a blank expression on his face, which quickly turned to surprise and then to fear. Before he could do anything, the officers ordered him to the ground and he complied. At the same time, he asked the officers what was going on and why they were in his house. He seemed genuinely confused, which puzzled the officers. They couldn't tell if they had the wrong man or if he was just playing dumb. More importantly, they needed to know if anyone else was hurt. So they asked Scott how many people were in the house. He told them there were four himself, his wife and their two children. Scott seemed to realize that a member of his family might be hurt and begged the officers to make sure everyone was okay. He said that everyone should be in their bedrooms, but he didn't know for sure because he claimed he had been asleep since about 10pm and just woke up. Tonight, we're covering part two of our three part deep dive on Scott Fileter and the mysterious murder of his wife, Yarmila Falator, Events that are now known as the Sleepwalker murder. The Phoenix police officers who arrived on scene the night of Yarmila's murder thought her husband Scott's behavior was extremely weird. They were used to suspects being argumentative, defensive and shady. But Scott seemed genuinely worried and confused. But with a witness testimony from their neighbor who said he saw Scott drowning Yarmila with his own eyes, all signs pointed to him. Police handcuffed him and escorted him out of the house through the back door. As additional investigators arrived on scene, evidence that this was a murder piled up. The most obvious was that in addition to being drowned in the pool, The Yarmila had 44 stab wounds. Another piece of damning evidence was found in the garage. They found in the trunk of Scott's Volvo a plastic bin containing a blood soaked T shirt, jeans and socks, as well as a garbage bag with blood stained gloves, leather boots and a hunting knife. To the police, this evidence painted a clear timeline of what happened. They believe Scott stabbed his wife to the point of nearly killing her, then drowned her to finish the job. And at some point after he went to the garage to stash the evidence in the trunk of his car, he dragged a bloody pebble into the house. He changed into new clothes and went back to bed. They just had to get Scott to confess to all of this. The only problem was he said he had no recollection of anything that happened after he went to bed at 10pm which was about 30 minutes before Greg Coons went outside to see what was wrong. No one was telling Scott anything. He said he felt groggy and like he was almost dreaming. But he could still make out some of the officer's hushed conversations and was able to piece together that Yarmoula was somewhere in the backyard. Injured at the station, he was then taken into an interrogation room. He knew something was seriously wrong, but panic didn't fully set in until he realized that the officers interrogating him were from the homicide unit. When Scott sat down in the interrogation room across from Detective John Norman, he placed his head in his hands and began to cry. But Norman did not show any pity. He simply read Scott his Miranda rights, which Scott waived, then assured him that his two children, 17 year old Megan and 12 year old Michael, were okay before asking him to explain what happened that night. Scott was hunched over and visibly grief stricken when he told detectives he couldn't remember anything. Norman pressed harder, but all Scott told him was how much he loved his wife over and over, which begged the question, was this an act or did Scott Falator truly not know how his wife died?
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Narrator
Felt that Scott Flater was intentionally avoiding his questions. So he explained that his neighbor, Greg Coons, said he saw Scott drown Yarmola and listed all of the evidence officers found at the scene. Finally, he explained that Yarmola was found covered in stab wounds and that the pool had been filled with blood. Scott was frozen. He could barely believe what he was hearing. He knew his neighbor wouldn't lie, but he still insisted that he didn't remember anything. Norman wasn't getting anywhere, so he shifted his line of questioning and asked Scott why there was blood on his neck and a fresh cut on his hand that was covered with a band aid. Scott looked at his hand, then touched his neck. He looked surprised and told Norman that he didn't know any of that was there until now. This only made Norman more suspicious because Scott's white T shirt and red pajama pants had no blood on them, which reinforced the theory that he changed his clothes and stashed evidence before going back to bed. What was even more odd is that Scott didn't deny killing his wife. He just said he couldn't give Norman any information about what led up to the murder or tell him anything more about how it happened. Eventually, Detective Norman gave up, but it didn't matter that Scott wasn't answering his questions because Norman was certain that he did it. So Scott was booked and placed behind bars. Shortly after, the medical examiner concluded that Yarmoula's official cause of death was, quote, multiple stab wounds with drowning. In total, she had sustained 44 stab wounds. Investigators charged Scott with first degree murder and if he was convicted, he would be facing the death penalty. When news spread of Scott's arrest, his Family and friends were as shocked as he was. Everyone knew him as a devoted, God fearing family man who made an honest living. Not to mention they knew how in love he and Yarmola had been. It didn't make sense that he would kill her. No one seemed more certain of Scott's innocence than his children. Police ushered Megan and Michael out of their home the night their mother died and made sure they didn't see her body. But they still heard about all of the gruesome details. Even then, they still didn't believe their father was capable of such violence. Scott's children had been staying with loved ones while he was behind bars and they visited him regularly while he awaited trial. For two years, they were even present the day reporters came to the prison to interview Scott. The interview aired on 2020 and it was the first time the public heard Scott's explanation for what happened. He didn't mean to kill his wife. He was sleepwalking when he did it. Members of the public had mixed reactions to this claim. Some didn't trust Scott and were bewildered at the thought that he would tell such an outrageous lie. Others were sympathetic and considered him a victim of the crime as well. But one thing that everyone had in common was intrigue. Scott's trial was sure to drum up controversy. And when he stepped into the courtroom, it was clear that this case was unlike any other. In May of 1999, 43 year old Scott Flater went on trial for the murder of his wife Yarmila. But the prosecutor, Juan Martinez, wasn't buying it. He believed Scott was wide awake when he killed his wife and that he was only pretending he didn't remember it. According to Martinez, at around 10pm on the night of January 16, 1997, Scott attacked Yarmoula with his hunting knife in their backyard. He used one arm to muffle her screams and the other to stab her 44 times. The picture was chilling. A man holding his wife close, but only to keep her quiet while he drove a knife into her. Again and again, Martinez continued with the haunting account of the night. According to him, it was while Scott brutalized his wife that their neighbor Greg Koons woke up to the faint sounds of the struggle. However, Martinez did not explain what pruning prompted the attack, but that didn't seem important to the prosecution. The bottom line was that Scott killed his wife. Martinez laid out the next steps. After he killed his wife, he stashed all of the evidence in his Volvo and changed into clean clothes. He described everything he saw that night from waking up from the screams to looking over the fence and seeing Yarmila writhing in the yard, to Scott standing silently over her and eventually drowning her in the pool. Greg also explained that he called 911 after Scott began holding Yarmila's head underwater. But there was one thing Greg couldn't explain, and that was why he watched this scene play out for so long without intervening or yelling at his neighbors. Numerous questions swirled around the statement, and the defense used it as part of their argument. They said Yarmoula might have had a better chance at survival if Greg had tried to stop Scott. But the prosecution said that Greg was most likely in shock and was experiencing what is called the freeze response.
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Vanessa Richardson
What drives a person to kill? Is it uncontrollable rage? Overwhelming fear? Unbearable jealousy? Or is it something deeper? Something in the darkest corners of our psyche?
Dr. Tristan Ingalls
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 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.
Narrator
Greg Coons testimony may have raised a lot of questions, but it also sharpened the image of Scott's calculated and methodical killing. He laid out details how Scott seemed to be washing his hands in the kitchen, how he put on a pair of gloves, and even how he commanded his dog to be quiet, all before drowning his wife. After Greg spoke, Juan Martinez called someone else to the stand. This time it was a sleeping expert who explained that based on Greg's testimony, Scott must have been awake. According to the expert, Scott performed at least 65 actions that were uncommon for a sleepwalker. They said that some of Scott's actions required fine motor skills that simply weren't characteristic of sleepwalking. This included quieting the dog, changing his clothes, stashing the evidence, and applying a band aid. On top of that, the expert claimed that even if Scott had started out asleep, the nature of the events would have likely woken him up. For instance, it's probable that his wife's cries would have startled him awake or the feeling of the freezing cold pool water. In fact, five sleep experts were qualified to testify in this case. Three for the defense and two for the prosecution. And four of them held the same board certification in sleep medicine. Yet despite nearly identical credentials and access to the same evidence, they presented strikingly different interpretations of the science. Sleep science itself is evolving. Researchers have used brain imaging and large studies on parasomnia to understand how the brain functions during sleepwalking. But much of that modern science hasn't fully filtered into courtroom testimony, which means jurors are sometimes left to weigh conflicting expert opinions that draw on very different scientific assumptions. Even though the prosecution aimed to paint a thorough picture of the cold blooded killer, their argument was still lacking when it came to potential motive. Still, Martinez tried his best to convince the jury that Scott and Yarmila's marriage had been struggling leading up to her death. He explained that Yarmola wasn't wearing her wedding ring when officers pulled her body from the pool. This alone wasn't that alarming because people take off their wedding rings all the time. But then Martinez called one of Scott's former colleagues to the stand, who claimed that Scott had once complained about Yarmila's appearance. But in cross examination, when the defense pushed further, Scott's colleague admitted things were being taken out of context. And Scott had actually said that even if Yarmila wasn't considered conventionally attractive by some, he thought she was still beautiful. Just like that. It all circled back to whether or not Scott wanted to kill his wife. When Scott's attorney, Michael Kimmerer, took the floor, he detailed Scott's long and troubling history with sleepwalking. Scott's mother, Lois, and sister Laura provided testimony of the aggression and violence Scott displayed during his sleepwalking episodes when he was younger. They said they knew he never meant to behave that way and that he never remembered the things he did. Based on their claims, Kimmerer argued that Scott did murder his wife, but that he truly didn't mean to. He was asleep the entire time and only woke up when officers shouted at him from the bottom of the staircase. And the defense also had an expert witness who attested to that argument, a psychologist named Dr. Janet Tatman. According to Dr. Tatman, Scott's actions that night actually did fit the profile of a sleepwalker, especially since there was more to the story. Before the murder, Scott tried to fix the pool filter before he went to bed, and the altercation between him and Yarmila broke out almost immediately after he entered the sleepwalking state. But according to Dr. Tatman, Scott likely entered the sleepwalking state, then went back outside to try and fix the filter again. Just like when he was awake, he used his hunting knife to try and loosen the rusty piece of equipment. And just like before, he gave up. At some point, Yarmoula woke up and noticed her husband wasn't in bed. She probably heard him outside, so she went downstairs to check on him. But when she approached him, Scott became frightened and attacked her. Dr. Tatman explained that sudden confrontations could trigger violent episodes in sleepwalkers. And unfortunately, Scott's unconscious state of violence was taken to the extreme. Not only that, but the defense also claimed that Scott wasn't the first one to lash out like this while unconscious. Kimmerer explained that about 12 years later, in 1987, a Canadian man named Kenneth Parks had killed his mother in law and attacked his father in law while sleepwalking, then turned himself in. Parks was also eventually acquitted. And Kimmerer didn't just have stories up his sleeve. He also called in one of the experts from the Parks case. Dr. Roger Broughton, testified on Scott's behalf. Broughton said many sleepwalkers can indeed perform coordinated and complex experts actions. He gave examples of sleepwalkers who climbed onto rooftops without losing their balance. According to Dr. Broughton, Scott's behavior was even simpler because many sleepwalkers are known to navigate familiar spaces, avoiding furniture and other obstacles. Scott commanding his dog also wasn't unusual. But the most compelling point was that when Scott stashed everything in the trunk of his Volvo, he wasn't hiding evidence. He was going through another set of familiar motions. His children said that the clothes in his car were what he usually wore to do yard work and that he always stored clothes and tools in the plastic container where they were found. Basically, Scott had gone through some of his usual motions. It's unclear whether this line of testimony addressed the fact that Scott had stashed his gloves, boots, and hunting knife in a separate garbage bag. But Broughton didn't seem to think it mattered. At the end of his testimony, he rattled off a list of other murders committed by sleepwalkers who were proven to have no memory of what they did. Scott's lawyer seemed to anticipate that the jury would be torn. So he called more witnesses to the stand who could speak to the intensity of Scott's sleepwalking. Two of Scott's cellmates told the court about instances when Scott got up in the middle of the night and began violently shaking his cell doors. Whenever this happened, they tried to calm him down, but they could never get him to stop or wake up. It seemed more and more likely that Scott really was capable of unwittingly enacting serious harm while he was asleep. But there were still more depths of his mind to explore, and what experts uncovered led to a shocking outcome in Scott's trial. What did you think of part two of our three part series on the sleepwalker murder? 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. Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800contacts.com today to save on your first order.
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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.
Hosted by: Katie Ring (Night Watch)
Date: February 18, 2026
Episode Focus: The controversial trial of Scott Falater, accused of murdering his wife Yarmila while allegedly sleepwalking.
This episode continues a deep dive into the notorious “Sleepwalker Murder” case, dissecting the investigation, the evidence, and the headline-making trial of Scott Falater. Host Katie Ring leads listeners through conflicting expert testimonies, the family’s perspective, the prosecution’s narrative, and the defense’s unconventional argument: that Falater killed in a state of unconsciousness.
Timestamp 02:57–04:45
Scott’s Reaction:
“He had a blank expression on his face, which quickly turned to surprise and then to fear... he seemed genuinely confused, which puzzled the officers.” (Narrator, 03:40)
Timestamp 05:00–06:30
“All Scott told him was how much he loved his wife over and over, which begged the question, was this an act or did Scott Falater truly not know how his wife died?” (Narrator, 06:23)
Scott’s confusion deepened when confronted with his injuries, which he hadn’t noticed.
The prosecution viewed his lack of blood on sleepwear as further evidence of deliberate cleanup.
Timestamp 10:23–17:22
“Juan Martinez... believed Scott was wide awake when he killed his wife and that he was only pretending he didn’t remember it.” (Narrator, 10:32)
Timestamp 15:35–19:40
“Dr. Broughton said many sleepwalkers can indeed perform coordinated and complex actions... Scott commanding his dog also wasn’t unusual.” (Narrator, 18:48)
Scientific Dispute:
Scott Falater’s apparent confusion and emotional response:
“He placed his head in his hands and began to cry.” (Narrator, 06:03)
On the community’s reaction to the sleepwalking claim:
“Some didn’t trust Scott and were bewildered at the thought that he would tell such an outrageous lie. Others were sympathetic and considered him a victim of the crime as well.” (Narrator, 10:14)
On divided expert opinions:
“Despite nearly identical credentials and access to the same evidence, they presented strikingly different interpretations of the science.” (Narrator, 16:18)
On the sleepwalking defense’s precedent:
“About 12 years later, in 1987, a Canadian man named Kenneth Parks had killed his mother-in-law and attacked his father-in-law while sleepwalking, then turned himself in... Parks was also eventually acquitted.” (Narrator/Kimmerer quoting Dr. Broughton, 18:05)
By the episode’s end, listeners are left with a complex portrait of Scott Falater: a man at the mercy of conflicting scientific testimony, family loyalty, and a fascinated public. The central question—can sleepwalking truly explain such a violent act?—remains unsolved, setting up high anticipation for part three. Listeners are invited to share theories and continue following this gripping court drama.