Killer Minds: Serial Killers & True Crime Murders

Episode: UNCONSCIOUS KILLER: The Sleepwalker Murder Pt. 1

Release Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristan Ingalls
Podcast Network: Crime House Studios

Episode Overview

This gripping episode delves into the haunting case of Scott Falater, a seemingly perfect husband and father accused of brutally murdering his wife, Yarmila, in 1997 while allegedly sleepwalking. Hosts Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Ingalls explore Falater's troubled upbringing, the psychological underpinnings of sleep disorders like parasomnia, and the tragic events that led to a shocking murder charge. The episode balances immersive storytelling with psychological analysis, probing whether someone could truly commit murder while asleep—and what drives a person to such extremes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Scott Falater’s Early Life and Family Dynamics

[04:23] Vanessa recounts Scott's childhood:

• Born in Illinois in 1955, eldest of five in a devout Catholic family.
• Endured emotional and physical abuse from his alcoholic father, Frederick.
• Scott excelled in school and music, outwardly adjusted, but learned to compartmentalize trauma.

[05:32] Dr. Ingalls explains compartmentalization:

• Chronic stress in children leads to coping by suppressing shame and fear.
• While it helps build resilience, it can cause emotional suppression and a fragmented identity later in life.

“Compartmentalizing lets a child... focus on school, friends and hobbies while attempting to suppress feelings of shame or fear, and that helps build coping skills and resilience. But it also promotes emotional suppression, alexithymia... and a fragmented identity.” — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [05:35]

Early Signs of Parasomnias and Escalation

[06:21] Vanessa details Scott’s sleepwalking episodes:

• Began bedwetting and sleepwalking at age 10.
• Episodes escalated: walking naked, leaving the house at night, exhibiting unexpected strength.
• His family kept his sleepwalking a secret, attempting to manage it privately.

[07:49] Dr. Ingalls on parasomnia:

• Sleep disorders like sleepwalking are more common in children, often caused by stress, sleep deprivation, and trauma.
• Such disorders may include physical acting out of traumatic material.

“Scott’s abusive childhood... raises arousal, fragments sleep cycles, and prevents normal emotional processing... That unprocessed fear often resurfaces at night as night terrors or automatic behaviors.” — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [08:10]

[09:09] Memory Loss and Sleepwalking:

• During deep, non-REM sleep, new memories can’t form, explaining why sleepwalkers often have no recollection.

“...the brain is actively consolidating and stabilizing existing memories... it makes it nearly impossible for someone to form any new memories during this state. And that's why typically, there is no recollection of their sleepwalking.” — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [09:13]

Adolescent and Young Adult Struggles

[10:04] Vanessa describes:

• Father’s abandonment and death of a friend compounded Scott’s stress, escalating sleepwalking episodes.
• His sleepwalking turned violent: once, he threw his sister across the room in a trance-like state.

[11:28] Dr. Ingalls:

• Explains why sleepwalkers can appear unusually strong and sometimes violent—frontal brain controls are offline, leading to uninhibited, automatic defensive actions.
• Violence in sleepwalking is rare and requires specific factors: acute stress, sleep deprivation, substance use, prior trauma.

Managing Dangerous Sleepwalking

[12:39] Dr. Ingalls offers advice:

• Secure potential weapons, ensure doors/windows are locked, consider supervised sleeping spaces.
• Full medical and psychological workups are crucial for those with dangerous parasomnia.

“This needs to be treated with urgency... have them sleep in a supervised space if necessary... and then get a full medical workup.” — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [12:42]

Scott’s Relationship and Adult Life

[13:20] Vanessa:

• Scott keeps sleepwalking secret. Builds a life with girlfriend Yarmila, eventually marrying and starting a family.
• Scott’s parasomnias appear dormant during periods of stability and happiness.

Life Transitions and New Stressors

[16:12] Vanessa:

• After upward career moves, eventual relocation to Minnesota leaves Yarmila isolated and unhappy.
• Family moves again to Phoenix, Arizona where they rebuild their happiness and community.

[21:57] Dr. Ingalls analyzes Yarmila’s isolation:

• Losing work, friends, and social structure can cause low mood and dependency on a single relationship. Recommends restoring routines, volunteering, social connection, and possibly therapy.

“Structure reduces rumination and improves motivation. I would also suggest rebuilding social ties...you can’t make any friends without effort.” — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [23:13]

The Return of Sleepwalking: Proximity to the Crime

[24:00] Vanessa:

• Work stress triggers the return of Scott’s sleepwalking. High workload, lack of sleep, and caffeine pill use create the perfect storm for a sleep episode.

[26:48] Dr. Ingalls:

• Explains the convergence of triggers like sleep deprivation and stimulant use on parasomnia reemergence.
• 20–30% of childhood sleepwalkers continue into adulthood, especially under acute stress.

The Crime: What Happened the Night of January 16, 1997

[31:25] Vanessa reconstructs the events:

• After a normal night at home, Scott works on a pool filter outside around 9pm.
• Neighbors hear moaning and pleas for help between 10:30–11pm.
• Neighbor Greg witnesses Scott, in pajamas, drag a woman—likely his wife—to the pool and drown her. Greg calls 911.

[34:17] Dr. Ingalls on bystander inaction:

• Shock and ambiguity cause hesitation; personal connection (relationship bias) makes people doubt themselves and avoid immediate intervention.

[35:30] Vanessa:

• Police arrive, find Yarmila dead and the backyard full of blood. Bloodstained clothes, gloves, and a hunting knife are found in the car’s trunk.
• Scott is found inside, groggy and confused, claims he’s just woken up and knows nothing about an incident.

[39:54] Dr. Ingalls:

• Describes the typical confusion and disorientation when waking a sleepwalker.
• Notes that Scott’s ability to regain orientation and answer questions quickly is atypical, and the timing of the episode is unusual.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On sleepwalking and violence:
  “Sleepwalking itself does not cause violence. It's rather a combination of the factors... that can create the criteria for violence.”
  — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [11:39]

• On perfect marriages:
  “Seemingly ‘perfect relationships’ are usually one of two things. There could genuinely be a very healthy relationship, or it's a very convincing performance... Partners keep painful material out of sight so the relationship looks calm, even if it's not.”
  — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [19:16]

• On sleep disorder triggers:
  “Sleep deprivation and substance use can increase the chance of nocturnal episodes, especially in someone who already has an established history.”
  — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [26:48]

• On bystander effect and relationship bias:
  “Greg knew and liked the Falaters... that alone can make him doubt his own eyes and minimize what he is seeing.”
  — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [34:23]

• On sleepwalking amnesia:
  “Because of all of these neural processes occurring during this state and the low levels of key neurotransmitters, it makes it nearly impossible for someone to form any new memories during this state.”
  — Dr. Tristan Ingalls [09:16]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------| | 04:23 | Scott’s childhood, abuse, and compartmentalization | | 06:21 | Early sleepwalking episodes escalate | | 07:49 | Clinical insight on parasomnia | | 09:09 | Memory issues in sleepwalking | | 10:04 | Father's abandonment and further stress | | 11:28 | Explaining sleepwalking violence | | 12:39 | Safety advice for dangerous sleepwalking | | 21:57 | Analysis of Yarmila's isolation and advice | | 24:00 | Work stress, stimulant use, and relapse | | 26:48 | Parasomnia triggers and adult recurrence | | 31:25 | Night of the murder—detailed account | | 34:17 | Neighbor’s perspective and bystander effect | | 35:30 | Discovery, police entry, and arrest | | 39:54 | Waking a sleepwalker—psychological mechanisms | | 42:30 | Police confusion and interrogation setup |

Tone and Language

The hosts maintain a respectful, analytical tone—balancing forensic detail with empathy for both victim and accused. Vanessa’s narrative is clear and immersive, often pausing for Dr. Ingalls’ clinical breakdowns and practical advice. The subject matter is handled gravely but never sensationalized, matching the podcast’s “twisted psychology behind the crimes” ethos.

Conclusion & Next Steps

The episode concludes with Scott under arrest, claiming amnesia for a crime witnessed by his neighbor and supported by incriminating evidence. Yet, questions linger: Was this a calculated act or the horrifying result of dissociated sleepwalking? The investigation and ensuing trial will be covered in the next episode.

End Quote:
“The investigation into [Scott], him and the trial that followed would breed more controversy and debate than any other crime like it, and to this day it continues to mystify and haunt people everywhere.” — Vanessa Richardson [43:23]

Next episode preview: The dramatic trial and debate over the "sleepwalking defense."

This summary captures all major themes, psychological insights, and the tragic events leading up to the murder, providing a clear, structured overview for new listeners and dedicated fans alike.