Family of man arrested in serial killings praises him as dedicated father

SPOKANE, Wash. - The family of a man described as the prime suspect in a series of prostitute slayings said Monday that Robert L. Yates Jr. is a dedicated father who is ''the type of person you would want to have for your best friend.''

Yates, 47, is being held in the Spokane County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bond on a single charge of first-degree murder in the death of prostitute Jennifer Joseph in August 1997. County authorities last week said Yates is a suspect in as many as 11 other homicides.

In their first public statement, members of Yates' family said they were shocked by the allegations.

''Bobby is a loving, caring and sensitive son, a fun-loving and giving brother, an understanding, generous and dedicated father, who enjoys playing ball, fishing and camping with his kids,'' the three-paragraph statement said.

''We feel deeply for the families who have experienced loss,'' the statement said. ''We ask that all judgments be reserved until the timely due process of law has been completed.''

The statement was signed ''the Robert L. Yates family members.''

Yates and his wife, Linda, have five children. The family is staying in another city with Mrs. Yates' family, Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk said.

The sheriff's office is collecting school homework for two of the Yates children and sending it to them, Sterk said.