The Dateline episode “Secrets at the Sunshine Motel” investigates the attempted murder of Yakima County, Washington realtor Vern Holbrook.
In May 2013, the 78-year-old was lured to a home showing, brutally attacked (his throat was slashed) and left for dead. Seven months after the brutal attack, Holbrook died from compliments from the attack.
Three of the people involved in Holbrook’s death were given sentences. Fellow realtor Daniel Blizzard, who was convicted in of first-degree murder, allegedly hired Adriana Mendez and Luis Gomez-Monges “to pose as homebuyers to lure Holbrook to a remote home and attack him.”
Daniel Blizzard found guilty of first-degree murder in death of Vern Holbrook.-GK pic.twitter.com/2m3Pm9g4Vg
— Yakima Herald photo (@YHRphoto) September 16, 2014
Holbrook’s daughter-in-law Terra Rockenfield (who is interviewed for the Dateline episode) wrote in a letter which was read in court and directed to the convicted: “You are disgusting pieces of flesh, and I cannot call you humans.“
Dateline airs Saturdays at 10 pm on NBC.
