Written by 
Rhoni Reuter
By Tara Overzat
Last night’s Dateline focused on the October 2007 murder of Rhoni Reuter, longtime girlfriend of ’85 Chicago Bears star Shaun Gayle. Often these Datelines are predictable and all fingers point to the significant other. Reuter, however, who was several months pregnant was instead killed by one of Shaun’s many other girlfriends, a real-estate agent and wannabe model, Marni Yang.
What is disturbing though is how the cold and calculating Yang was caught. Both Yang’s teenage son and her “best friend” (as labeled by Dateline) told police she was capable of putting seven bullets into a pregnant woman’s body. The best friend went so far as to help police gather enough evidence to arrest Yang by wearing a wire tap and luring the murderer into a local Denny’s, where she again recounted the crime to her friend.
Yang, despite how clearly those close to her saw she was disturbed, could not have been arrested before the murder. Yet, this woman being out in society resulted in an innocent woman and unborn child (a girl to be named Skylar) being murdered in cold blood.
How twisted a mind must a mother of three have that her eldest son finds the courage to tell police he believes she committed murder? What did she do those children? What awful misgivings did her “best friend” have that made her help police build a case against her?
How do we shine a bright enough spotlight on evil so that the most twisted of thoughts never manifest into reality? How do we stop the person we think is capable of killing from actually killing? Is there a way to stop the sociopath in her tracks?
Tara,
When are we going to realize that when someone says they want to kill someone, they might just do it and we should take precautions?
I have wondered if my not-yet-ex-husband is a sociopath. Borderline-yes, narcissist-yes, PTSD-yes, anti-social-yes. Also, he's an active duty Army Major who is about to be released from jail after only 290some days and was held for Attempted Aggrevated Murder of ME. The torture kit was supressed and he pled guilty to Menacing by Stalking and Felony Breach of Protection. AND I had many disturbing and abusive voicemail messages, recorded conversations, texted death threats, etc.-more than 50. I KNEW he would do soomething. Well, he went from 17 1/2 years max to 6 1/2max without the Agg Murder but – to have been sentenced to TIME SERVED?? He's being released back to the Army who, instead of getting him the mental help he needs (three war tours), is recommending separation – basically kicking him out. To what? Drive across the country once again to kill me and our four kids. Why don't people SEE that some humans ARE capable of heinous crimes against strangers AND ones they supposedly love. What would be your best course of action toward getting someone to see reality? Can you recommend a site or a book? I have read SO MUCH online and over 219 books in the last two years since trying to get away from him. Ankle monitors be damned!! Victims need REAL help!!
And perhaps suggestions that are better then, “Get a gun.” I’ve heard that A LOT!! I don’t want to be responsible for that – I have children to raise!
You should certainly contact the Office of Victim Services in your area. Their website is http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/. They can provide you with further tools and services to keep you and your family safe.
My thoughts are with you & your family during this trying time. Stay strong.