Gary Leon Ridgway a.k.a. The Green River Killer (1 Viewer)

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Gary Leon Ridgway, 1982.

Gary and his wife Judith.

Sheriff Dave Reichert, left, stares at Green River Killer Gary Leon Ridgway in this
image from video taken during a 2003 interrogation.

Gary Leon Ridgway is seen in this undated King County Sheriff's booking mug.

Gary Leon Ridgway

Gary Leon Ridgway in court with ultra security inmate uniform 2001.

Gary Leon Ridgway

In this March 27, 2003 file photo, Gary Leon Ridgway appears at a pretrial hearing
in King County Superior Court in Seattle.

Gary Ridgway, left, listens as individual guilty pleas are read on November 6, 2003,
in the King County Courthouse in Seattle.

Gary Leon Ridgway

Gary Leon Ridgway

Gary Leon Ridgway in a King County Washington Superior Court December 18, 2003 in Seattle.

Gary Leon Ridgway

Green River Killer Gary Leon Ridgway cries as he reads a statement in a King County Washington
Superior Court December 18, 2003 in Seattle. Ridgway received 48 life sentences, with out the
possibility of parole, for killing 48 women over the past 20 years.

Serial killer Gary Leon Ridgway's statement that he read in King County Superior Court.

 

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Gary Ridgway listens to a victim's family member address the court during the sentencing
portion of his trial December 18, 2003 in Seattle, Washington.

Green River Killer Gary Leon Ridgway cries during his sentencing in Seattle
as he listens to Robert Rule, the father of victim Linda Rule.

Gary Ridgway looks around the courtroom during his sentencing Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, in Seattle.
Ridgway, the Green River Killer who terrorized Seattle in the early 1980s, tearfully apologized for
his crimes, but the judge said he found little to believe in the remorse as he sentenced him to
life in prison without the chance of release. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Gary Ridgway sits in court during the sentencing portion of his trial December18, 2003 in Seattle, Washington.

Gary Ridgway prepares to leave the courtroom where he was sentenced in King County
Washington Superior Court December 18, 2003 in Seattle, Washington.

 

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Investigation Photos


Green River Task Force Detectives took Gary Leon Ridgway on 24 separate trips throughout King County so Ridgway could point out locations where he may have placed his victims.

Sheriff Dave Reichert accompanies Green River Task Force Detectives and Gary Leon Ridgway as Ridgway directs them to potential sites where he remembers possibly placing a victim.

Detectives process the Pammy Avent crime scene. Pammy Avent was the first victim found as a result of information provided by Ridgway. Her remains were recovered on August 16, 2003 in a wooded area just off Highway 410 at Milepost 26.

 

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Green River Task Force Detectives process the site off the Kent Des Moines Road where they recovered skeletal remains on August 21, 2003. This area encompassed approximately two acres and was heavily wooded. Over a period of several days, Detectives cleared the ravine, which was densely covered in blackberry bushes and vegetation.

Detectives and Search and Rescue volunteers at the search site near South 296th Street and 65th Avenue South rappelled down a 60 degree incline to the floor of the ravine. After clearing the vegetation, they carefully worked their way up the hillside. During this process, GRTF Detectives recovered the remains of Marie Malvar on September 27, 2003.

 

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Gary Leon Ridgway

With his glasses removed, Green River Killer Gary Ridgway sits in court during his arraignment on charges
of murder in the 1982 death of Rebecca "Becky" Marrero, Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, at the King County
Regional Justice Center in Kent. , Wash. Ridgway already confessed to killing Marrero as part of a
2003 plea deal that spared him the death penalty.

Green River Killer Gary Ridgway listens during his arraignment on charges of murder
in the 1982 death of Rebecca "Becky" Marrero, Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, at the King
County Regional Justice Center in Kent. , Wash.

Green River Killer Gary Ridgway stands to address the family of Rebecca "Becky" Marrero,
after he pleaded guilty to Marrero's 1982 murder, Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, at the King
County Regional Justice Center in Kent, Wash.

Gary Leon Ridgway

 

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Green River Homicide Victims

In July and August of 1982, the bodies of five young women were found in or near the Green River in south King County, Washington. It soon became evident to investigators that there was a "serial killer" actively operating in the King County area. Over the last 21+ years, detectives have worked through thousands of tips, followed up on missing women cases, collected thousands of pieces of evidence, and eliminated potential suspects.

Green River

Remains of five of the women pictured below were found in or near the Green River.

Wendy Lee Coffield was 16 years of age and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. Her body was found in the Green River under the Peck Bridge. The Peck Bridge is located where the Frager Road and Kent-Des Moines Road intersect in Kent, Washington.

Debra Lynn Bonner was 23 years of age. She had been missing since July 15, 1982 from South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South, south of the SeaTac Airport.

Her body was found on August 12, 1982 in the Green River near Kent, Washington.

Marcia Faye Chapman was 31 years of age. She was last seen leaving her home near South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South on August 1, 1982.

Her body was found in the Green River on August 15, 1982.

Cynthia Jean Hinds was 17 years of age and last seen on August 11, 1982 in the area of South 200th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was recovered in the Green River near Kent, Washington on August 15, 1982.

Opal Charmaine Mills was 16 years of age. She last spoke with her family on August 12, 1982 when she made a collect call home from South 194th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was recovered next to the Green River near Kent, Washington on August 15, 1982.

Tracy Winston was 19 years of age. She was last seen on September 12, 1983 at 6 p.m. at the Northgate Mall.

Her body was found on March 27, 1986 in Cottonwood Park at South 238th Street and Frager Road, one mile from the Peck Bridge.

Star Lake

Remains of the women pictured below were all found along Star Lake Road in south King County.

Gail Matthews was 23 years of age and last seen on April 10, 1983 around 6 p.m. near South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on September 18, 1983 at South Star Lake Road and 51st Avenue South.

Delores Lavern Williams was 17 years of age. She was last seen in March of 1983 at a bus stop outside the Red Lion Inn on Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on March 31, 1984 near South 53rd Street and Star Lake Road.

Terry Renee Milligan was 16 years of age. She was last seen on August 29, 1982 near South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on April 1, 1984 near Star Lake Road.

Sandra K. Gabbert was 17 years of age and last seen on April 17, 1983 near South 142nd Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on April 2, 1984 at Star Lake Road and 55th Avenue South.

Alma Smith was 18 years of age. She was last seen on March 3, 1983 near South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on April 2, 1984 at South 277th Street and Star Lake Road.

Carrie Ann Rois was 15 years of age. She was last seen between May 13, 1983 and June 13, 1983.

Her body was found March 10, 1985 in a swampy area off the Star Lake Road

Highway 18 / I-90

Remains of the women pictured below were all found near where Highway 18 intersects with I-90 in eastern King County.

Tina Marie Thompson was 22 years of age and last seen on July 25, 1983 between 1:30 and 3 a.m. at South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on April 20, 1984 near Highway 18 and Southeast 104th Street, south of the Highway 18/I-90 interchange.

Maureen Sue Feeney was 19 years of age. She was last seen on September 23, 1983 between 5 and 6 p.m. at 1515 East Madison Street in Seattle.

Her body was found on May 2, 1986 on the east side of Highway 18 near Southeast 104th Street.


Exit 38 / I-90

Remains of the women pictured below were all found near Exit 38 off I-90.

Delise Louise Plager was 22 years of age. She was last seen October 30, 1983 at 3 p.m. at a bus stop on Beacon Hill.

Her body was found February 14, 1984 near Exit 38 off I-90.

Lisa L. Yates was 21 years of age. She was last seen between December 17 and December 23, 1983.

Her body was found March 13, 1984 near Exit 38 off I-90.

Kimberly Nelson was 20 years of age and was last seen on November 1, 1983 about 11 a.m. at a bus stop outside the Ben Carol Motel on Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on June 13, 1986 on Garcia Road, approximately three miles from Exit 38 off I-90.

 

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Highway 410

Remains of the women pictured below were all found near Highway 410, east of Enumclaw, Washington.

Debbie May Abernathy was 16 years of age. She was last seen September 5, 1983 at 8th Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Seattle.

Her body was found on March 31, 1984 on a logging road of Highway 410 near Milepost 37.

Mary Sue Bello was 25 years of age and last seen on October 11, 1983 in the Magnolia area of Seattle.

Her body was found on October 12, 1984 near Milepost 34 on Highway 410.

Martina T. Authorlee was 18 years of age. She was last seen on May 22, 1983 outside the My Place Tavern at South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found November 14, 1984 near Milepost 36 on Highway 410.

Marta Reeves was last heard from when she made a phone call to her husband on March 5, 1990.

Her body was found September 20, 1990 on Highway 410 between mileposts 33 and 34.

Roberta Hays was last seen sometime after February, 1987.

Her body was found on September 11, 1991 near Milepost 36.5 on Highway 410.

Pammy Avent was 16 years of age and last seen on October 26, 1983 after leaving her home in Seattle.

Her body was found on August 16, 2003 near Milepost 26 on Highway 410.

South Airport / Tyee Golf Course

Remains of the women listed below were all found near the sound end of SeaTac Airport & Tyee Golf Course.

Gisele A. Lovvorn was 19 years of age. She was last seen July 17, 1982 in Normandy Park.
Her body was found September 25, 1982 in a wooded area near South 200th Street and 18th Avenue South.

Constance Naon was 21 years of age. She was last seen on June 8, 1983 at 6 p.m. near South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found October 27, 1983 in a vacant lot near South 192nd Street and 28th Avenue South.

Kelly Ware was 22 years of age. She was last seen on July 17, 1983 at a bus stop at 22nd Avenue East and East Madison Street, and last heard from on July 18, 1983

Her body was found October 29, 1983 in the 2500 block of South 192nd Street.

Mary Bridgett Meehan was 19 years of age and last seen at the Western Six Motel near South 165th Street and Pacific Highway South on September 15, 1982 at 8:30 p.m.

Her body was found on November 13, 1983 at South 192nd Street and 27th Avenue South.

Andrea M. Childers was 17 years of age. She was last seen on April 14, 1983 about 12 p.m. at a bus stop on 21st Avenue and Union Street.
Her body was found October 19, 1989 in a wooded area near South 190th Street and 24th Avenue South.

Tigard, Oregon

Remains of the women pictured below were found in Tigard, Oregon.

Denise D. Bush was 23 years of age. She was last seen October 8, 1982 at 12:30 p.m. at the Moonrise Hotel at South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her skull was found in Tigard, Oregon on June 12, 1985.

Shirley Marie Sherrill was 19 years of age and was last seen in October/early November, 1982 in the Chinatown area of Seattle.

Her body was found on June 14, 1985 in Tigard, Oregon.

North Airport / Ballpark

Remains of the women listed below were all found north of SeaTac Airport near a ballfield.

Shawnda Leea Summers - 17 years of age. She was last seen on October 2, 1982 at 5 p.m. on Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on August 12, 1983 in a vacant lot near South 146th Street and 22nd Avenue South.

Cheryl Lee Wims - 18 years of age. She was last seen on May 23, 1983 leaving a residence in the 2100 block of 21st Avenue south.

Her body was found in a wooded area near South 146th Street and 16th Avenue South on March 22, 1984.

Bone Find
The remains of a white female, between 14 and 18 years of age were found on March 21, 1984 behind the ballpark at South146th Street and 16th Avenue South.

Highway 18

Remains of the women listed below were all found near Highway 18 in south King County.

Cindy Ann Smith - 17 years of age. She was last seen on March 21, 1984 at 5 p.m. at 20055 28th Avenue South.

Her body was found on June 29, 1987 near Green River Community College.

Patricia Barczak was 19 years of age. She was last seen near South 139th Street and Pacific Highway South on October 11, 1986.

Her body was found off Highway 18 near Seattle International Raceway on February

 

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Other King County Sites

Remains of the women pictured below were found in various sites in King County.

Linda Jane Rule was 16 years of age and last seen on September 26, 1982 at the Seals Motel on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle.

Her body was found on the campus of Northwest Hospital on January 31, 1983.

Carol Ann Christensen was 29 years of age. She was last seen when she got off work on May 3, 1983 near South 148th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her remains were recovered on May 8, 1983 in a wooded area near Southeast 242nd Street and 248th Avenue Southeast in the Maple Valley area of King County.

Yvonne Shelly Antosh was 19 years of age. She was last seen on May 31, 1983 at 11 p.m. at the Ben Carol Motel at South 140th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found on October 15, 1983 at Southest 316th Street and the Auburn-Black Diamond Road.

Colleen Renee Brockman was 15 years of age. She was last seen in the downtown Seattle area on December 28, 1982.

Her body was found on Jovita Boulevard in Pierce County, Washington on May 26, 1984.

Mary Exzetta West was 16 years of age and last seen around 2 p.m. on February 6, 1984 at Rainier Avenue South and South Ferdinand Street.

Her body was found on September 8, 1985 in a wooded area of Seward Park at the base of a tree.

Debra Lorraine Estes was 15 years of age. She was last seen on September 20, 1982 at South 333rd Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her remains were recovered on May 30, 1988 in the 200 block of South 346th Street.

Patricia Ann Yellowrobe was 38 years of age and last seen in the Seattle area.

Her body was found in Seattle on August 16, 1998 in the 9400 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive South in King County

April Buttram was 18 years of age and last seen at a bus stop in the Rainier Valley between August 18 and September 1, 1983.

Her body was found August 30, 2003 on Southeast 96th Street just east of Snoqualmie Parkway.

Marie Malvar was 18 years of age and was last seen getting into a truck at a 7-11 store at South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Her body was found September 27, 2003 in the 29200 block of 65th Avenue South.

Still Missing


These four women are listed on the official Green River Homicides list. They remain missing today.

Kassee Ann Lee was a 16 year-old girl. She was last seen on August 28, 1982 in the area of South 200th Street and 30th Avenue South. This area is just east of Pacific Highway South.

Becky Marrero was 19 years of age. She was last seen on December 3, 1982 when she left her motel room at South 168th Street and Pacific Highway South.

Kelly Kay McGinnis was 18 years of age and was last seen on June 28, 1983 at South 216h Street and Pacific Highway South.

Patricia Ann Osborn was 19 years of age and last seen on October 28, 1983 when she left an area at North 115th Street and Aurora Avenue North in the City of Seattle to walk to a nearby restaurant.

 

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letter ridgeway wrote
http://murderpedia.org/male.R/images/ridgway_gary/reports/letter.pdf

 

[D.N.R.]

I am reading a book called "Defending Gary" written by one of his defense attorneys. I feel like he may have had genuine remorse for what he had done. It seems so odd.

 

[Hellwig]

^Read it years ago.
Left it amazed that someone so fucking dumb could get away with killing over 50 wimmenz for all those years in such a high profile case with so many resources put at the disposal of the po po's & FBI.
Says a lot about how easy it is to get away with random stranger murder, the value of "street smarts" & animal cunning as opposed to "book smarts", how overrated the FBI is, and how fucking stupid the police often are.

 

[englandlad]

^Read it years ago.
Left it amazed that someone so fucking dumb could get away with killing over 50 wimmenz for all those years in such a high profile case with so many resources put at the disposal of the po po's & FBI.
Says a lot about how easy it is to get away with random stranger murder, the value of "street smarts" & animal cunning as opposed to "book smarts", how overrated the FBI is, and how fucking stupid the police often are.

Yeah i agree. That letter was like it was written by a five year old but you got to have something up there to go on for that long.

 

[Bloodstone13]

^Read it years ago.
Left it amazed that someone so fucking dumb could get away with killing over 50 wimmenz for all those years in such a high profile case with so many resources put at the disposal of the po po's & FBI.
Says a lot about how easy it is to get away with random stranger murder, the value of "street smarts" & animal cunning as opposed to "book smarts", how overrated the FBI is, and how fucking stupid the police often are.

Very true .

 

[Bloodstone13]

Very true .

You must realize, that it was technology, not investigative strategy, that got him busted.He had been questioned and polygraphed, then cleared as a suspect.You must realize, that in this day and age, no DNA or physical evidence = No Indictment.

 

[Animal Mother]

I wonder if he could beat up Bundy in a fight, he has the reach on him.

 

[Bloodstone13]

^Read it years ago.
Left it amazed that someone so fucking dumb could get away with killing over 50 wimmenz for all those years in such a high profile case with so many resources put at the disposal of the po po's & FBI.
Says a lot about how easy it is to get away with random stranger murder, the value of "street smarts" & animal cunning as opposed to "book smarts", how overrated the FBI is, and how fucking stupid the police often are.

Hey, H.How are things down under, in NZ ? I feel the general public, thinks that murders, can be solved in an hours time.They watch , CSI, NCIS and Crimnal Minds .........Much of the technology in those shows, is not practical, in the real world....Investigative procedures, are relatively useless, against someone who knows how they work.....In the Ridgway case, I feel that, false profile, allowed him to go on for so long.They said that, he had to be a big strong guy, to carry and discard all of those bodies.......He was what I call, a dump and run killer. By far the most successful.There was a dump site and no actual crime scene.

 

[hecknatude]

One of his victims he decided to bring his son along for the ride went into the woods and got back to the truck alone his son which was 9 or so at the time asked his dad "where did the lady go?" Oh she walked home . how fucked up was his son when he finally found out the truth.

 

[Pixiedust]

I watched the whole story on the biography channel.....he was truely like the guy next door. They said he would kill them thencome home to his wife like nothing was wrong.....sick bastard....

 

[IndustrijaSmrti]

I don't know if this was posted here but some time ago i watched some random documentary on Youtube called "Streetwise" and i found out later that girl that was in this documentary end up as Green River Killer victim several years later.

Her name was Roberta Hayes,she was killed in 1987 ,and body discovered in 1991.

"Streetwise" documentary

 

[AeternaServus]

My mother was romantically involved with Gary Ridgeway for a short time when I was only a few months old. She met him while on a walk near Lake Fennewick.