Gary Leon Ridgway (born February 18, 1949), known as the Green River Killer, murdered numerous women in Washington during the 1980s and 1990s, earning his nickname when the first five victims were found in the Green River. He strangled them, usually with his arm but sometimes using ligatures. After strangling the women, he would dump their bodies throughout forested and overgrown areas in King County.
On November 30, 2001, as he was leaving the Renton, Washington Kenworth Truck factory where he worked, he was arrested for the murders of four women whose cases were linked to him through DNA evidence. As part of a plea bargain wherein he agreed to disclose the whereabouts of still "missing" women, he was spared the death penalty and received a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
Ridgway was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Mary Rita Steinman and Thomas Newton Ridgway. He has two brothers—Gregory Leon and Thomas Edward. He was raised in the McMicken Heights neighborhood of SeaTac, Washington.
Ridgway's homelife was somewhat troubled; relatives have described his mother as domineering and have said that young Ridgway witnessed more than one violent argument between his parents. As a boy Ridgway had a habit of wetting the bed. His mother would often be the one to discover the accidents and would bathe him immediately. She would belittle him and embarrass him in front of his family. From a young age, Ridgway had conflicting feelings of sexual attraction and anger toward her.
As a young child, Ridgway was tested with an I.Q. of 82, signifying low intelligence, and his academic performance in school was so poor that at one point in high school he had to repeat a single school year twice in order to attain grades decent enough to pass. His classmates at Tyee High School describe him as congenial but largely forgettable. His teenage years, however, were troubled; when he was 16, he stabbed a six-year-old boy, who survived the attack. He had led the boy into the woods and then stabbed him through the ribs into his liver. According to the victim and Ridgway himself, walked away laughing and saying, "I always wondered what it would be like to kill someone."
At age 18, while in high school, Ridgway joined the Navy. After graduation, he married his high school girlfriend, Claudia Barrows, and was sent to Vietnam, where he served onboard a supply ship and saw combat. During his time in the military, Ridgway began spending a lot of time with prostitutes and contracted Gonorrhea for the second time. This angered him, but he continued to have unprotected sex with prostitutes. Meanwhile, his wife Claudia, alone and 19-years-old, began dating again, and the marriage quickly ended within a year. His first two marriages resulted in divorce because of infidelities by both partners. His second wife, Marcia Winslow, claimed that he had placed her in a chokehold. Ridgway had become fanatically religious during his second marriage, proselytizing door-to-door, reading the Bible aloud at work and at home, and insisting that Marcia follow the strict teachings of their church pastor. Ridgway would also frequently cry after sermons or reading the Bible; though Ridgway continued to solicit the services of prostitutes during this marriage and also wanted Marcia to participate in sex in public and inappropriate places, sometimes even in areas where his victims' bodies had been discovered.
Claudia Kraig Barrows is the First Wife of an American Convicted Serial Killer Gary Ridgway. The pair were married for 2 years and did not have any kids together.
Marcia Lorene Brown is well known as the Second Wife of Gary Ridgway, the second most prolific serial killer in United States history according to confirmed murders. The pair had been married for 8 years from 1973-to 1981 and had one Child Together, a Son named Matthew Ridgway. Mathew is Gary’s only Child.
Judith Lorraine Lynch was the third wife of American convicted serial killer Gary Ridgway. Judith and Gary were married for 14 years before her husband was arrested.
Mawson was good for Ridgway. In an interview with author Pennie Morehead, Ridgway said that his relationship with his third wife reduced his desire to kill. He was truly in love with her and felt less of a need to find sexual satisfaction elsewhere.
Wendy Coffield- In July 1982, Gary Ridgway earned the moniker “The Green River Killer” when two boys playing near the Green River discovered the body of Ridgway’s first known victim, 16-year-old Wendy Coffield. As the summer progressed, more and more bodies were found in the river, alarming the police and local residents.
Wendy Coffield’s body being pulled from the Green River
Opal Mills
Carol Christensen
Marcia Chapman
Cynthia Hinds
The bodies of Mills, Chapman, and Hinds were found in the Green River on August 15, 1982. Christensen’s body was found in the woods in nearby Maple Valley on May 8, 1983.
Specifically, the DNA tied him to three of the murders, while other unknown evidence tied him to the third. At the time, however, police were certain he had killed at least 49 women.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Southwest 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.
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.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ridgway is believed to have murdered at least 71 women (according to Ridgway, in an interview with Sheriff Reichert 2001) near Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. His court statements later reported that he had killed so many, he lost count. A majority of the murders occurred between 1982 to 1984. The victims were believed to be either prostitutes or runaways picked up along Pacific Highway South (International Blvd. 99) whom he strangled. Most of their bodies were dumped in wooded areas around the Green River except for two confirmed and another two suspected victims found in the Portland, Oregon area. The bodies were often left in clusters, sometimes posed, usually nude. He also sometimes later would return to the victims' bodies and have intercourse with them (an act of necrophilia). Because most of the bodies were not discovered until only the skeletons remained, four victims are still unidentified. Ridgway occasionally contaminated the dump sites with gum, cigarettes, and written materials belonging to others, and he even transported a few victims' remains across state lines into Oregon to confuse the police.
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.
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.
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.
In January 1984, the Green River Task Force came under new leadership headed by Captain Frank Adamson, who previously headed the police department's internal affairs unit. During the first few months of Adamson's assignment, drastic changes took place. He first decided that it would be in the investigation's best interest to relocate the task force headquarters to the Burien County precinct, which was near the airport and closer to where the crimes were occurring.
Following Keppel's advice, Adamson divided up various tasks and assigned them to individuals within the team. It was believed that this method would facilitate a more thorough organization, integration and assemblage of the vast amounts of information and lead to more successful results in the case. Smith and Guillen stated that one team composed of seven investigators and one sergeant/team leader was assigned to handle the victims of the Green River Killer. Another team of similar construction was assigned to information pertaining to probable suspects.
Early in August 2003, Seattle television news reported that Ridgway had been moved from a maximum security cell at King County Jail to an undisclosed location. Other news reports stated that his lawyers, led by Anthony Savage, were closing a plea bargain that would spare him the death penalty in return for his confession to a number of the Green River murders.
On November 5, 2003, Ridgway entered a guilty plea to 48 charges of aggravated first degree murder as part of a plea bargain, agreed to in June, that would spare him execution in exchange for his cooperation in locating the remains of his victims and providing other details. In his statement accompanying his guilty plea, Ridgway explained that all of his victims had been killed inside King County, Washington, and that he had transported and dumped the remains of the two women near Portland to confuse the police.
Deputy prosecutor Jeffrey Baird noted in court that the deal contained "the names of 41 victims who would not be the subject of State v. Ridgway if it were not for the plea agreement." King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng explained his decision to make the deal:
We could have gone forward with seven counts, but that is all we could have ever hoped to solve. At the end of that trial, whatever the outcome, there would have been lingering doubts about the rest of these crimes. This agreement was the avenue to the truth. And in the end, the search for the truth is still why we have a criminal justice system ... Gary Ridgway does not deserve our mercy. He does not deserve to live. The mercy provided by today's resolution is directed not at Ridgway, but toward the families who have suffered so much...
On December 18, 2003, King County Superior Court Judge Richard Jones sentenced Ridgway to 48 life sentences with no possibility of parole and one life sentence, to be served consecutively. He was also sentenced to an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence for each of the 48 victims, adding 480 years to his 48 life sentences.
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