Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer
Trigger Warning!
Overview
Gary Leon Ridgway was born on February 18, 1949. Ridgway was known as the Green River Killer or the Green River Strangler.
Ridgway's victims consisted of alleged sex workers or other women who were considered vulnerable. Ridgway had been a suspect in the Green River case since 1982; however, law enforcement had a difficult time linking him to the murders at that time.
Early Life
Gary Leon Ridgway was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the second of three sons to Thomas and Mary Ridgway. Ridgway had a troubled childhood with a domineering woman as his mother.
As a child, Ridgway had conflicted feelings of anger and attraction towards his mother, and often he would fantasize about taking her life. His father worked as a bus driver and would often complain about the sex workers he would often come across on his route.
Ridgway is dyslexic and was held back a year in high school. At age sixteen, Ridgway lured a six-year-old boy into the woods and attacked him. Miraculously, the boy survived his injuries.
Ridgway graduated from Tyee High School in 1969 and married his high school sweetheart, Claudia Kraig. He went on to join the United States Navy and was later deployed to Vietnam.
During his time in the military, Ridgway had intercourse with sex workers and contracted gonorrhea, despite being angered, he went on with these tendencies.
His friends and family described him as friendly but strange. His first two marriages resulted in divorce. His second wife claimed that he had been abusive during their relationship. During the time in his second marriage, he became religious and spread his beliefs.
Murders
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it is believed that Ridgway had 71 victims. However, in later court dates Ridgway had announced that he had so many victims that he had lost count.
Ridgway's victims mostly consisted of sex workers, whom he would trick into trusting him by showing a picture of his son.
The murders took place in his home, his truck, or a secluded area. Most of the victims were placed in the wooded areas around the Green River, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Sentencing and Victims
On December 18, 2003, King County Superior Court Judge Richard A. Jones sentenced Ridgway to 48 life sentences without the possibility of parole to be served consecutively. Ridgway was sentenced an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence for each of his 48 victims, adding in total 480 years to his 48 life sentences. Later he would be given another life sentence for his 49th found victim.
As time passed, Ridgway had confessed to murdering at least 71 victims. However, this has yet to be confirmed.
In total, his convictions were:
- Aggravated first degree murder (49 Counts)
- Tampering with evidence (48 counts)
- Solicitation
Ridgway's span of crimes occurred between 1982-1998 (possibly as recent as 2001).
Reasoning for killing: Killed repeatedly due to a lack of empathy and the ability to de-humanize victims.
Ridgway is imprisoned at Washington State Penitentiary.
In Documentaries and Films
The 1984 documentary Murder, No Apparent Motive, about serial killers and FBI Profilers, mentioned that the then on-going Green River Killer's murders was one of the latest examples on serial killers without any motives for their crimes.
The direct-to-DVD movie Green River Killer was released in 2005.
The Riverman is based on the true story of Ted Bundy assisting investigators trying to identify and catch the Green River Killer.
Non-fiction Books
Search for the Green River Killer by Carlton Smith and Tom Guillen, published on March 5, 1991.
Through a Mother's Eyes: The Untold Story of Opal Charmaine by Kathy Mills, published on March 1, 2002.
Chasing the Devil by Sheriff David Reichert, published on July 28, 2004.
About the Creator
Emma Beckley
Hello! I'm a young writer with a dream of having my work published. I enjoy reading and writing romance novels.
Keep reading
More stories from Emma Beckley and writers in Criminal and other communities.
Richard Chase: The Vampire of Sacramento
Overview Richard Chase was an American killer, cannibal, and necrophile who killed six people in Sacramento, California. His nickname, "The Vampire of Sacramento," came from how he would murder his victims. He drank their blood.
By Emma Beckleyabout a year ago in Criminal
Speed, Greed, and the Dangerous Game of Revenge
There are some things in the world that are not just symbols of wealth, but become identities of power, arrogance, and obsession. The rare 1937 Bugatti is one of those things. The film begins with a grand and luxurious auction, where this legendary car stands on stage as the center of everyone’s attention. The auctioneer announces that it is one of the rarest cars in the world, with only two models existing globally. This announcement ignites greed in the hearts of every wealthy person present in the crowd. The bidding starts at thirty million dollars and keeps increasing moment by moment. Someone bids thirty-two, someone thirty-four, and finally the bid reaches forty-one million dollars. This final bid is placed by a man named Jack, who is in contact with his boss. On the surface, he appears to be a rich buyer, but in reality, he is working for a powerful and dangerous criminal. The Bugatti is not going to belong to him, but to his boss. At the same time, the film introduces us to two brothers—Andrew and Garrett. Both are world-famous and highly skilled car thieves. Luxury and supercars are their obsession, and they have stolen some of the best cars in the world. The reason both brothers are connected to the Bugatti’s path is because they want to steal this rare car. The Bugatti theft on the highway is one of the most thrilling scenes of the film. High-speed vehicles, jumping onto a truck using ropes, a shower of bullets, and the shadow of death—Andrew and Garrett risk their lives to steal the Bugatti. This is not just a theft, but a practical demonstration of skill, nerves, and madness. After the theft, both brothers celebrate, but this happiness does not last long. When they go to a man named Jimmy to sell the Bugatti, he refuses to buy it. Jimmy knows that this car does not belong to an ordinary person, but to a very powerful and dangerous businessman named Morrier. Morrier is not only a wealthy man, but also runs an entire criminal empire. Soon, Andrew and Garrett are captured and presented before Morrier. Morrier tells them his story—a journey that started from poverty, an empire built through crime, and an obsession with rare cars. For him, these cars are not just a hobby, but symbols of his power and ego. The theft of the Bugatti becomes a personal insult to him. Morrier gives both of them one chance to stay alive, but his condition is extremely dangerous. They must steal a 1962 Ferrari belonging to a man named Max—a car that is one of a kind in the world and worth more than millions of dollars. Max is a young but exceptionally intelligent business tycoon, and also Morrier’s old enemy. From here, the story moves beyond a simple theft and turns into a battle of minds. Andrew and Garrett form an entire team, including Stephanie, Devon, bomb expert Lane, and skilled race drivers. Every person has a specific role, and every mistake can lead to death. The character of Max adds more depth to the story. He appears to be a polite and successful businessman, but behind him is an extremely sharp mind. He is both impressed by Andrew and Garrett’s abilities and cautious of them. His Ferrari is not just a car, but his identity. The story takes a new turn when it is revealed that the real plan was never to steal the Ferrari. The Bugatti was merely a move, a trap—used to ensnare Morrier along with his arrogance. Andrew, Garrett, and Max were actually playing the same game from the very beginning, where the real target was Morrier’s treasure of rare and valuable cars. In the climax, speed, explosions, and intelligence collide together. A collapsing bridge, long car chases, betrayal, sacrifices, and finally Morrier’s fate—all symbolize that the game of power and greed ultimately ends in destruction. In the end, Andrew proposes marriage to Stephanie, Garrett finds love, and the team completes an impossible mission. But the biggest lesson remains that in this world, the most dangerous weapon is not a gun or speed, but the mind, patience, and the final move played at the right time. Final Question Is power really found only in money and weapons, or is true power hidden in the mind that silently turns the entire game around?
By Filmon Ke Raaz | Movie Mysteries Explainedabout 6 hours ago in Criminal
Comments (1)
The guy had a seriously messed up childhood. It's crazy how his issues led to so many tragic killings over the years.