Gary Ridgeway

Male Serial Killers: Gary Ridgeway In the summer of 1982, one of the nation’s worst and deadliest serial killers would start a killing spree that would last for almost 2 decades. This killer was known as the “Green River Killer,” but his real name was Gary Leon Ridgway. Ridgeway would murder numerous women in and around the Seattle, Washington area during the 1980s and the 1990s. When he was captured in 2001, Ridgway had admitted to killing 48 plus women. (Rule, 2004) Though, it is still believed that there are other victims that have not been identified. In the following, I will describe who Ridgway is, how he committed his crimes, what makes him unique, and how he was finally caught. I will also describe the mistakes the investigators made and how future investigators can learn from this case. Ridgway was 5’10” tall and weighed 155 pounds when he was arrested. (Burns, 2006) He read the Bible and had many interest and hobbies that included; hunting, fishing, working in the yard, and traveling with his wife. (Burns, 2006) He also liked to tell filthy jokes and shared tips on how to pick up prostitutes. (Burns, 2006) Ridgway grew up in the Seattle, Washington area. He was a D student and graduated high school in 1969, when he was 20 years old. (Burns, 2006) Ridgway was not known as a student that would stand out. Rather, he was someone who was known to always be in trouble. After high school, Ridgway went on to marry three different times. During his second marriage, his wife gave birth to a son, Matthew in 1975. (Burns, 2006) Neither Ridgway’s wives, nor his neighbors knew that he liked to pick up prostitutes, but some coworkers joked about his fondness for prostitutes. (Burns, 2006) Ridgway seemed to have everyone fooled, but it all caught up with him just weeks after he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute in 2001. In the summer of 1982, one of the first victims of the “Green River Killer” was found on the bank of the Green River. The body was