Gary Ridgway
Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, murdered women and teenage girls, including 14-year-old Wendy Stephens. He preyed on vulnerable victims, including runaways and sex workers, and pleaded guilty to 49 murders.
At a glance
- What happened
- Ridgway strangled victims and concealed or abandoned their bodies around the Seattle area. His victims included children and teenagers; Wendy Stephens was 14 when he killed her. The convictions total 49 murders. Higher numbers from his admissions or investigators' suspicions remain distinct from that convicted total.
- When
- 1982: the Green River investigation began. November 2001: arrest. November 5, 2003: guilty pleas to 48 murders. 2011: additional murder plea.
- Where
- King County and the Seattle–Tacoma area of Washington state, including the Green River.
- Why / motive
- The cited sheriff's account documents evidence and the plea agreement, rather than establishing a definitive psychological motive.
- Outcome
- Ridgway received life imprisonment without parole. His 49 convictions are distinct from larger numbers he claimed or investigators suspected.
Who is involved
- Gary Ridgway — subject
Sources
- AP — Green River victim identified“Ridgway pleaded guilty to a 49th count of murder in 2011”
- AP via Denver Gazette — Wendy Stephens identified“Wendy Stephens was 14 and had run away from her home in Denver before Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, strangled her”
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