Green river killer gary ridgway victims

THE HOMICIDAL rampage perpetrated by 'Green River Killer' Gary Ridgway claimed the lives of dozens of victims.

For several years, Ridgway went undetected until he was arrested and convicted for the murders of several young women.

Who were Gary Ridgway's victims?

Throughout the s and s, Gary Ridgway committed 49 murders in the state of Washington.

Although he was convicted for these homicides, police suspect the number to be higher.

Ridgway himself confessed to authorities that he killed up to 71 victims.

His method of perpetrating these crimes involved him strangling the victim, dumping their body in Washington's Green River, and sometimes returning to the scene to perform sexual intercourse.

Ridgway's list of victims includes these young women and their ages at the time of death:

• Wendy Lee Coffield - 16
• Gisele Ann Lovvorn - 17
• Debra Lynn Bonner - 23
• Marcia Fay Chapman - 31
• Cynthia Jean Hinds - 17
• Opal Charmaine Mills - 16
• Terry Rene Milligan - 16
• Mary Bridget Meehan - 18
• Debra Lorraine Estes - 15
• Linda Jane Rule - 16
• Denise Darcel Bush - 23
• Shawnda Leea Summers - 16
• Shirley Marie Sherrill - 18
• Rebecca 'Becky' Marrero - 20
• Colleen Renee Brockman - 15
• Sandra Denise Major - 20
• Wendy Stephens - 14
• Alma Ann Smith - 18
• Delores LaVerne Williams - 17
• Gail Lynn Mathews - 23
• Andrea Marion Childers - 19
• Sandra Kay Gabbert - 17
• Kimi-Kai Pitsor - 16
• Marie M Malvar - 18
• Carol Ann Christensen - 21
• Martina Theresa Authorlee - 18
• Cheryl Lee Wims - 18
• Yvonne 'Shelly' Antosh - 19
• Carrie Ann Rois - 15
• Constance Elizabeth Naon - 19
• Kelly Marie Ware - 22
• Tina Marie Thompson - 21
• April Dawn Buttram - 16
• Debbie May Abernathy - 26
• Tracy Ann Winston - 19
• Maureen Sue Feeney - 19
• Mary Sue Bello - 25
• Pammy Annette Avent - 15
• Delise Louise Plager - 22
• Kimberly L Nelson - 21
• Lisa Yates - 19
• Mary Exzetta West - 16
• Cindy Anne Smith - 17
• Patricia Michelle Barczak - 19
• Roberta Joseph Hayes - 21
• Marta Reeves - 36
• Patricia Yellowrobe - 38
• Unidentified White Female (Jane Doe B) - suspected to be between 14 and 18
• Tammie Liles - 16

How did the Green River Killer get caught?

DNA samplings taken from Ridgway on April 7, , led to his arrest years later.

On November 30, , law enforcement apprehended him for the killings of Marcia Chapman, Opal Mills, Cynthia Hinds, and Carol Ann Christensen.

On November 5, , the criminal took a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to 48 counts of aggravated first-degree murder.

The plea bargain set the following term: Ridgway admits to all of his crimes and not just the seven in the indictment and he'll be spared the death penalty or the other option - be convicted of all seven murders and possibly face a death sentence.

In order to escape a possible death sentence, the killer took the plea bargain and confessed to the additional murders that investigators suspected him of.

On December 18, , he was sentenced to 48 life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Where is he now?

Ridgway is serving his 48 life sentences at Washington State Penitentiary.

In May , he was transferred to USP Florence High in Colorado.

This decision was met with backlash from the public and many complaints were made to Washington state Governor Jay Robert Inslee.

Months later in October of the same year, he was transferred back to Washington State Penitentiary.

In January , the last known remains of his victims were identified to be of year-old girl named Tammie Liles.

Most of Liles' remains were found in August in Washington, but they were left unidentified for over 20 years - until recent DNA testing.

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