Gary Ridgway is an American serial killer known as the “Green River Killer,” responsible for dozens of murders of women in Washington state during the 1980s and 1990s. He was arrested in 2001 and later convicted in connection with numerous killings, receiving life sentences.

Key Facts

• Ridgway was convicted in connection with 49 murders, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.
• He became widely known by the nickname “The Green River Killer” because some victims were discarded in or near the Green River.
• Police arrested Ridgway in 2001 after forensic evidence linked him to multiple victims.
• He avoided a death sentence by cooperating with investigators and providing information about additional victims.
• Ridgway received life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
• His method of killing most often involved strangulation, and many victims were sex workers or vulnerable women.
• His crimes were committed primarily during the 1980s and 1990s in King and Snohomish counties in Washington state.
• He confessed to killing more women than he was convicted for, leading investigators to continue searches for remains for years after his arrest.
• Investigators used DNA and other forensic techniques to link Ridgway to victims and to confirm confessions.
• He was born in 1949 and lived in the Seattle area prior to his arrest, working in painting and manufacturing jobs.

Crimes and Victims

Ridgway targeted women over a period spanning the 1980s and 1990s, many of whom were involved in sex work or were otherwise vulnerable. Victims were often found in suburban and rural locations around King and Snohomish counties.

The majority of confirmed victims were killed by strangulation, and some remains were disposed of in or near the Green River, which contributed to the case’s name. Investigators later linked additional bodies and remains to Ridgway as part of his cooperation with police.

Capture and Trial

Forensic evidence, including advances in DNA testing, played a central role in identifying Ridgway as a suspect and in linking him to multiple victims. He was arrested in 2001 and subsequently interrogated and investigated by local task forces.

As part of a plea agreement designed to spare the costs and uncertainties of a capital trial, Ridgway cooperated with authorities by providing details about victims and disposal sites. He ultimately pleaded guilty to numerous counts and received life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Psychology and Motives

Analyses of Ridgway’s behavior indicate patterns common to sexually motivated serial offenders, including targeting marginalized victims and exerting control through violence. Interviews and police reports suggest a mix of sexual compulsion and a need for dominance, though definitive motives are complex and debated.

Mental health evaluations and expert commentary have discussed personality traits and behavioral drivers but offered no single, universally accepted explanation for his crimes. His cooperation with investigators also raised questions about how confession details corresponded with verifiable evidence.

Background / Early Life

Gary Ridgway was born in 1949 and spent much of his adult life in the Seattle metropolitan area, where he held steady employment in painting and related trades. Colleagues and neighbors later described him as unassuming, which contrasted with the scale of his criminal activity.

Public records and reporting indicate he had relationships and family ties that were not publicized during the years he was active as an offender. Those close to him reported shock after his arrest, contributing to scrutiny about how behavior can be concealed in a domestic setting.

Legacy and Media Coverage

The Ridgway case had lasting impacts on investigative practice, prompting continued use of DNA technology, improved evidence preservation, and prolonged searches for victim remains. Law enforcement task forces and cold-case units cite the case in discussions of methodology and interagency cooperation.

His crimes have been the subject of books, documentaries, and news coverage that examine both the victims and investigative work, while also prompting criticism about earlier investigative missteps. Survivors’ families and advocacy groups continue to call attention to systemic issues exposed by the case and to memorialize the victims.