Gary Ridgway

Gary Ridgway Today: Newly Identified Victim of the “Green River Killer”

For decades, law enforcement officials in Washington state have held onto a set of human remains suspected to be linked to serial killer Gary Ridgway. On December 19, the King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identity of the victim: Lori Anne Razpotnik, a 15-year-old who disappeared from her home in Lewis County in 1982 after running away.

The remains, discovered in December 1985 while investigating a report of a car crash in Auburn, were initially labeled as “Bones 17” until they could be definitively identified through advancements in DNA technology. In 2002, Ridgway, who later confessed to the murders, led investigators to the site and admitted to placing two victims there. Ridgway is currently serving multiple life sentences at the Washington State Penitentiary.

Lori Anne Razpotnik’s mother, Donna Hurley, spoke to The New York Times about her lingering doubts regarding Ridgway’s involvement. She had previously dismissed the possibility of Ridgway being involved, choosing instead to hold on to the hope that her daughter was alive, well, and living a fulfilling life. “It was easier to go on with life thinking that she was alive and well and raising a family and, you know, just being herself,” Hurley reflected.

Who Is Gary Ridgway?

Gary Ridgway, infamously known as the Green River Killer, is a convicted serial killer with a chilling criminal record. Originating from Utah, Ridgway spent three decades working as a truck painter and was married three times. His murder spree commenced in 1982 and went undetected for nearly two decades. He was apprehended in 2001 following a breakthrough in DNA testing that linked him to the crimes. Ridgway has confessed to killing between 75 and 80 women, primarily along Route 99 in south King County, Washington. He ultimately pleaded guilty to 49 counts of aggravated first-degree murder and is serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Ridgway remains incarcerated, serving his sentences in prison.

Early Life

Gary Leon Ridgway was born on February 18, 1949, in Salt Lake City. He was raised in a disadvantaged area near Seattle’s Pacific Highway, close to SeaTac airport. During his youth, Ridgway struggled academically and, following his high school graduation, was drafted to serve in Vietnam. Upon his return, he secured a position as a truck painter, a job he maintained for three decades. Despite his three marriages and a fervent commitment to religion, Ridgway’s life was marked by frequent patronage of sex workers.

Green River Killings

Gary Ridgway’s series of murders commenced in 1982, when a number of young runaways and sex workers began vanishing from State Route 99 in south King County, Washington. Ridgway abducted many of these individuals, bringing them to his residence where he would strangle them before disposing of their bodies in secluded, wooded areas. The initial victims were discovered along what would become the infamous Green River.

Known as the Green River Killer, Ridgway managed to evade capture for nearly two decades. It was not until 2001 that King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, who was the initial investigator assigned to the case in 1982, convened a meeting to reassess the evidence using advanced DNA-testing technologies. This re-evaluation resulted in a match between DNA evidence from the crime scenes and Ridgway. Consequently, Ridgway was charged with four counts of aggravated murder in December 2001. He later confessed to 49 counts of aggravated first-degree murder.

Multiple Life Sentences

Facing the prospect of execution, Gary Ridgway struck a deal with investigators to disclose the locations of the bodies of several young women who had yet to be discovered. In exchange, he agreed to plead guilty to any future cases where his confessions could be corroborated by evidence. Ridgway was subsequently sentenced to life in prison in December 2003, having committed more murders than any other serial killer in American history. He is currently incarcerated at Washington State Penitentiary.

In 2011, the discovery of an additional body led to Ridgway receiving another life sentence. During a 2013 media interview, Ridgway claimed responsibility for the murders of 75 to 80 women, a statement that has sparked debate regarding its veracity and whether he was seeking further attention.

Recently Identified Victims

In 2020, law enforcement identified 14-year-old Wendy Stephens as the youngest known victim of Gary Ridgway. Stephens, who had run away from home in August 1983, was found deceased in a swamp behind a baseball field the following year.

Subsequently, in December 2023, the King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington announced the identification of another victim using advanced DNA technology: Lori Anne Razpotnik. Razpotnik, who had disappeared after running away from home at the age of 15 in 1982, was found deceased in 1985. Her remains, which were previously referred to as “Bones 17” during the investigation, were confirmed to be her. Ridgway confessed in 2002 to having left two of his victims in the vicinity where Razpotnik’s remains were discovered.