Gary Ridgway

The Green River Killer, The Riverman

  Active for 19 years
(1982-2000) in United States

49

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

90

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 11 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 22 Books About Gary Ridgway
  14. 12 External References
  15. Internal References

Gary Ridgway (Gary Leon Ridgway) an American serial killer known as The Green River Killer and The Riverman. Ridgway began murdering women in 1982 and was arrested in 2001 when a DNA test revealed a match. He targeted sex workers along Route 99 in south King County, Washington. Ridgway didn't smoke or chew gum, yet he left cigarette butts and gum wrappers near his victims' bodies as confusing clues. Ridgway was suspected of killing over ninety victims, confessed to seventy-one and was convicted of forty-nine. Ridgway was one of six killers (Jerome Jerry Brudos, Ted Bundy, Ed Gein, Gary M. Heidnik, Edmund Kemper and Ridgway) who served as an inspiration for the character of Buffalo Bill in Thomas Harris' 1988 novel The Silence of the Lambs and its film adaptation.

Gary Ridgway Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Gary Ridgway (aka) The Green River Killer, The Riverman, was active for 19 years between 1982-2000, known to have ( 49 confirmed / 90 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States

Gary Ridgway was born on February 18th 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah, US. He was born 2nd of 3 children and raised by both parents Mary and Thomas Ridgway. Ridgeway was raised as a middle child and had two, one older brother and one younger brother. His father, Thomas Ridgway, a bus driver. His mother, Mary Ridgway, a homemaker. He had a head injury or brain defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems. Gary Ridgway was sexually, physically, and psychologically abused at some point of his life.

Ridgeway a heterosexual, necrophile male citizen of the United States of America, with religious ties and/or beliefs connected with the Pentecostalism religion, organization or belief system. He took an intelligence quotient test before or after his crimes, Gary Ridgway had an IQ of 82. Ridgeway completed 12 years of school, received a high school diploma. Ridgeway married Claudia Kraig Barrows in 1970, divorced in 1972, married Marcia Lorene Brown in 1973, divorced in 1981, married Judith Lorraine Lynch in 1988, divorced in 2002. He had one son, Matthew Ridgway born in 1975, Gary sometimes showed his sons picture to potential victims to gain their trust.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, and served time in jail.

In 1982 (Age 32/33) Gary Ridgway started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia, strangle, rape, and murder his victims. He was known to kill victims at his own home. He would keep personal items from the victim after the crime. He positioned or posed at least one body after death. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, alone and later with his third wife, Judith Lynch, where Ridgeway was known to work as a serial killer, military, truck painter.

He was arrested on November 30th 2001 (Age 52), convicted on November 5th 2003 (Age 54), sentenced to life imprisonment, forty-eight life terms plus 480 years at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington. Ridgeway was convicted on charges of murder, rape, torture and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Profile Completeness: 94%
serial killers by profile completeness

Gary Ridgway has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Gary Ridgway a known:

Gary Ridgway
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-04-21 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Gary Ridgway
Nickname: The Green River Killer, The Riverman
Victims: 49 - 90
Years Active: 1982 - 2000
Ages Active: 32/33 - 50/51
Active Countries: United States
Convicted Of: murder, rape, torture
Life Span: 1949 -     
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Citizenship: United States of America
Sexual Preference: heterosexual, necrophile
Religious Affiliation: Pentecostalism
Astrological Sign: Aquarius
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Birth Month: February
Marital Status: married Claudia Kraig Barrows in 1970, divorced in 1972, married Marcia Lorene Brown in 1973, divorced in 1981, married Judith Lorraine Lynch in 1988, divorced in 2002
Children: one son, Matthew Ridgway born in 1975, Gary sometimes showed his sons picture to potential victims to gain their trust
Living With: himself, alone and later with his third wife, Judith Lynch
Occupation: serial killer, military, truck painter
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: Feb 18, 1949
Family Name: Ridgeway
Given Name: Gary
Birth Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, US
Birth Order: 2nd of 3
Siblings: two, one older brother and one younger brother
Raised By: both parents Mary and Thomas Ridgway
Birth Category: middle child
Mother: Mary Ridgway, a homemaker
Father: Thomas Ridgway, a bus driver

Cognitive Ability
IQ: 82
Highest School: 12 years of school
Highest Degree: high school diploma

Incarceration
Arrested: Nov 30, 2001 (Age 52)
Convicted: Nov 5, 2003 (Age 54)
Sentence: life imprisonment, forty-eight life terms plus 480 years
Prison Location: Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington
Executed: N/A
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: TRUE
Previous Prison: FALSE

Death Information
Death Date: N/A
Cause of Death: N/A
Death Location: N/A
Killed In Prison: N/A
Suicide: N/A
11 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Gary Ridgway

The 11 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Gary Ridgway. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
Feb 18 1949Gary Ridgway was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, US.  #19490218
Feb 18 1969
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
Feb 18 1979
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
1982
(Age 32/33)
Gary Ridgway started his serial killing spree. #1982
Feb 18 1989
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
Feb 18 1999
(Age 50)
50th Birthday
2000
(Age 50/51)
Gary Ridgway ended his serial killing spree. #2000
Nov 30 2001
(Age 52)
Gary Ridgway arrested. #20011130
Nov 05 2003
(Age 54)
Gary Ridgway was convictedand sentenced to life imprisonment, forty-eight life terms plus 480 years at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington.  #20031105
Feb 18 2009
(Age 60)
60th Birthday
Feb 18 2019
(Age 70)
70th Birthday

38 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
problems in school TRUE 221
head injury TRUE 299
physically abused TRUE 231
psychologically abused TRUE 224
sexually abused TRUE 226
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous jail TRUE 352
previous killed TRUE 208
kill at killers home TRUE 320
rape TRUE 453
strangle TRUE 443
sex with body TRUE 430
posed body TRUE 365
totem personal item TRUE 354
robbed TRUE 418
living with children FALSE 268
father drug abuse FALSE 192
mother drug abuse FALSE 195
xyy FALSE 81
teased in school FALSE 218
physically defect FALSE 300
speach defect FALSE 300
drug abuse FALSE 226
alcohol abuse FALSE 226
psychologist FALSE 258
forensic hospital FALSE 257
previous prision FALSE 336
kill at victims home FALSE 323
used weapon FALSE 453
used gun FALSE 451
torture FALSE 426
stalk FALSE 418
blindfold FALSE 363
bound FALSE 406
mutilated FALSE 447
ate part of body FALSE 451
drank blood FALSE 442
totem body part FALSE 365


Books that Mention Gary Ridgway

Book: Serial Killer Stranglers (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: Mindhunter (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
John E. Douglas
Mindhunter
Book: Green River, Running Red (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Ann Rule
Green River, Running Red
Book: Green River, Running Red (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Ann Rule
Green River, Running Red
Book: Green River, Running Red (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Ann Rule
Green River, Running Red
Book: The Search for the Green River Kill... (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Tomas Guillen
The Search for the Green River Killer
Book: Green River Killer: A True Detectiv... (mentions serial killer Gary Ridgway)
Jeff Jensen
Green River Killer: A True Detective Story

22 Books that mention Serial Killer
Gary Ridgway

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630600 Serial Killer Stranglers 164
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
1501191969 Mindhunter 3
0743238516 Green River, Running Red 1
1982120509 Green River, Running Red 1
0743276418 Green River, Running Red 3
1504046390 The Search for the Green... 2
1595825606 Green River Killer: A Tru... 1
1451604289 The Riverman 5
141654223x But I Trusted You 1
0312938195 Chasing the Devil 1
0759511969 Chasing the Devil 1
0080569358 Criminal Profiling 1
0470370718 Defending Gary 2
0787985082 Defending Gary 2
0131529668 Serial Killers 1
1533054932 Serial Killers: Gary Ridg... 1
0275990648 Serial Murder and Media C... 8
0828322775 The Green River Serial Ki... 2
1412904870 Criminal Behavior 2
1621150534 Green River Killer 1
1230526412 Necrophiles 7

Gary Leon Ridgway (born February 18, 1949), also known as the Green River Killer, is an American serial killer. He was initially convicted of 48 separate murders. As part of his plea bargain, another conviction was added, bringing the total number of convictions to 49, making him the most prolific serial killer in United States history according to confirmed murders.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Gary Ridgway on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Gary Ridgway on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  3. Brenda Lackey, Carlie Jones, Gary Leon Ridgway on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  4. Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Nov 23, 2005 (Page 4A) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
  5. The Spokesman-Review, Aug 21, 1982 (Page 12) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
  6. Spokane Chronicle, Mar 11, 1985 (Page 5) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
  7. The Spokesman-Review, Apr 23, 1984 (Page C12) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
  8. Q357498 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 11, 2018.
  9. Gary Ridgway on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
  10. Gary Ridgway on www.alcatrazeast.com, Retrieved on Jan 10, 2019.
  11. Rachel Neldner, Geographic Profiling of Serial Murderer, Gary Ridgway on www.gis.smumn.edu, Retrieved on Jan 11, 2019.
  12. Gary Ridgway on www.serienkillers.de, Retrieved on Feb 18, 2019.
Internal References

Gary Ridgway is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #1 of 38[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in February
  2. #2 of 327[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  3. #3 of 60[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
  4. #3 of 42[ Page 1 ] of Aquarius Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  5. #7 of 250[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #10 of 307[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  7. #16 of 651[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #53 of 72[ Page 4 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
  9. #64 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  10. #81 of 651[ Page 6 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  11. #497 of 651[ Page 34 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Gary Ridgway is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Years of School Completed, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: