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:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 11 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 22 Books Written About Gary Ridgway
- 12 External References
- 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 completenessGary Ridgway has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Gary Ridgway a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
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 1949 | Gary 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 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Gary Ridgway (1982-2000).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 38 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial 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
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
John E. Douglas
Mindhunter
Ann Rule
Green River, Running Red
Ann Rule
Green River, Running Red
Ann Rule
Green River, Running Red
Tomas Guillen
The Search for the Green River Killer
Jeff Jensen
Green River Killer: A True Detective Story
22 Books that mention Serial Killer
Gary Ridgway
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.
External References
- Gary Ridgway on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Gary Ridgway on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Brenda Lackey, Carlie Jones, Gary Leon Ridgway on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Nov 23, 2005 (Page 4A) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- The Spokesman-Review, Aug 21, 1982 (Page 12) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- Spokane Chronicle, Mar 11, 1985 (Page 5) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- The Spokesman-Review, Apr 23, 1984 (Page C12) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- Q357498 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 11, 2018.
- Gary Ridgway on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
- Gary Ridgway on www.alcatrazeast.com, Retrieved on Jan 10, 2019.
- Rachel Neldner, Geographic Profiling of Serial Murderer, Gary Ridgway on www.gis.smumn.edu, Retrieved on Jan 11, 2019.
- 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 of 38[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in February
- #2 of 327[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #3 of 60[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #3 of 42[ Page 1 ] of Aquarius Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #7 of 250[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #10 of 307[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #16 of 651[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #53 of 72[ Page 4 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
- #64 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #81 of 651[ Page 6 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #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: