Stalking Seattle: The Green River Killings

I've been stressing about how to type this one up. There were so many victims. There's no way I could get to every abduction and recovery site. Let alone post them all here. I did manage to get to quite a few of them though. If you're really interested in where all of the places are, buy Ann Rule's book, Green River, Running Red. I also made it to all of the homes Gary Ridgway lived in throughout his madness. I've compiled a timeline of events, which is very long. He was a busy guy. I just didn't know how else to present this without writing a novel. Also, for those who don't know the area, Highway 99 South has three names. North of 160th it's called Tukwila International Blvd. From 160th to 220th, it's Pacific Highway South. South of 220th, it's Highway 99. The airport is between S. 175th and S. 188th Streets. So with that said, here we go.

January, 1982- Gary Ridgway moves to 21859 32nd Place S. in SeaTac about three miles from where the first victims were found

21859 32nd Place S.
January, 1982- The first victims turned up near the banks of the Green River south of Seattle by the Meeker Street bridge, and the case gets its name.

Meeker Street Bridge
January 21, 1982- Leann Wilcox (16) disappears.
April 10, 1982- Gary Ridgway is arrested during a prostitution sting on Pacific Highway S. in front of The Red Lion across the street from the airport. He's found guilty.

Red Lion at 186th
and Pacific Hwy.
May 11, 1982- Ridgway is arrested again for agreeing to an act of sex for money with an undercover King County cop.
May 16, 1982- His girlfriend breaks off the relationship after another woman tells her Gary gave her herpes. (Nice)
July 7-25, 1982- Amina Agisheff, (35) Wendy Lee Coffield, (16) Gisele Ann Lovvorn, (17) and Debra Bonner (23) disappear just south of the airport.
August 1-8, 1982- Marcia Chapman, (31) Cynthia Hinds, (17) and Opal Mills (16) disappear in front of The Red Lion where Ridgway was previously arrested.
August 15, 1982- The remains of Chapman, Hinds, and Mills are found on the banks of the Green River.

Chapman, Hinds, and
Mills are found
August 16, 1982- The formation of the Green River Task Force is announced.
August 28 and 29, 1982- Kase Ann Lee (16) and Terry Milligan (16) disappear just south of the airport.
September 15-26, 1982- Mary Bridget Meehan, (18) Debra Lorraine Estes, (15) and Linda Jane Rule (16) disappear from Pacific Highway S.
October 8-21, 1982- Denise Bush, (22) Shawnda Leea Summers, (17) and Shirley Sherrill (18) disappear just south of the airport.
December 24, 1982- Colleen Brockman (15) disappears in south King County.
March 3-8, 1983- Alma Ann Smith (18) and Delores Williams (17) disappear from a bus stop in front of The Ben Carol Motel. at 14110 Tukwila International Blvd. (Now Knights Inn)

Knights Inn (Ben Carol Motel)
April 10-30, 1983- Gail Matthews, (24) Andrea Childers, (19) Sandra Gabbert, (17) Kimi-Kai Pitsor, (16) and Marie Malvar (18) disappear.
May 1, 1983- Ridgway emerges as a prime suspect in the disappearance of Marie Malvar. Nothing happens.
May 3, 1983- Carol Ann Christensen

14835 Pacific Highway S.

(21) disappears from The Barn Door Tavern where she worked at 14835 Tukwila International Blvd. (Now Safari Restaurant)
May 8, 1983- Police discover the body of Carol Ann Christensen in Maple Valley. She is found in a cross position, with fish and freshly

Carol Ann Christensen
is found

ground beef placed in her hand. (Wut?)
May 22, 1983- Martina Authorlee, (18) disappears from The Spruce Motel at 14442 Tukwila International Blvd.

14442 Tukwila International
May 23-31, 1983- Cheryl Wims, (18) and Yvonne Antosh (19) disappear.
June 1-28, 1983- Carrie Ann Rois, (15) Constance Naon, (21) and Keli McGinnis (22) disappear. Keli's body has never been found.
July 18-25, 1983- Kelly Ware (22) and Tina Marie Thompson (22) disappear.
August 18, 1983- April Buttram (17) disappears.
September 5-28, 1983- Debbie May Abernathy, (26) Tracy Winston, (19) and Maureen Feeney (19) disappear.
October 11-30, 1983- Mary Sue Bello, (25) Pam Avent, (26) and Delise Plager (22) disappear.
October 27, 1983- Constance Naon's body is found in a vacant

South192nd and
South 28th St.

lot south of the airport at S. 192nd and S. 28th Street.
November 1, 1983- Kimberly L. Nelson (26) disappears.
December 23, 1983- Lisa Yates (26) disappears.
January 7, 1984- The Green River Task Force is formed.
January 24, 1984- Patricia Osborn (19) disappears.
February 6, 1984- Mary Exzetta West (16) disappears.
March 21, 1984- Cindy Ann Smith (17) disappears. That same

Lake Burien Park

day, a body is found in a wooded area next to a little league field after the boys' complain of a bad smell and the game is cancelled.
May 22, 1984- Gary Ridgway takes a lie detector test. It's inconclusive.
January, 1985- Ted Bundy offers his assistance. (How thoughtful)
September, 1985- Ridgway takes another lie detector test and passes.
October 17, 1986- Patricia Michelle Barczak (19) disappears.
February 7, 1987- Roberta Joseph Hayes (21) disappears.
April 7, 1987- A search warrant is issued for hair and saliva samples from Ridgway's home.
June 12, 1988- Ridgway marries third wife Judith Lynch.
March 5, 1990- Marta Reeves (37) disappears.
Summer, 1990- Green River task force is disbanded.
December, 1992- The Ridgway's move to 2139 S. 253rd St. in

2139 S. 253rd Street Kent

Kent. A story breaks in the Seattle Times in 1996 about Gary being a suspect and their address is printed. They are harassed by neighbors and the house is vandalized.
September, 1997- The couple move to 4633 S. 348th St. in Auburn. (a big upgrade from Gary's previous homes)

4633 S. 348th St. Auburn
January, 1998- Patricia Yellow Robe disappears.
August, 2000- Ridgway apparently tries to run down co-worker Linda Blaney, and laughs at her panic.
March, 2001- A new task force is formed in the Green River killings investigation.
November 16, 2001- Ridgway is arrested on loitering-for-prostitution charges. He pleads guilty.
November 03, 2001- Ridgway is arrested on suspicion of murder while leaving work at

Kenworth Trucking

Kenworth Trucking at 1601 North 8th St. in Renton where he makes $21.00 an hour painting trucks.
December 5, 2001- He's Charged with 4 counts of first-degree murder for Hinds, Chapman, Mills, and Christensen.
December 18, 2001- He pleads not guilty to murder charges.
September 5, 2002- Gary files for divorce from Judith.
March 27, 2003- Ridgway is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of three more victims; Wendy Coffield, Debra Estes, and Debra Bonner.
June, 2003- Gary is moved from the jail to a secret location (a

Reichert and Ridgway

warehouse by Boeing Field) after he agrees to tell Sheriff Dave Reichert where all of the bodies are. Reichert pretty much lived there with him for three months. The DA also takes the death penalty off the table.
August 16, 2003- The remains of Pam Avent are found off Highway 410 near Enumclaw, nearly 20 years after her disappearance.
August 21, 2003- A bone fragment is found on a steep hillside just off Kent-Des Moines Road in Kent. A total of 19 bones are found but DNA tests fail to link the remains to a Green River victim.

April Buttram is found

Aug 30, 2003- The remains of April Dawn Buttram are found near Snoqualmie, just off I-90.
September 28, 2003- The remains of Marie Malvar are found in a steep ravine on Auburn’s West Hill.
November 5, 2003- Ridgway pleads guilty to 48 murders in a plea bargain. Only 42 women are on the Green River Killer list, and six are not. Four of the women remain unidentified.
December 18, 2003- Ridgway is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Sentence did not include suspected murders in Oregon and British Columbia.

Gary Ridgway is not only a psycho, he's an asshole. He led Reichert and the detectives on several wild-goose chases in order to stay at the warehouse as long as he could. He's also unbelievably arrogant. He loved being in the spotlight while the investigation and trial were going on. He always had a stupid smirk on his face. His IQ is only 80. During his confession he said, "I would talk to her... and get her mind off of the, sex, anything she was nervous about. And think, you know, she thinks, "Oh, this guy cares"... which I didn't. I just want to, uh, get her in the vehicle and eventually kill her." I hope his life in prison is horrible.

To all the girls and women he killed, RIP.