Bobby's School of Criminology Part 4 - Gary Ridgway

bobbythebrony Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Over a period of nearly twenty years, he raped and strangled at least 49 prostitutes in Seattle, Washington, though the number could be over 90 victims. How did he become the notorious serial killer he is?

Gary Leon Ridgway was born February 18, 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had a troubled upbringing, due to his dysfunctional homelife caused by arguments caused by his domineering mother. He had a mental retardation iQ and was shy and did poorly in school. Up until his teenage years, he was a bed wetter. His mother would herself wash his genitals when he did. This eventually caused him to develop violent sexual fantasies involving his mother. When he was sixteen, he stabbed a small child who survived. He was never caught and reportedly laughed and said "I've always wondered what it's like to kill somebody. ".

Ridgway graduated from high school in 1969. He enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Vietnam, where he contracted gonorrhea from a prostitute. His marriage also ended when his wife cheated. These two events would have an impact on his life. He later remarried and grew an insatiable sexual appetite. He also reported choked his second wife.

The murders began in 1982. He would pick up a prostitute or runaway, take them to the Green River, strangled them to death, and raped the corpses. All the victims were in Seattle, with two victims in Oregon as well. He killed many of his victims between 1982 and 1984. He became a suspect in 1983 and later "passed" a polygraph in 1984. He later married a third woman, who said that there was no carpet in his house. He also would leave very early in the morning to kill a victim before working his job as a truck painter. DNA was collected at a 1987 crime scene, which was matched to Ridgway years later.

On November 30, 2001, Ridgway was arrested at the truck factory where he worked. He was suspected of at least four murders based on evidence left at the crime scenes. On November 5, 2003, Ridgway pled guilty to 48 murders as part of a plea deal that spared him the death penalty. Less than a month later, he was sentenced to multiple life terms without parole. He later stated that he had murdered 71 victims.

He was incarcerated in solitary confinement due to his own protection. He was later transferred to a federal prison in Colorado but was eventually sent back to Walla Walla. This was due to public outcry.

So how did Gary Ridgway turn into a monster? There are three triggers in my opinion. His upbringing by his controlling mother turned him into a sexual psychopath. His encounter in Vietnam set the chain in motion and his wife's infidelity pulled the trigger. There are many more Gary Ridgways out there but this is a case which proves that you cant get away with murder forever.

Next Lesson: David Berkowitz

Comments

nice post! - visitor (11/16/2015)

Thanks! - bobbythebrony (11/16/2015)

You sure know your killers. Keep it up, bro. *boop* - RiverClanRocks (11/16/2015)

I will. Also why is everyone saying boop lately? - bobbythebrony (11/16/2015)

Gary is my homie! - bobbythebrony (1/16/2016)