Intro: Gary Leon Ridgway known as the Green River Killer notably impacted mainstream American culture.
Background- Gary the serial killer was born February 18, 1949 in Salt Lake City ,Utah. He was raised near Settle's Pacific Highway. Ridgway a very poor student was send to Vietnam. When he came back he got a job painting trucks and he kept that job for 30 years. Gary also was married three times.
Crime- He started in 1982 killing young runaway and prostitutes near state route 99 in south King County, Washington. He brought many victims to his home and strangled them. The bodies showed up along the Green River.
Justice- When King Country Sheiff Dave Reichert the first officer to be assigned the case called a meeting to re-look the evidence and used new DNA- testing technology. He was charged with four counts of aggravated murder in 2001. Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of aggravated first degree murder. His trial was a huge deal to the families and and police officers that was hurt by the Green River Killer. It has changed American culture forever.
Biography.com , CNN.com ,
