A series of murders in Washington State from 1982 onward; Gary Ridgway had been a suspect since 1982 but evaded conviction until DNA profiling advances led to his arrest in 2001. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Case YearSourced to the subject's own account LocationSourced to the subject's own accountKing County, Washington, United States 1 Investigative or Reform SignificanceSourced to the subject's own accountDemonstrates how advances in DNA profiling technology can definitively resolve a cold case decades after the crimes and after a suspect first evaded conviction. 1 Case StatusSourced to the subject's own account Case Status
Case Status (category)Sourced to the subject's own account FAQs
How did Ridgway evade capture for two decades despite being a suspect since 1982?
Investigators lacked the forensic means to conclusively link him to the murders at the time. It was only later advances in DNA profiling technology that allowed his DNA to be matched to evidence from the crimes, leading to his arrest in 2001.
Connections
Associated With
Keppel led the task force and brought in incarcerated Ted Bundy for offender-insight consultations.
Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
Exemplifies
The murders went unsolved for nearly two decades before DNA evidence closed the case.
Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
Investigated By
The King County Sheriff's Office formed the Green River Task Force, which included detectives Robert D. Keppel and Dave Reichert, to investigate the murders.
Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
Used In
DNA analysis of preserved evidence identified Gary Ridgway two decades after the murders.
Source Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Gary Ridgway
Investigation section
Later advances in DNA profiling allowed investigators to definitively link Ridgway to the murders, and he was arrested on November 30, 2001.
- Used In: DNA Profiling
- Exemplifies: Cold Case
Exemplifies: Serial Murder, Lead section, opening sentence
Gary Leon Ridgway ..., known as the Green River Killer or the Green River Strangler, is an American serial killer who was convicted of murdering forty-nine women between 1982 and 1998 in the northwestern United States.
View the SourceThe Spokesman-Review: Ted Bundy Helped Green River Investigation
The Spokesman-Reviewmid-article, Bundy terminologyQuote, mid-article, Bundy terminology
Ted called the whole business about when, where and how the Riverman abducted his victims the 'front end' process.
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