Green River Killer

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Gary Ridgway: Green River Killer

Paul Edwards

Human Growth and Development

4-25-12

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Abstract

Gary Ridgway is an American serial killer also known as the Green River Killer. He was convicted of 48 separate murders, but confessed to killing almost double that many. He was spared the death penalty by going along with a plea bargain that involved him disclosing the whereabouts of other still missing women.

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Gary Ridgway is known as the Green River Killer. He is an American serial killer from Washington state, who killed many women over the course of two decades. Most of his victims were, or were alleged to be prostitutes. It is believed that he killed 71 women during his killing sprees. He was convicted on 48 separate murder counts. He gained the moniker of the Green River Killer after some of his first victims were found near the Green River near Seattle, Washington.

He would meet women and then have sex with them. Afterwards he would strangle them. Most of them by hand but sometimes using ligatures. He was arrested in 2001 after DNA evidence linked him to 4 murders. 3 more murders were added to his charges after forensic evidence involving paint was found on the bodies and linked him back to them. He was spared the death penalty after agreeing to a deal where he disclosed the locations of the remains of 41 still missing girls. He is still currently incarcerated in Washington.

How did the media affect the outcome of the trial? The case of the Green River Killer was widely publicized in Washington, however the case ended up not going to trial because of the plea deal that was struck between the prosecution and the defendant.

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Did the...