Investigation of Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer

This report contains the investigation and procedure to find the murderer Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer, who killed approximately 71 women. It includes the role of community efforts and programs like CODIS and VCAP. The report also discusses the effect on the local community and the challenges in serial murder investigations.

2/6/2019
INVESTIGATION 0
Serial killers and Mass Murderers
Student’s Name

INVESTIGATION 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Investigation....................................................................................................................................3
Investigation procedure:...............................................................................................................3
Community efforts...........................................................................................................................4
Role of Programs.............................................................................................................................5
Effect on the local community.........................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

INVESTIGATION 2
Introduction
Gary Ridgway was famous by Green River Killer name. He was a serial killer who killed
approximately 71 women. He killed most of the prostitutes as he has insatiable sex desire. His
DNA was the only evidence regarding murder. In the year 2001, he was arrested for the 20 year
old murder (Wiest, 2016). This report contain the investigation and its process to find the
murderer. Investigation is a process to examine the crime, crime scene, evidences and witnesses
to find out the truth. This report also contains the procedure about how murderer was caught.

INVESTIGATION 3
Investigation
It is an act of finding the truth. Gary Ridgway’s case is a criminal offence. Criminal
investigation contains study of evidences, facts and circumstances. Investigation used to find,
detect and prove the fault of an accused person (Becker, 2013).
Investigation procedure:
- Pre-arrest Investigation: In this activity police suspected criminal activity and persons
involve in it. They collected and analysis the evidences and witnesses. In this case the
moment police found the body of Wendy Lee, investigation started.
- Arrest: When police finds out the sufficient evidences, they can arrest accused person
after considering all the relevant evidences and witnesses. In this case police arrest the
victim in 2001 after the DNA test result.
- Appearance: After arresting the accused person, the person will be present in court. In
this case Gary Ridgway were present in court where he admitted that he killed 48 women
across the world. Afterwards court sentenced him for lifetime.
- Sentencing: After the final judgement, accused person were sent to jail for his final crime.
In this case Gary Ridgway sent to jail for life imprisonment (Newburn, Williamson &
Wright, 2012).
Ted Bundy, one of the serial killer help police to find Gary Ridgway. Finally with the help of
Ted Bundy’s theories, police able to find his DNA as an evidence. After the forensic report, it
has been proved that it was the same spray paint which he used in all murders. According to the
theory of Ted Bundy, Gary return in the case of fresh grave.

INVESTIGATION 4
Community efforts
With the help of community, police able to find the victim Gary Ridgway till 2001. Many
people play vital role in arresting him. Many people make efforts to find the Gary Ridgway such
as Marcia Winslow (Gary’s second wife), Bruce Revard (Gary’s neighbour), Gilbert Mandiola
(Gary’s schoolmate) and mainly Ted Bundy. They gave information regarding his behaviour
which help police to find out the motive behind his murders (Robinson, 2001). Apart from these
people, many other people were responsible to make successful this mission such as
psychologist, officers, doctors, etc.
Gary Ridgway was one of the most suspect serial killer in the America. He almost killed
more than 70 women. Community and investigators making efforts to find out the killer. His
three wives and other relatives, friends and family give their statement which help police officer
to suspect the accused.
The police warn the potential victims. Most of the victims were prostitutes, as they do not
have families. After identifying the bodies of victim, police condolence to their known.

INVESTIGATION 5
Role of Programs
Programs such as Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VCAP) or Combined DNA
Index System (CODIS) plays a vital role in the investigation. They help to find out the biological
evidence from the crime scene. CODIS is responsible for manages CODIS and NDIS. These
programs used to find out the evidences regarding serial killers. They help to match profiles in
the forensic which help to link crime scenes. Like in the case of Gary Ridgway, these program
helps to match DNA and the sample of spray paint which he used in his crime scenes (Gardner &
Krouskup, 2018).
Yes this case is happen in decades ago. In between 1980-2001, Gary Ridgway was the
most suspected serial killer in the America as he killed many women across the globe. Many
investigating tools are there now-a-days which can help to solve the mystery. These are Sans
Sift, Narcoanalysis test, Lie Detector test, Alternative Live Photography, DNA Sequencer, Video
Spectral Comparator 2000, Forensic Carbon-14 dating, etc. These investigating tools can help in
the case of Gary Ridgway such as Lie Detector test helps to find out the truth by questioning
Gary (Aggrawal, 2016).

INVESTIGATION 6
Effect on the local community
When Gary Ridgway was not arrested, then people live with fear and worries. He mainly
targets prostitute for his sex desires and afterwards killed them (Murray, 2017). In the decade of
1980-2001, he was the most suspected killer in the America. The scariest thing about Gary
Ridgway is the lack of understanding among general people. Gary targets strangers which
includes prostitutes mostly as he is enjoying murdering them. Most importantly he lives normal
life which never suspects him to be a serial killer. Usually these kind of people were mentally
unstable who can harm anyone anywhere. In this case Gary Ridgway is a married man who lived
in the sane house with his wife for many years and worked as an automotive painter. This
lifecycle of him never showed the image of his serial killer. Mostly in these cases, serial killer
were behaved normally among family, friends and relatives. After discovering the truth to the
general people, everyone is in big shock because no one thought he would be the serial killer.
This uncovered mystery creates more fear among public as they thought they can be next target.
This thought process forces them to live their life with restriction and after knowing the reaction
of general people, serial killers will become more powerful because all they want is to spread
their fear among people. It will become difficult for the police officer to handle the situation and
proceed further with their investigation (LePard, Demers, Langan & Rossmo, 2015).

INVESTIGATION 7
References
Aggrawal, A. (2016). Necrophilia: forensic and medico-legal aspects. United States: CRC Press.
Becker, R. (2013). Criminal Investigation. United States: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Gardner, R. & Krouskup, D. (2018). Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation (3rd
ed). United States: CRC Press.
LePard, D., Demers, S., Langan, C. & Rossmo, D. (2015). Challenges in serial murder
investigations involving missing persons. Police practice and research, 16(4), 328-340.
Murray, J. L. (2017). The role of sexual, sadistic, and misogynistic fantasy in mass and serial
killing. Deviant behavior, 38(7), 735-743.
Newburn, T., Williamson, T. & Wright, A. (2012). Handbook of Criminal Investigation. New
York: Routledge.
Robinson, S. (2001). The Gary Ridgway They Knew. Retrieved from:
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/special-reports/article25855195.html.
Wiest, B. (2016). Creating cultural monsters: Serial murder in America. United States: CRC
Press.