In order to better define Gary Ridgway, it is essential that you look into the different types serial killers that are out there according to Holmes and De Burger (1988). They divided serial killers into four categories: Visionary, Mission-Oriented, Hedonistic and Power-Reassurance. Visionary serial killers murder in response to voices, or visions urging them to kill, and are usually classified as psychotic (Holmes and De Burger, 1988). To classify Gary Ridgway as only one of these types of serial killers would be a false statement. Through examining his case it seems Gary fits the typology of at least three different types of serial killers; Mission-Oriented killer, Control-Oriented, and Hedonistic or more specifically the Lust killer. According to Reid (2010) the main focal point of the murder is sex, even after the victim has been killed, which is why some serial killers engage …show more content…
These types of killers “thrive on holding the power of life and death over his victims” (Bennell et al, 1999). They start out only seeking to rape and achieve sexual fantasies, but end up murdering the victims because they realize their fantasies cannot live up to reality. The rape often “fails” due to the offenders impotence, and it is at this point where the offender must reassure him of his power and may kill the victim (Bennell et al, 1999). Ever since Gary was a young boy he experienced unusual fantasies, commonly focused on and around his mother. In order to overcome the humiliating things his mother did to him, Gary developed coping mechanisms or these fantasies in order to forget the horrific memories. As Ridgway got older, his fantasies becan to intensift, ultimately leading him to demonstrate through necrophilia with his victims. Since Ridgways murders were a byproduct of fulfilling his unusual fantasies, It is clear that the Green River Killer fits the typology and description of the Power-Reassurance