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Who Is Gary Ridgway A Serial Killer

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Gary Ridgway Many people are murdered in the United States in a year. However, it seems to be decreasing slowly from year to year. “In 2011, an estimated 14,612 persons were murdered in the United States. This was a 0.7 percent decrease from the 2010 estimate, a 14.7 percent decline from the 2007 figure, and a 10.0 percent decrease from the 2002 estimate” (Murder). Serial killings are among this death. Since 1980 there has been roughly 154 serial killers worldwide, including the 87 that were located in the United States. Among these 87 is one of the most notorious serial killers in the United States, Gary Ridgway. Mary Rita Steinman and Thomas Newton Ridgway had their son, Gary Leon Ridgway, on February 18, 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah. …show more content…

“In 1982, Gary Ridgway was arrested on a prostitution charge. He became a suspect in the killings, but after passing a polygraph test in which he claimed to be innocent, he was no longer considered to be a prime candidate. Members of the task force held onto their suspicions and to samples of his hair and saliva” (Gary Ridgway). The detectives working on the case waited for progress in DNA forensics because “by 1988, Ridgway is again suspected and a warrant to search his house as well as a court order requiring him to give a saliva sample” (The Green River Killer). They needed the advance in this department so they could confirm his saliva matched the DNA found on his victims. While they were waiting for the advances, they thoroughly checked the crime scenes to find incriminating evidence against him. “In addition to the traditional tasks of compiling a paper trail on suspects, detectives went to extraordinary lengths searching for any trace physical evidence. They collected birds’ nests and animal feces, searched on hands and knees with magnifying glasses and tweezers. They knew that the entire case might hinge on a microscopic fragment that could be easily overlooked” (Murderpedia, the encyclopedia

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According to the film “Murder by Number”, CNN rates on serial murder are significantly lower than what the FBI reports. According to CNN, the FBI exaggerates the number of serial killers. CNN states that the number of serial murderers became misconstrued when William Webster, a former FBI director, suggested that the various unsolved murder cases directly correlated to the number of serial killers. In the film, Ann Rule supported Webster’s idea by stating that there are 5,000 victims of serial killers that die every year. According to CNN, the FBI behavioral sciences and investigative support unit miscalculated the number of serial

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After graduating from high school, Gary Ridgway joined the United States Navy at the age of 18. He served 4 years and completed a tour in Vietnam where we saw combat. Upon his return he married his high school sweetheart Claudia Barrows. Their marriage dissolved after his wife was unfaithful. Gary struggled to find his footing in the work force.

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He did have some close calls. In 1983, a victim named Maria was taken off the strip where her boyfriend saw her being taken. The boyfriend followed the pickup truck, yet the truck got away from him(Harthorne, 2013). The police questioned Gary Ridgway because the boyfriend recognized it to be his truck. Gary Ridgway convinced the police that it was not his truck.

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“The average number of people being killed by gun either as suicide or as homicide is 31,695” (EVERYTOWN For Gun Safety). According to statistics, the United States is

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Crime lurked on every street corner, and murder was becoming commonplace. In 1981, “The Chicago Tribune reported that 5,906 people had been murdered in America, nearly 40 percent more than in 1890” (Larson 153). Police were of little service as they were overwhelmed with hundreds of cases of disappearances. Many citizens avoided reporting murders or crimes they witnessed or suspected to the police; “It was as if no one thought the police would be interested in yet another disappearance or, if they were, that they would be competent enough to conduct an effective investigation” (Larson 190). Lives were not being valued and death was not being taken seriously.

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There were six three foot candlesticks placed in a semicircle with the body in the middle. At first, the authorities tested the DNA of the semen next to the body, but never ended up finding any evidence of who the killer could be. They then try to salvage the fingerprints off of the candlesticks that were set around the scene. After many tests and attempts at finding strong prints they find nothing. Authorities continue to find failed leads and proceed to look in the wrong

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Gary Leon Ridgway was 52 years old when he was arrested in connection to seven murders of prostitutes, drug addicts, and young female runaways in the Seattle, Washington area (Hickey, p. 32, 2016). He was a painter that ultimately helped police link him to the murders by using microscopic paint particles. In addition, DNA evidence was also used to help connect him to the murders. Police also suspected him in committing over 40 more murders of women working or living on the streets (Hickey, p. 32, 2016). All of his victims were between the ages of 15 and 26, with the exception of three women who were in their 30’s (Hickey, p. 32, 2016).

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Gary Ridgway On February 18, 1949, Mary Rita Ridgway and Tom Ridgway welcomed their son Gary Leon Ridgway into the world (Gary Leon Ridgway).This child would grow up to be famous for admitting to the most serial killings(Gary Ridgway). Gary Ridgway committed his series of murders over a period of twenty years, until he was caught in 2001(Gary Ridgway-bio). He was caught then because of a DNA test (Gary Leon Ridgway). Gary Ridgway has admitted to killing at least forty-nine women, but there is a possibility that number of deceased women is actually higher. (Gary Leon Ridgway).

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The article by Karen Sternheimer provides some insight into the stats of murder in America. In doing so, the article also highlights some issues with the media today. We learn that the media turned a statistic in way to help themselves instead of properly providing the real statistic. What the media provided was based on a small number of people, but when looked at from a larger pool of people, it can be seen the opposite had occurred (the murder rate had decreased). We also learn that most murder victims are male, specifically, African American males.

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The first body was found in July of that year by children who were playing around the river. By April of 1984 at least 20 bodies had been found. Police believed that almost, if not all, of the bodies were prostitutes (Micol). Gary was arrested on prostitution charges in May 1982 (GARY). He became one of the suspects for the Green River killings in May 1984.

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Such as any other serial killer the Green River Killer, also known as Gary Ridgway was one of the worst serial killers whose reign ended in 1998. Targeting mainly prostitutes because he didn’t want to spend money for sex. How does that make someone go on a rampage to killing more than 40 people? Thus, Gary’s sickness of violence started since his childhood.

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Serial killers are vicious monsters. Monsters that deserve to go to jail. Monsters who had bad home lives as children and have had even harder adult lives. There is still no excuse. John Wayne Gacy eventually got the death sentence, even after he and his lawyers filed many lawsuits to stop it.

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“ I always wondered what it would be like to kill someone.” - Gary Ridgway, 1966. Gary Ridgway said the statement above, at age 17, as he walked away from a six year old boy he had just stabbed through the ribs (“Gary Ridgway : The Green River Killer”, Crime and Investigation). This is considerably his first ever attempt at harming another person, but surely not his last. Gary Ridgway, infamously known as the Green River Killer, was born on February 18, 1949.

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Serial killers are a prominent part of everyday life in the United States for most people, as a result of having so many prominent ones in the country’s history. However, one man has kept his title as one of the most horrific killers in American history, decades after his crimes: John Wayne Gacy. Gacy’s childhood was no more extraordinary than any other at the time. As Sid Smith from the Chicago Tribune summed up, “Gacy was born into a blue-collar family and seems to have had a fairly ordinary childhood.” (1) He was born in 1942, and grew up in the northern side of Chicago.

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Pamela Foddrill: Examining the Investigation Introduction The tragic abduction and death of Pamela Foddrill beginning on August 18th, 1995, relied on investigators from the Indiana State Police, FBI, multiple Greene County police agencies, and Greene County Prosecutors to arrest and convict the five individuals who committed this heinous act. Those who were arrested and eventually convicted for different criminal offenses are Roger Long, Jerry Russell Sr., John Redman, Wanda Hubbell, and Plynia Fowler. One could look at the investigations these agencies completed and evaluate them in two phases, forensic evidence and investigative processes.

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