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He pleaded guilty to 48 murders in 2003 to avoid the death penalty, and in 2011 pleaded guilty to a 49th murder. However, he has confessed to killing over 70 women, and investigators believe the true number may be even higher. Arrest and Conviction
He received his moniker after the first five victims were found in or along the Green River in 1982. Green River Killer
Ridgway strangled victims by hand or ligature and dumped their bodies in remote, forested areas, often returning to them for sexual acts. He pleaded guilty to 48 murders in 2003
In the late 1990s, advances in DNA technology allowed detectives to link forensic evidence from early crime scenes to Ridgway. Ridgway strangled victims by hand or ligature and
The majority of murders occurred between 1982 and 1998, though his reign of terror spanned nearly two decades.
As of April 2026, Ridgway is serving 49 consecutive life sentences and is reportedly in poor health, with recent reports indicating he is receiving end-of-life care in prison. Case Overview