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Post by jamie on Nov 2, 2003 17:48:28 GMT -6
Nov 2, 4:24 PM (ET)
By GENE JOHNSON (AP) Shown here, from left, are: Carrie A. Rois, Kimberly L. Nelson, Lisa Yates, Mary Exzetta West... Full Image
SEATTLE (AP) - This week, a slight man with thick glasses, a man who has been married three times and is the father of one child, is expected to plead guilty to at least 48 separate charges of murder, sources involved with the case have told The Associated Press.
When it's over Wednesday, Gary Leon Ridgway will have more murders on his record than any other serial killer in the nation's history. And a mystery that confounded detectives for two decades will come to a close.
Ridgway, 54, a longtime painter at Kenworth Truck Co., is expected to admit being the Green River Killer, named for the river south of Seattle where the first victims were found.
The plea would spare him the death penalty in King County, instead assuring him life in prison without parole, the sources said. However, two of the bodies on the official list of Green River victims were found in Oregon, which has capital punishment, and it is still unclear whether Ridgway will plead to those.
The remains of scores of women, mainly runaways and prostitutes, turned up near ravines, rivers, airports and freeways in the 1980s. Of them, investigators officially listed 49 women as probable victims of the Green River Killer.
Ridgway had been a suspect ever since 1984, when Marie Malvar's boyfriend reported that he last saw her getting into a pickup truck identified as Ridgway's.
But Ridgway told police he didn't know Malvar, and a police investigator in Des Moines, midway between Seattle and Tacoma, who knew him cleared him as a suspect. Later that year, Ridgway contacted the King County Sheriff's Green River task force - ostensibly to offer information about the case - and passed a polygraph test.
Detectives continued to suspect him, however, and in 1987 they searched his house and took a saliva sample. It was 13 years before DNA technology caught up to their suspicions and they could link that sample to DNA taken from the bodies of three of the earliest victims.
Ridgway was arrested as he left work Nov. 30, 2001, and later pleaded innocent to seven killings. But facing DNA evidence and the prospect of the death penalty, he began cooperating and trading information for his life.
He confessed to 42 of the 49 listed killings, as well as six not on the list, the sources have said. He directed authorities to four sets of previously undiscovered remains.
It turned out that the killings continued long after detectives thought the Green River Killer had stopped, the sources said. The last victim on the official list disappeared in 1984, but one of the cases Ridgway is expected to plead to involves a woman killed in 1990, and another involves a woman killed in 1998.
That has stunned some criminologists.
"Once they're identified as a suspect, they usually stop," said Jack Levin, director of the Brudnick Center on Violence at Northeastern University in Boston. "Ridgway is really a rare specimen, even among his peers, in being able to avoid apprehension for such a long time."
Ridgway's pleas to 48 counts would give him more convictions - though not necessarily more slayings - than any other serial killer in the nation's history, Levin said. It's difficult to know who the most prolific serial killers are because many don't confess. Prosecutors often charge suspects only with the cases they're certain they can prove. And some of those who do confess may take credit for crimes they didn't commit, in hopes of appearing more deadly than they actually were.
John Wayne Gacy, who preyed on men and boys in Chicago in the 1970s, was convicted of killing 33. Ted Bundy, whose killing started in Washington state, confessed to killing more than 30 women and girls, but was convicted only of killing three before he was executed.
Relatives of the Green River Killer's victims have had mixed responses to the idea of a plea deal. Some accused King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng of reneging on a promise he made when Ridgway was first charged that he would not bargain with the death penalty.
Maleng and other King County officials have declined to comment on the plea deal.
Maria Marrero, whose sister Becky disappeared in 1982, told KOMO-TV no plea deal would please her. She wants Ridgway put to death. "That's the most devastating thing - that I will probably never have that privilege, to bury my sister," she said.
But other victims' relatives have said that learning what happened to their loved ones is worth giving up the death penalty.
"Life as he knows it is pretty much done and over with," said Tim Meehan, whose pregnant, 18-year-old sister was found dead in 1983. "The other families at least now have the opportunity to have answers. If you can exchange that information for life in prison, well, to me it's well worth the information."
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Post by Sandoval on Mar 5, 2006 15:20:39 GMT -6
Ridgway should have been executed.
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Post by onetwobomb on Mar 5, 2006 16:54:56 GMT -6
BULLSH*T!
Hells yea! Too bad you can only kill him once...
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 6, 2006 15:09:21 GMT -6
48 slayings, more than 20, so DP, unless he apologizes to the families and would ask for clemency. It's a pity that Gary Locke isn't the governor of Wa State anymore as he might have considered clemency as Asian - Americans are against the DP. Although Ridgway should actually hang for what he did, it's better to safe him and try to study him.
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Post by aka on Mar 6, 2006 15:18:34 GMT -6
48 slayings, more than 20, so DP, unless he apologizes to the families and would ask for clemency. It's a pity that Gary Locke isn't the governor of Wa State anymore as he might have considered clemency as Asian - Americans are against the DP. Although Ridgway should actually hang for what he did, it's better to safe him and try to study him. Asian-Americans are against the DP? My entire family is Asian-American and at least half of them support the DP. Untenable generalizations aren't going to help you.
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 6, 2006 15:21:14 GMT -6
48 slayings, more than 20, so DP, unless he apologizes to the families and would ask for clemency. It's a pity that Gary Locke isn't the governor of Wa State anymore as he might have considered clemency as Asian - Americans are against the DP. Although Ridgway should actually hang for what he did, it's better to safe him and try to study him. Asian-Americans are against the DP? My entire family is Asian-American and at least half of them support the DP. Untenable generalizations aren't going to help you. If I would have said that African - Americans are against the DP, you would have probably claimed to be an African American, neh ?
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Post by aka on Mar 6, 2006 15:32:32 GMT -6
Asian-Americans are against the DP? My entire family is Asian-American and at least half of them support the DP. Untenable generalizations aren't going to help you. If I would have said that African - Americans are against the DP, you would have probably claimed to be an African American, neh ? Ho Hum. Is that the best you can do? Accuse people of lying? I have said many times on this board that I am of East Indian origin making me--and my family--Asian American. Still doesn't change the fact that your claim was a gross generalization.
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 6, 2006 15:37:25 GMT -6
If I would have said that African - Americans are against the DP, you would have probably claimed to be an African American, neh ? Ho Hum. Is that the best you can do? Accuse people of lying? I have said many times on this board that I am of East Indian origin making me--and my family--Asian American. Still doesn't change the fact that your claim was a gross generalization. east Indians are different as I actually meant SE Asians that are against the DP. I mean, those people that walk the streets of China town in nyc, SF etc
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Post by happygrandmab on Mar 6, 2006 15:54:34 GMT -6
Ridgway should have been executed. yes, he should have, however, the prosecutors determined that, to the MVS, "knowing" what happened to their daughters and where their remains were was more important than putting this weasel to death.
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Post by happygrandmab on Mar 6, 2006 15:56:51 GMT -6
48 slayings, more than 20, so DP, unless he apologizes to the families and would ask for clemency. It's a pity that Gary Locke isn't the governor of Wa State anymore as he might have considered clemency as Asian - Americans are against the DP. Although Ridgway should actually hang for what he did, it's better to safe him and try to study him. i watched his sentencing. he did break down and cry (when one of the MVS said that they forgive him) and he did apologize. dennis, should we let him out now?
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Post by myamber20 on Mar 6, 2006 16:04:30 GMT -6
According to Dennis they should be set free.
As for an Mvs forgiving the murder, I could not even fatham even thinking about forgiveness. It will never happen
I have heard people say to move on you have to forgive. I guess I will stay where I am then.
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Post by happygrandmab on Mar 6, 2006 16:20:20 GMT -6
the man that forgave him was a santa-looking guy. he said to him that everyone here hates him (gary) but he doesn't. gary began crying and then the man said that he forgives him (out of his Christian values)
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Post by aka on Mar 6, 2006 16:25:58 GMT -6
Ho Hum. Is that the best you can do? Accuse people of lying? I have said many times on this board that I am of East Indian origin making me--and my family--Asian American. Still doesn't change the fact that your claim was a gross generalization. east Indians are different as I actually meant SE Asians that are against the DP. I mean, those people that walk the streets of China town in nyc, SF etc Fair enough. Although you should know that for years we filled out Asian in the census. Still, where is the evidence that even people from East Asia (East Asian Americans that is ) don't support the DP?
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Post by Jherek99 on Mar 6, 2006 17:04:53 GMT -6
east Indians are different as I actually meant SE Asians that are against the DP. I mean, those people that walk the streets of China town in nyc, SF etc Go to Singapore and see if they don't support the DP.
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Post by aka on Mar 6, 2006 17:27:32 GMT -6
east Indians are different as I actually meant SE Asians that are against the DP. I mean, those people that walk the streets of China town in nyc, SF etc Go to Singapore and see if they don't support the DP. Dennis said that Jherek, not me. He was talking about Asian Americans thought not Asian Asians.
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Post by happygrandmab on Mar 6, 2006 18:04:28 GMT -6
in china there are 3400 people put to death each year. i would say that they believe in the DP.
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Post by Kay on Mar 6, 2006 19:28:17 GMT -6
Isn't this case proof positive that the "Worst of the Worse" do not always receive the ultimate punishment. Peace to the victims of this evil man, I hope they found some consolation in being able to give their loved ones a proper burial.
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 3:06:23 GMT -6
48 slayings, more than 20, so DP, unless he apologizes to the families and would ask for clemency. It's a pity that Gary Locke isn't the governor of Wa State anymore as he might have considered clemency as Asian - Americans are against the DP. Although Ridgway should actually hang for what he did, it's better to safe him and try to study him. i watched his sentencing. he did break down and cry (when one of the MVS said that they forgive him) and he did apologize. dennis, should we let him out now? why are you asking me that stupid question ?? Everybody here knows my pentalty structure and if you kill 20+ people you should be sentenced to death UNLESS you apologize and the sentence would be changed into LWOP. So, no I wouldn't let him out, sigh.. !
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 3:08:12 GMT -6
According to Dennis they should be set free. As for an Mvs forgiving the murder, I could not even fatham even thinking about forgiveness. It will never happen I have heard people say to move on you have to forgive. I guess I will stay where I am then. The SAME to you, myamber !!! Everybody here knows my pentalty structure and if you kill 20+ people you should be sentenced to death UNLESS you apologize and the sentence would be changed into LWOP. So, no I wouldn't let him out, sigh.. ! so don't ACCUSE me that I'd let him go free.
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 3:17:17 GMT -6
east Indians are different as I actually meant SE Asians that are against the DP. I mean, those people that walk the streets of China town in nyc, SF etc Fair enough. Although you should know that for years we filled out Asian in the census. Still, where is the evidence that even people from East Asia (East Asian Americans that is ) don't support the DP? Yes, you're right that we filter out people from Asia. I dont want to discriminate, but census also say that people from Palistan and India are asians, which is true, but with Asians I actually mean the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Japanese, Filipino(s) etc. I know this is wrong, but this is how most of us see Asioan americans as they're from one of these countries I just mentioned. People from East Asia don't support the DP, just go and ask the streets of China town of nyc and you'll see. Just look to the fact that Korea hasn't executed someone in last decade.
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 3:17:49 GMT -6
in china there are 3400 people put to death each year. i would say that they believe in the DP. China is NOT a democracy, so the people have NO say in it at all. And when I talk about Asian Americans, so people that are Americans and live in the US and not in asia so I don't talk about Asian Asians. Why don't you get that ??
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 3:19:08 GMT -6
east Indians are different as I actually meant SE Asians that are against the DP. I mean, those people that walk the streets of China town in nyc, SF etc Go to Singapore and see if they don't support the DP. Like China, singapore isn't a democracy. I mean a REAL democracy where any questions can be asked to the government. washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040630-120235-5420r.htmAnd when I talk about Asian Americans, so people that are Americans and live in the US and not in asia so I don't talk about Asian Asians. Why don't you get that ??
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 3:22:02 GMT -6
Go to Singapore and see if they don't support the DP. Dennis said that Jherek, not me. He was talking about Asian Americans thought not Asian Asians. You're right Aka, Asian Americans think different than Asian Asians ( people that still live in Asia ). Asian Ameircans were mostly born and raised in the US, so their thinking is different as they grew up in a different environment. So people, when I say Asian Americans, I mean AMERICANS of SE Asian heritage that live in the US ! Those people are almost all against the DP !
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Post by tami on Mar 7, 2006 3:58:43 GMT -6
THIS SICK B---ARD NEEDS TO DIE! WHO CARES IF HE CRIED IN COURT! DID HIS VICTIMS NOT CRY??
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 4:01:18 GMT -6
THIS SICK B---ARD NEEDS TO DIE! WHO CARES IF HE CRIED IN COURT! DID HIS VICTIMS NOT CRY?? why so full of hate ?
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Post by onetwobomb on Mar 7, 2006 7:03:31 GMT -6
dennis what does it matter if he apologizes? How do you know he woiuld be being serious if he did? Do you think an apology means anything to the family?
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 7:09:02 GMT -6
dennis what does it matter if he apologizes? How do you know he woiuld be being serious if he did? Do you think an apology means anything to the family? I think that a well meant apology will mean a lot to MVS. You can nver be 100% sure if he means it when he apologizes, but when he cries in court, you know he means it and feels sorry.
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Post by onetwobomb on Mar 7, 2006 7:12:28 GMT -6
LOL dennis I forgot you're just a pro posing as an anti troll. I thought you were being serious for a second.
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Post by dennis25 on Mar 7, 2006 7:16:11 GMT -6
LOL dennis I forgot you're just a pro posing as an anti troll. I thought you were being serious for a second. Why are you so foolish ? When a person cries in court while saying sorry, he means it. Why don't you get that ?
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Post by tami on Mar 7, 2006 7:55:58 GMT -6
Dennis, you can't be for real....he says he is sorry...and crys...so he should be given LWOP??He was crying for himself and sorry for himself..not his victims.. I myself do not believe in the DP in all cases but in this sorry Bast---s case, I do.
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