He received his moniker after the first five victims were found in or along the Green River in 1982.
He was arrested on November 30, 2001, while leaving the Kenworth truck factory in Renton, Washington.
To avoid the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to cooperate with authorities, leading them to the remains of multiple missing victims in 2003 and 2004. Recent Developments (2023-2026)
In the late 1990s, advances in DNA technology allowed detectives to link forensic evidence from early crime scenes to Ridgway.
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
Ridgway strangled victims by hand or ligature and dumped their bodies in remote, forested areas, often returning to them for sexual acts.