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
Ridgway strangled victims by hand or ligature and dumped their bodies in remote, forested areas, often returning to them for sexual acts. Green River Killer
The majority of murders occurred between 1982 and 1998, though his reign of terror spanned nearly two decades. He pleaded guilty to 48 murders in 2003
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) Ridgway agreed to cooperate with authorities