Gary Ridgway, the man who would become known as the Green River Killer, is responsible for at least 49 murders, though investigators believe the real number could exceed 90. For decades, he hunted women—often sex workers—luring them into his truck before strangling them and dumping their bodies in remote areas of Washington State.
But while many were silenced forever, a few women survived his grasp. Their stories are chilling, raw, and proof that even in the face of unimaginable horror, the will to survive can defy death itself.
A Monster’s First Attempt: The Boy Who Lived
Ridgway’s first known attempt at murder occurred when he was just 16 years old. He lured a six-year-old boy into the woods and stabbed him in the side.
“I always wondered what it would be like to kill someone,” Ridgway later admitted.
But the boy survived, becoming the first known individual to escape Ridgway’s deadly intent. It was a failed experiment—one that foreshadowed a future drenched in blood.
A Childhood Scarred by Darkness
Ridgway’s twisted obsession with death and control began at home. He described his mother, Mary Rita Ridgway, as abusive and overbearing. In shocking confessions, he revealed disturbing fantasies about stabbing her and even sexual attraction toward her, stemming from her behavior during his adolescence.
“Maybe stab her in the heart… maybe cut her face,” Ridgway confessed.
Though she was never physically harmed by her son, his unacted fantasies were the foundation of his serial compulsion.
A Wife in the Killer’s Shadow
Marcia Winslow, Ridgway’s second wife, had no idea she had married one of the deadliest men in U.S. history. He had posed as a police officer to impress her. Their relationship appeared normal—until she began noticing troubling behavior.
She described how Ridgway:
- Choked her from behind in their driveway
- Liked to sneak up on her in the woods
- Had a disturbing fascination with bondage
- Threatened her boyfriend after their separation
Even more chilling, Ridgway later admitted to contemplating murdering their son, Matthew, simply to avoid the shame of a second divorce. Unbeknownst to Matthew, he had sat just feet away in Ridgway’s truck while his father prowled for victims.
The Girl Who Took the Wrong Ride
In the early 1980s, Jill McCabe Johnson was an 18-year-old enjoying a night out in Seattle when she met a man named Gary. He seemed polite and offered to drive her home. What followed was a strange and eerie encounter.
Gary:
- Followed her into her bedroom
- Spoke about his troubled marriage
- Initiated unsettling intimacy
- Left abruptly when her roommates returned
Years later, as Ridgway’s mugshot dominated headlines, Jill recognized him. She wrote him a letter, desperate for confirmation that she had shared a night with the Green River Killer. She never received a reply—but she may have been closer to death than she ever realized.
The Hitchhiker Who Fought Back
Rebecca Garde was 20 years old in 1982 when she accepted a ride from Ridgway on a rainy night. He offered her $20 for sex and showed her his work ID. Trusting him, she got in.
But after pulling into a remote area, he attacked—suffocating her and wrapping his hands around her throat.
“No, this is not my time,” she thought. “I want to grow up. I want to have babies.”
In a surge of adrenaline, she shoved him into a tree, broke free, and ran to a trailer where strangers took her in.
Although she didn’t report the attack immediately, fearing no one would believe a former sex worker, she came forward in 1984. Garde identified Ridgway in a photo lineup and gave police his work information.
Unfortunately, charges were dropped. Ridgway brushed it off as a misunderstanding, saying she had bitten him. But her bravery put him on law enforcement’s radar, setting the stage for his eventual downfall.
The Capture and the Aftermath
In 2001, DNA evidence linked Ridgway to several Green River murders. He was arrested, confessed to dozens of killings, and is now serving life without parole at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.
He described his killings with cold detachment, saying he felt no remorse and believed he was “doing society a favor” by killing sex workers.
But while his victims’ families mourned and buried their daughters, a small group of women survived—scarred but alive, forever tethered to the monster who nearly took them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the survivors of the Green River Killer?
Notable survivors include Rebecca Garde and Jill McCabe Johnson, who escaped encounters with Gary Ridgway. An unnamed six-year-old boy also survived his early attempted murder.
How did Gary Ridgway get caught?
DNA evidence collected from early victims in the 1980s was tested in 2001 and matched Ridgway, leading to his arrest.
How many people did the Green River Killer murder?
He confessed to 49 murders, but investigators believe the number could exceed 90 victims.
Why did some women survive?
Some fought back. Others, like Johnson, unknowingly encountered Ridgway during non-violent moments. A few simply escaped due to luck or interruption.
Where is Gary Ridgway now?
He is serving a life sentence at Washington State Penitentiary, with no possibility of parole.
Did any of the survivors testify against him?
Yes. Survivors like Garde contributed early reports that placed Ridgway under suspicion, aiding his eventual capture.