Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer
Gary Ridgway, better known as the Green River Killer, is the second most prolific serial killer in American history. (Right behind Harold Shipman, who killed at least 250 people.) Ridgway is known to have killed 49 people, though investigators believe there may be more than 70 victims, total.
What turned Ridgway into a vicious, woman-hating serial killer? There were signs that something was wrong, even at an early age. But no one could have guessed what he would turn into.
Doomed From the Start?
No child comes into the world as an evil, sadistic murderer. But like so many other serial killers, Ridgway started to display troubling behavior and disturbing characteristics before he even reached puberty.
Born February 18, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ridgway was the middle son of Mary Rita Steinman and Thomas Newton Ridgway. [1] At age 11, Ridgway and his family moved from Utah to Washington State.
Ridgway’s struggles began at an early age. He did poorly in school and had a below-average IQ of 82. He was also diagnosed with dyslexia. The majority of Americans have an IQ of between 80 and 120, with…
