In this episode of Here’s Our Alibi, we discuss Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, and the documentary Mind of a Monster, which explores one of the most disturbing serial killer cases in American history.

Gary Ridgway targeted young women and girls in the Seattle area, many of whom were vulnerable, missing, involved in sex work, or living on the margins of society. He was eventually convicted of 49 murders and confessed to more than 70, though investigators believe the true number may be even higher.

We walk through Ridgway’s early life, his troubled relationship with his mother, his history of violence, the escalation of the Green River murders in the 1980s, and how investigators struggled for years to identify the killer. We also discuss the role of DNA evidence, the Green River Task Force, Ted Bundy’s strange involvement in the investigation, Ridgway’s confession, and the victim impact statements that revealed the lasting devastation left behind.

We also talk about:

the vulnerable women and girls Ridgway targeted

how he avoided arrest for so long

his relationships with Carol Christensen and his wife Judith

the chilling way he described wanting to be “the best” serial killer

how DNA finally helped connect him to the murders

the emotional weight of the victims’ families finally receiving some answers

This episode is not about glorifying Gary Ridgway. It is about examining the case, the investigation, the documentary, and the lives stolen by one of America’s most prolific serial killers.