Who was the Green River Killer? Gary Leon Ridgway, infamously known as the Green River Killer, terrorized Washington state for over two decades. Born on February 18, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ridgway led a seemingly normal life, marrying twice and having a son. However, beneath this facade lurked a predator who targeted vulnerable women, often sex workers or runaways. Ridgway’s chilling modus operandi involved luring victims with photos of his son, engaging in sexual activity, and then strangling them. He earned his nickname by dumping bodies near the Green River. His reign of terror ended in 2001, thanks to advances in DNA technology. Ridgway confessed to at least 71 murders, making him one of America’s most prolific serial killers.