In the summer of 1982,  homicide detective, Dave Reichert, of the King County, Washington, Sheriff’s Department was assigned to investigate multiple murders. The victims were found in and around the Green River in that county.  This, for Dave, began a twenty year hunt for one of the most prolific and elusive serial killers in US history, dubbed “The Green River Killer”.

In this episode, Dave, who became Sheriff of King County in 1997 and later served fourteen years as a member of the US House of Representatives, will tell us about his involvement in investigating the murders, as the lead investigator, task force member and sheriff.

He will also share how the loss of life and urgency to find the killer, took an emotional toll on him, other law enforcement task force members and especially the families of the victims.

Finally, Dave will explain how the Green River killer, Gary Ridgeway, was eventually caught and brought to justice through the use of DNA testing, which linked him to evidence from the crime scenes. Ridgeway was subsequently convicted of forty nine homicides and is now serving multiple life sentences.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Dave Reichert

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

*WARNING: Contains accounts of sex crime / murder investigations, listener discretion strongly advised.