Release Date: March 25, 2021

Summary:

The first official serial killer episode, this one dives into Gary Ridgway—the

infamous Green River Killer. The guys explore his horrific crimes, his

psychology, and what his decades-long spree says about policing, society, and evil.

Key Talking Points:

• Who was Gary Ridgway and how did he kill so many?

• Failure of police systems in catching early patterns

Targeting vulnerable victims (sex workers)

• How serial killers manipulate their environments and communities

 Contextual Deep Dive:

• Gary Ridgway murdered at least 49 women in Washington state during the 1980s and

1990s, primarily targeting young sex workers and runaways.

• He earned the nickname 'Green River Killer' after some of his first victims were found near the Green River.

• He was arrested in 2001 after DNA evidence—collected in the 1980s but unmatched for

decades—was finally linked to him using updated technology.

• Ridgway confessed to 71 murders but claimed he may have killed over 90 women, making

him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.

• Law enforcement was heavily criticized for dismissing the early disappearances due

to the victims’ backgrounds. A task force existed for years but lacked

technological resources.

• Ridgway often returned to the bodies to engage in necrophilic acts. He later said he

targeted sex workers because they were 'easy to pick up' and less likely to be

reported missing.

• He accepted a plea deal in 2003 that spared him the death penalty in exchange for

helping locate the remains of his victims.

Listener Prompts:

• What do serial killers like Ridgway teach us about how victims are valued?

• Could

this have been prevented if law enforcement took the disappearances more seriously?

• Do you think modern technology is enough to prevent serial killers today—or have they

just changed tactics?