Thursday, April 19, 2012

Conviction: Present Day



During his trial, Ridgway sat stone-faced as the judge read off all 49 counts of murder in the first degree, each of which Ridgway pled “guilty”. The families of the victims were finally given the justice they had waited on for 20 years. He blatantly told police and the judge that killing prostitutes became his ‘career’ and that he had killed so many women it was hard to keep them straight. (Reeling In a Monster) Ridgway had quickly become one of the most profiled serial killers, surpassing the murderer John Wayne Gacy. He escaped the death penalty by agreeing to help police locate the remains of his victims. And that is exactly what he is doing. To the day, Ridgway has helped police find the missing bodies. Other than the ones he was charged with, Ridgway has helped police find the bodies of other, unidentified victims.  However, it wasn’t without issue. Ridgway admitted that every time police discovered a body, it angered him. He felt that ‘each victim was a beautiful person that belonged to him.’ (Reeling In a Monster) He continues to help police find the bodies as well as understand the serial killer’s mind, just as Ted Bundy did during the hunt for him. Ridgway is also believed to be responsible for the deaths of other victims in other areas. He has agreed to allow those police to question him as well as work with them to the best of his abilities. Gary Ridgway is currently held in the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington where he will continue to live out his life without parole sentences.   

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