Story: The Beginning

 It was on August 15, 1982 when local Seattle man Robert Ainsworth made a discovery that would start off a 20 year killing spree. (Green River Running Red (Audio)) Mr. Ainsworth was taking his usual route along the river when he came upon a bodily figure in the water. Thinking it was a joke, Ainsworth approached the body, where he came upon the dead eyes of a young black woman, floating just beneath the surface of the water. To his horror, Ainsworth, after walking a bit down the river, encountered the body of another partially submerged woman. (Green River Killer: River of Death) After their arrival, police began to sweep the area looking for any other evidence. What they found next would serve as a link to the already growing problem. Police combed the riverbank and came upon the body of another young woman in the nearby brush. It was concluded by Chief Medical Examiner Donald Reay that all three women died of strangulation. These three bodies were not the only to be discovered in the area. A month prior, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was discovered along the river, cause of death: strangulation. And three days prior to Coffield’s discovery, the body of Opal Mills, the body of Leanne Wilcox was found. Within the span of six months six bodies had been discovered in or near the river. Police quickly concluded that a serial killer was on the loose and that he needed to be found as soon as possible. (Green River Killer: River of Death) A task force that consisted of the police officers, detectives, and investigators dedicated to discovering the killer was assembled and titled the Green River Task Force. (Green River Running Red(Audio))