As of April 2026, Ridgway is serving 49 consecutive life sentences and is reportedly in poor health, with recent reports indicating he is receiving end-of-life care in prison. Case Overview
He pleaded guilty to 48 murders in 2003 to avoid the death penalty, and in 2011 pleaded guilty to a 49th murder. However, he has confessed to killing over 70 women, and investigators believe the true number may be even higher. Arrest and Conviction Green River Killer
Gary Ridgway , known as the , is one of the most prolific serial killers in United States history, convicted of murdering 49 women and girls in Washington state during the 1980s and 1990s. A paint detailer by trade, Ridgway targeted vulnerable women—primarily sex workers and runaway teenagers—operating largely in the King County area near Seattle. As of April 2026, Ridgway is serving 49