Suspect arrested in Seattle's 'Green River killer' case

Ridgeway

SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) -- A man authorities believe may be the so-called Green River killer, possibly linked to the deaths of several women since 1982, was arrested Friday, King County Sheriff Dave Reichert said.

Gary Leon Ridgeway, 52, of Auburn, was arrested as he left his job at the Kenworth Truck Co., the sheriff said. He said Ridgeway went with officers peacefully and was being interviewed Friday evening.

Reichert said Ridgeway is expected to be charged early next week.

The sheriff said DNA evidence from Ridgeway links him to at least three women whose bodies were found on the banks of the scenic Green River. The bodies of Opal Mills, Marcia Chapman and Cynthia Hinds were found in August 1982.

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Ridgeway is also suspected in the death of another woman whose body was found in the same region in 1983, he said.

"This has got to be one of the most exciting days in my entire career," Reichert said at a news conference.

He has been working in the sheriff's department and on the case since the first body was found in 1982. In all, there are 42 unsolved murder cases involving women in western Washington since that time period, Reichert said. Seven other women are missing.

"We have a lot of work to do to investigate these other cases to ensure we have the person who's responsible for those bodies," he said. "We may have some copycats."

Reichert said Ridgeway, who is married, had been identified as one of the top five suspects in the case as far back as 1984.

"We have watched him off and on, we have kept track of him off and on, and most recently we have kept track of his activities in a much closer way," he said.

Authorities are now searching Ridgeway's current home and previous residences.

Ridgeway was arrested in May 1982 on a charge of prostitution when he approached a law enforcement decoy in a sting operation. He was arrested again November 16 -- two weeks ago -- on a charge of loitering for the purpose of prostitution, Reichert said. Both charges resulted in guilty findings or guilty pleas, he said.

Ridgeway was interviewed by authorities in connection with the Green River murders in 1984 and again in 1987. In the intervening years, authorities conducted an extensive background investigation but found no evidence to link him with the crimes.

In the 1987 interview, Ridgeway was asked to chew on a piece of gauze, which investigators preserved. That gauze eventually turned up the DNA evidence linking him to some of the victims, Reichert said.

"We don't know if Ridgeway is responsible for the deaths of any more women, however, we will continue to investigate all unsolved homicides that may be linked to him or to any other suspects," the sheriff said.