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She had run away a few times before when she was living with her father and brother near the Lake Washington Ship Canal in north Seattle. Shed open the paper to read about the latest victim count and wonder: Who can do this and not get caught? In memory of all the lost and murdered young women who fell victim to the Green River Killer, with my profound regret that they never had the chance to make the new start so many of them hoped to achieve Ann Rule, author of Green River, Running Red. Mary Bridgett Meehan Andrea M. Childers The body of Wendy was recovered and the cause of death was determined to be murder by. The arrested suspect, Gary Leon Ridgway, was a longtime resident of the area. Marie was popular around customers for being so friendly. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6887254/wendy-lee-coffield. They were somebodys sister, somebodys mother, in some instances. At one point, he claimed that he "got behind her" and started choking her. She had shown advanced signs of decomposition. By mid-1983, King County investigators had found and identified eight victims, and a pattern: The killer was strangling young women sex workers or runaways many of whom were navigating the streets alone, after having escaped abuse or difficulties at home. The latitude and longitude coordinates for the bridge are: To view directions on how to get there, you can use the Google Maps shortcut below: Meeker Street BridgeWest Meeker StreetKentWashingtonWA 98032United States. As they later learned, the invisible match was Ms. Gaspar, who had uploaded her results to GEDMatch in early 2019, on the slim chance it could lead her to Wendy. By August 15, 1982, a total of five bodies had been found on or along the Green River. The body is recovered and the cause of death is determined to be murder by strangulation using the victims own clothes. Seconds later he saw another floating corpse of a half nude black woman, partially submerged in the water. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. We thought: This is great. Crime Scene Location in Kent, Washington, United States. Before her disappearance, Wendy was, in her mothers words, a magical kid. Born on Oct. 10, 1968, she was the only daughter of Ms. Gaspar and her then-husband, Charles Stephens (who died in 2014). Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Oops, something didn't work. Within a month, four other bodies were found on the riverbank: Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. She was also a devoted fan of the band The Grateful Dead. Despite the fights Dub was always welcome in their home and she made a point to call and check in a few times a week, always ending the calls with I love you and Tell Dad I love him. Gisele A. Lovvorn She was last seen on August 29, 1982 near South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. By August of 1982 she was living in a motel with her boyfriend and was supporting the both of them as a sex worker. It was a huge dark cloud over this community, he said. April Buttram Just a day or two later, sometime in August 1983, Wendy ran away for the last time. The medical examiner's office determined that she had been strangled. Please try again later. It would have been her second day on the job. Several days earlier, the body of a woman named Deborah Bonner was discovered. She kissed me, like always, and then she left. A native of southern California, Andrea moved to Seattle sometime in 1980 to live with her father and step mother. She dropped out of middle school, left her family home by 14 and was an occasional drug user (marijuana and Ritalin) who turned to sex work to financially support herself. They were young, mostly teenagers or in their early 20s. When she became pregnant for a third time, Mary decided to give the baby boy up for adoption, though she regretted it soon after. ). Gail Matthews Failed to report flower. After loosing her job at the at the Dairy Queen in South Tacoma and failing a test to join the Navy, Dub decided to work on getting her GED. Ridgway's decision to dump his victims in this river earned him the nickname "the Green River Killer.". Ridgway was also expected to "provide complete, truthful and candid information concerning the crimes he had committed in King County." She became argumentative and stubborn, distancing herself without explanation. She also suffered bouts of epileptic seizures that were controlled with medication. Her reason for doing so was never disclosed. Not enough sleep. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Born February 5th, 1959, Gail Mathews grew up much too fast. Its not anything that were privy to in our small but tangible realm. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Coffield was strangled to death with her own pants and dumped in the water. By 1991, the task force was reduced to one person: Detective Jensen. She often went speed walking with her mother and was incredibly close with her big brother, Garrett, who took his job as Opals protector very seriously. Shawnda Leea Summers Becky Marrero She was the Princess. From the time she was born, my main job, always, was to look after Opal and keep her safe Garrett recalled Opal wanting to be rich one day so she can take care of their mother and buy her a large house, Even when she was seven, she struck me as someone who cared about others more than herself., Opal was a bright student who dreamed of being a model some day. Hair styles are only a best guess. In King County, Wash., among the verdant evergreen forests outside of Seattle, Gary Ridgway, 33, was starting to enact violent fantasies toward women. Reay further determined that Chapman, a mother of two who had gone missing two weeks earlier, had been dead for over a week. Love Real Life Ghost Hunting Shows? Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Her body was found July 15, by two teenage boys riding their bikes across the bridge of the Green River, Wendy was under the Peck Bridge. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. . One can only assume that they may have had a lack of financial resources and that their low socioeconomic status may have contributed to Dubs future course of life. The body of Wendy Lee Coffield is removed from the Green River in 1982 Email Print Share Reprints Follow @TIME Marcia Chapman's hand seemed to be waving in the river's current when Detective. Though convicted of killing 49 young women and girls, he has confessed to 71 murders, and some investigators believe the actual number is even higher. This is a "Bird's Eye" aerial image of the bridge, which is also known as Peck Bridge. Enjoy yourself. Sandra K.Gabbert 17 year old Marie Malvar moved out of her family home by 1983 and, working as a waitress in the restaurant her father owned, still saw her family quite often. In 2003 the case was finally solved with the arrest of Gary Ridgway. Debbie using her street name Betty Lorraine eventually agreed to work with police in hopes of filing charges against her rapist. Enter your email address to follow Stolen Lives and receive notifications of new posts by email. They got Wendys dental records and a full DNA profile, which they entered into CODIS, the F.B.I.s DNA database. The couple had no proper means of income, no car and were living out of motels. Yvonne Shelly Antosh She loved everybody. GreenRiverKillings. She was outgoing, trusting and loved to dance. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. A former resident of Walla Walla, Washington, Alma dropped out of school at 17 and went back and forth between Seattle, where her father lived, and Walla Walla, where her mother resided. Soon after reinforcement arrived at the scene, detectives sealed off the area and began a search for evidence. Gary Ridgway admitted to killing of all of these women, but could not supply any significant information that would assist in the identification of these women. At some point Gail began working as a sex worker. This will never put an end or closure on her death or murder. Our investigation continued for decades. By 1983 Carol was a young mother separated from her husband but she was determined to make it work for the sake of her daughter, Sarah, her absolute pride and joy. How can anybody wrap their head around their daughter being killed by a serial killer?. Cecile Gaspar wasnt home when the men first showed up. Immediately they noticed the presence of an unknown but closely related family member. Dub quickly became infatuated with Martin, who made her happy enough for Dub to willfully work the streets to support him. June 2003:In exchange for the prosecutor not seeking the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to all murders that he committed in King County. As she moved into her early teens, her mother was struck and at times, frightened by her beauty and free spirit. Gary Ridgwaypled guilty to the homicides of the 49people listed below. Just a month earlier, another young girl, identified as Wendy Lee Coffield, was found strangled and floating in the Green River. Ridgway's decision to dump his victims in this river earned him the nickname "the Green River Killer." Shed hug anyone. Marcia Faye Chapman She went missing in July and her body was discovered in August 1982. Tracy Winston Apply Now. Try again later. She and her boyfriend, a 24 year old Bobby, were recently engaged and she hoped they could have a regular, normal life. He found a third body, that of a young girl who was partially clothed. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. She was trying to make money to buy Christmas presents for her family. and only God knows why. Within hours of Sandras last known sighting, 16 year old Kimi-Kai Pitsor was seen for the last time in Downtown Seattle. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Despite the counseling she was receiving, Alma returned to prostitution and left the center. She gave lessons and she was very good, and she taught dance exercise.. This is a carousel with slides. June 2003:In exchange for the prosecutor not seeking the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to all murders that he committed in King County. When the police recovered Coffield's remains from the water, they had no idea that this was just the beginning of a nightmare that would stretch on for more than a decade. This is the location where the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found. Carol Ann Christensen Cheryl Lee Wims She was a murder victim of Gary Leon Ridgway, known as "The Green River Killer" who was responsible for the murders of 49 women in Seattle, Washington, between 1982 and 1984. Moreover, six months prior to Coffield's discovery, the body of her friend Leanne Wilcox was found several miles from the river in an empty lot. Though she only discussed these things with people she was very close with. No farewell words were spoken Shed drive around looking for Wendy, once even tracking her footsteps through the snow. (Copyright MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 2000.107), Gary Leon Ridgway, pictured in a 1982 King County Sheriff's booking mug. On November 30, 2001, a suspect, Gary Leon Ridgway, 52, a longtime resident of the area, will be arrested. In the book Green River, Running Red Kimi-Kais mother recalled that She wanted to see how life worked and never took anyones word for anything. Photos of the bridge and other related images. Colleen Renee Brockman By 1982 Debbie decided to leave her family home, stole $250 from her mothers purse and began living in various motels with an older boyfriend/pimp; whether or not he knew she was underage isnt known. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 4. On July 15th, 1982, two 15-year-old boys were cycling over the Meeker Street Bridge when they spotted a body floating in the water. On August 4, 1962, Rebecca Marrero was born. Denise Darcel Bush Delise Louise Plager Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. I was always afraid for her because she was that way.. She was one of those people you meet that would be like, Thats too much information!. Liked it? Victims Spotlight: Remembering the Victims of the Green River Killer, She was described as cheerful, outgoing and someone who could take care of herself. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. And who are these women? A number of sources refer to the bridge as "Peck Bridge". It is doubtful that her family knew what she was doing for money. Some time before dark, she and her husband returned to their small town in southwest Colorado, just outside Mesa Verde National Park. The last time Kenneth saw his wife was sometime in 1982, when she dropped off their daughter for the last time. Within a month, fourother bodies were found on the riverbank:Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. Try again later. The man replied that he had not. One week later her body . Serial Killer House in SeaTac, Washington, United States, Crime Location in Burien, Washington, United States, Place of Interest in Seattle, Washington, United States, Place of Interest in Tacoma, Washington, United States, Crime Location in Tacoma, Washington, United States, Place of Interest Queens, New York, United States, Crime Location Brooklyn, New York, United States, Place of Interest Augusta, Georgia, United States, Filming Location Long Beach, California, United States. She was stunned. Her remains were found July 15, 1982. Cynthia Jean Hinds Her brother, Terry, stated She still was a human being and she still had family that cared and loved her just like all the other ones had family that cared and loved them. Somebody reached out to Colleen and said, Id like to see what you can do with one of Ridgways unidentified victims, remembered Dr. Press, who asked if the victim had another name. But she caught a glimpse of the visitors through her doorbell camera and, noticing their tucked-in shirts, she shrugged them off as Mormon missionaries. It was obvious that she had died from asphyxiation. Burial Details Unknown Tammie Charlene Liles Flowers have been left. There isnt much information available on her early life though it seems she was close with her family including her sister, mother, and later, her daughter, Shaunt. He claimed self-defense and was released, the charges dropped. They were somebodys daughter, said Detective Fae Brooks, who worked with Mr. Reichert on the Green River Task Force, formed to investigate the murders, and is herself a survivor of childhood sexual assault. As the winter of 1982-83 wore on, Ms. Gaspar did her best to keep track of her daughter. She saw a counselor once a week and, though she wanted to discuss other things, all she could think about was Wendy. She began to feel isolated and started running away from home when she was 14. 26 Feb 1966 - 28 Aug 1982. July 15, 1982: Children found Wendy Coffield (16 years old), strangled in the Green River Aug. 16: After the bodies of four more young women are found in or near the Green River, King County police set up the biggest police task force since the Ted Bundy murders of the 1970s. She had always been a brilliant student and had dreams of attending Yale to study computer science after graduating high school. If your kid doesnt come home, somethings wrong, she said. and memories a lane, The 16-year-old was found floating underneath this bridge. CreditPhoto Illustration by Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times. (He believes that he took at least three victims before Coffield, going back as early as the 1970s.) or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. English On July 15, 1982, two teenage boys discovered the body of Wendy Lee Coffield, age 16, floating the Green River between Kent and Tukwila. Then on July 15, 1982, two boys discovered in the Green River the body of a 16-year-old, Wendy Lee Coffield, whod gone missing a week earlier. At some point Curt decided to take the short walk to the Midway Tavern in hopes of getting lucky at a poker game. Gary Ridgway, pictured as a sophomore at Tyee High School. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Two boys riding their bicycles across a bridge spotted the tennis shoes first of fully clothed body. To his horror, he realized that the figure was not a mannequin, but a dead woman. The murderer dubbed the Green River Killer was eventually identified as Gary Leon Ridgway, a boring little man of meager intelligence, whose presence was so painfully average and unremarkable he was able to lure, torture, and kill dozens of young women without anyone noticing or even suspecting him. She was only 17 at the time of her disappearance. I find that very ironic, in reference to Ridgways plea deal that would spare him from the death penalty in exchange for confessing and disclosing the locations of victims bodies. Moreover, six months prior to Coffield's discovery, the body of her friend Leanne Wilcox was found several miles from the river in an empty lot. It is impossible to put into words how much her murder has devastated and destroyed my family. All Rights Reserved, Slender Man stabbing, Waukesha, Wisconsin, Update: Police Release Dead Serial Killers Account of Murder of Samantha Koenig. If you call after hours, please leave voice mail so we can get back in touch with you. Ms. Gaspar sought professional help for her daughter, hoping counseling could elicit answers: Where did she go? 2. . 3 Unidentified victims, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. Mary Sue Bello The last time her mother, Nancy McIntyre, saw Sandra was when they met for lunch at a Mexican restaurant where Sandra talked all about her upcoming trip to San Francisco and Hollywood. In April of 2003, Ridgway was accused of murdering Wendy Lee Coffield, Debra Lynn Bonner, and Debra Estes. Two boys riding their bicycles across a bridge spotted the tennis shoes first of fully clothed body. Within a half hour, he noticed a man with two children on bicycles. Shirley Marie Sherrill We Want To Finance Your Film. Just days later, they discovered three more victims in or near the river: Cynthia Hinds, 17; Opal Mills, 16; and Marcia Chapman, 31. By the time this article was published, the bodies of four more sex workers had turned up in the Green River. November2001: Gary Leon Ridgway was arrested and subsequently charged with the murders of Cynthia Jean Hinds, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Carol Ann Christiansen. Wendy Lee Coffield Flowers have been left. The Peck Bridge is located where the Frager Road and Kent-Des Moines Road intersect in Kent, Washington. Alma Ann Smith At some point during her young life Denise had a medical procedure involving her brain and her skull had a small hole in the bony process there. The nameless women continued to haunt him, he said, but you cant investigate a case, except to process the remains, unless you know who someone is.. The youngest of three children, Deborah- who typically went by the nickname Dub- grew up in an impoverished environment. GREAT NEWS! He has been a suspect for a long time, but before now, detectives had not found adequate evidence to build a case against him. April 2003: Ridgway was charged with three additional murders (Wendy Lee Coffield, Debra Lynn Bonner and Debra Estes). Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. On July 15th, 1982, Gallan Hirschi and his friend Robert spent the day riding their bikes. The youngest of two daughters, Wendy was 12 when she and a friend ran away to a nearby truck stop, hoping to catch a ride. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. She was so young and died before she ever really got to live, she said. To avoid the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to every murder he had committed in King County.