DNA profiles emerge of ‘Green River’ victims
Mar 19, 2012, 2:35 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
Gary Ridgway has already pleaded guilty to murdering three of the unknown victims, and led police to one of the bodies in 2003. The other two were found in the mid-1980's but had never been identified. (AP Photo/File)
(AP Photo/File)
Cold case detectives have obtained DNA profiles that could help them identify three victims that have been linked to Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer.
New DNA technology and testing has also lead to full DNA profiles on five additional sets of remains found in King County as early as 1969.
“These people are out here and somebody either doesn’t know that they are missing or doesn’t know what has happened to them,” said Sergeant Cindy West with the King County Sheriff’s Office. “This can help us identify the person and provide some type of closure for the family.”
West said the DNA profiles, seven complete and one partial, will be sent to the University of North Texas to be uploaded into the National DNA database.
“We’re hoping we get some hits,” she said. “If somebody has reported somebody missing and has provided a DNA sample, that will help us identify that person.”
Gary Ridgway has already pleaded guilty to murdering three of the unknown victims, and led police to one of the bodies in 2003. The other two were found in the mid-1980’s but had never been identified.
The other five remains are not linked to Ridgway. Four are believed to be unsolved homicides while one death appears to be accidental.
The earliest remains were discovered on June 5, 1969 approximately one mile west of the Tolt River Bridge near the town of Carnation. The body, dubbed the “Tolt Hill Jane Doe,” is believed to belong to a Caucasian female, 23 to 25 years old, 5’1″ to 5’2″, 105 to 115 pounds, with dark hair.
