How Cryptic Clues Led To The Green River Killer's Arrest — Shocking New Crime Documentary Will Leave You Speechless
How does a happily married man come to murder at least 50 women? What shocking childhood events drove him to homicide? More details are revealed Halloween Night in The Green River Killer, presented by REELZ on Sunday, September 11th.
The doc takes viewers on a journey with detectives as they investigate The Green River Killer, who murdered the most vulnerable girls around Seattle. The Green River Killer taskforce had become desperate for solid leads, and a local reporter finally provided a breakthrough — a second letter offering 40 cryptic clues to the killer's identity.
But unlike previous leads, this letter revealed things only the killer could know.
"There were no spaces between any of the words, and so it appeared to be just a string of typewritten letters altogether," reveals Patty Eakes, the King County Prosecutor on the Green River Killer case, in the upcoming doc.
The note did provide essential clues amidst the nonsensical letters, including a few red herrings. The taskforce knew there could be a big break shortly, but first they had to separate fact from fiction.
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On November 30, 2001, Ridgway was arrested by police after his DNA had been positively identified on one of the victims.
Until now, detectives had chased down several hot suspects, but details in the letter, written by the killer himself, reveal the shocking truth. He's identified as Gary Ridgway, a married man who has a secret obsession with prostitutes.
Shirley Lynn Scott, a crime writer, considered the note and its relevance extensively. "It tells them something about this guy's nature, and that is that it's not enough to murder women," she says of the note's importance. "He's making a game out if it and that’s really very, very sick."
There is much more to learn as The Green River Killer airs on Sunday, September 11th at 9PM ET/ 9PM PT on REELZ.
Watch REELZ on DIRECTV 238, Dish Network 299, Verizon FiOS 692, AT&T U-verse 1799 and in HD on cable systems and streaming services nationwide. Find REELZ on your local cable or satellite provider at reelz.com/get-reelz/
