Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Yvonne Shelly Antosh They knew that they had to find and catch him as soon as possible before any more women disappeared. Anthony McNabb, got right to the point: Theyd come with news about Ms. Gaspars daughter, Wendy. . By 1982 Gail was living on welfare, moving from one friends house to the next and trying to see her daughter as much as possible. I'd walk right up to Heaven During the search, a detective made another macabre discovery. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. She loved the band so much that she followed their concerts all over the country. The Shadow Girls begins with the GRK's very first found victim, Wendy Lee Coffield in July of 1982. Women, many of them just girls, really, started disappearing in 1982. She was trying to make money to buy Christmas presents for her family. (He believes that he took at least three victims before Coffield, going back as early as the 1970s.) Green River Killer Gary Ridgway: Photos from the archives. The Peck Bridge is located where the Frager Road and Kent-Des Moines Road intersect in Kent, Washington. As the winter of 1982-83 wore on, Ms. Gaspar did her best to keep track of her daughter. The guy that manages the Little League Baseball field in Burien said a dog just came home with a bone, recalled Detective Tom Jensen, who had joined the Green River Task Force just weeks prior. Ridgeway was charged with the murder of Wendy in April of 2003. Mary Sue Bello She had been killed by ligature strangulation. 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. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. This is the first of 49 bodies found of suspected victims of a serial killer. By 12 she would often run away from home after fights with her parents. and memories a lane, My family left, and she was gone, Ms. Gaspar said. This will never put an end or closure on her death or murder. One friend reported that Wendy was in Washington, but was unsure if it was Washington State or Washington, D.C. I was really afraid for her, Ms. Gaspar said, because she was so gregarious and because she had become so undependable. 49 young women with their own hopes, dreams and goals, sniffed out far too soon all because some monster dubbed them disposable for their high risk lifestyles. Rather than give any more attention to Ridgway (and his seemingly endless slew of mommy issues), lets flip the script and shine the spotlight on the lives he stole, focusing on how they lived rather than how they died. 17 Apr 1966 - 8 Jul 1982 . 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. Her body was found in the Green River under the Peck Bridge. The way Wendy was identified, said Detective Jensen, I never would have believed it was possible 10 years ago. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Shed open the paper to read about the latest victim count and wonder: Who can do this and not get caught? 21 year old Carol Ann Christensen was last seen leaving Barn Door Tavern on Pacific Avenue South on May 3rd, 1983. But it seemed absurd that her daughter could be the victim of a serial killer. Sandra D. Major She and her boyfriend, a 24 year old Bobby, were recently engaged and she hoped they could have a regular, normal life. In the fall of 2019, the King County Sheriffs Office contacted Colleen Fitzpatrick, a co-founder, along with Margaret Press, of the DNA Doe Project. California native Gisele Lovvorn had, by all accounts, a normal and happy childhood. Gisele Ann Lovvorn, 17, July 17, 1982, near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Robert Williams last saw his daughter alive on August 10th, 1982, during one of her shifts at a South Seattle barbecue restaurant. DNA analysis, however, didnt turn out to be the solution investigators had hoped. The three bodies were not the only ones to be found in and around Washington state's Green River. She was born in June of 1965. The youngest child of an upper middle class family with an IQ of 145, Gisele did well in school and was an avid reader; her favorite book was Colleen McCulloughs The Thornbirds. Born sometime in 1965, Shawnda was one of three children and had a history of prostitution. 4. Failed to report flower. This newspaper clipping is from the Spokesman Review. On on of her trips Gisele had become involved with a taxi driver known as Jak-Bak. Sandra K.Gabbert Gail Matthews Because she was reported missing on July 8th, 1982, it is likely that she had been dead for at least a week. Gail Matthews The victim was Wendy Lee Coffield, a 16-year-old girl from Puyallup. Carrie Ann Rois The body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, of Puyallup, was found floating in the Green River on July 15, 1982. JOSHUA GUNTHER COMPTON and MASON WALKER JONES, JUANITA DENEA NICOLE RENEE CASTLEBERRY-BESS, LILIANA CASAS-RIOS, KATHRINNE RIOS, and THANNYA RIOS, JESSICA NICOLE and MACKENZIE DAWN SULLIVAN BUTTS, CHRISTOPHER & KYLEIGH HAMM & AUSTIN BROWN, RYAN PATRICK BELLAR and ZACK JAMES BELLAR, BRYAN, DANIEL, DIANE BARNETT and JAVON NELSON. I didnt know what to make of any of it.. While they were cycling home, they noticed that an object was stuck against an old post in the river. It is impossible to put into words how much her murder has devastated and destroyed my family. They were human beings., That summer, Wendy Stephens disappeared for the better part of a month. Theclay reconstructions were done by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to assist us in identifying the women. Soon after reinforcement arrived at the scene, detectives sealed off the area and began a search for evidence. Her body was found by two teenage boys riding their bikes across the bridge of the Green River, Wendy was under the Peck Bridge. Click Here!! 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. She was just an immature teenager who was trying to find her way in life. 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. An Arizona native, 31 year old Marcia- who was known as Tiny by her friends- was a single mother of three children (ages 11, 9 and 3 as of 1982) who turned to sex work to support them; she refused the services of a pimp for protection, that way she wouldnt have to share her earnings. Within hours of Sandras last known sighting, 16 year old Kimi-Kai Pitsor was seen for the last time in Downtown Seattle. Kimi Kai Pitsor Linda Rule known to her family as Janie had a background all too familiar among Green River victims. Victims Spotlight: Remembering the Victims of the Green River Killer, She was described as cheerful, outgoing and someone who could take care of herself. It was a huge dark cloud over this community, he said. Try again later. Gary Ridgwaypled guilty to the homicides of the 49people listed below. Thesethree women are listed on the official Green River Homicides list. It was one of those conversations of, Yeah, Mom, I dont know why I do the things I do.. She was later identified as Opal Mills, 16. Verify and try again. In early 2019, one of Stephens parents had taken a DNA test and uploaded the results to GEDmatch, hoping to learn the fate of their daughter. Kimi Kai Pitsor Failed to delete memorial. Resend Activation Email. Almost everyone that knew 18 year old Mary Meehan would describe her as outgoing and vibrant. One of the detectives, Sgt. The couple separated in 1980 and decided to share custody, although their daughter spent most of her time with her father. Opal Charmaine Mills 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. Debbie May Abernathy She was stunned. Way too much true crime. Wendy had run away from home 36 years prior, and Ms. Gaspar had long since stopped waiting for a call. After strangling Coffield to death, he dragged her down to the river and pushed her into it. Until investigators knocked on her door, she had no idea what had happened. Pammy Avent As the the landslide of human loss steadily accelerated, police even those who normally hesitated to cooperate with neighboring jurisdictions quickly noticed a horrific pattern appearing in instances that were previously considered simply isolated tragedies. And, unbeknownst to her family, Marie was also a sex worker. 18 year old Shirley Sherrill was once on the drill team and loved to dance. Ridgway's decision to dump his victims in this river earned him the nickname "the Green River Killer." Back then, there werent amber alerts or social media search pages. Wendy Lee Coffield Patricia Yellowrobe [Part 1] The Seattle Times, August 1, 1984, p. B1; Carlton Smith, Wendy Part 3 The Seattle Times, August 3, 1984, p. B1, B2; Don Duncan, Washington: the First One Hundred Years, 1889-1989; Ian Ith, Carlton Smith, and Tomas Guillen, "Ridgway Awaits Charges; Detectives Scour Homes," The Seattle Times December 2, 2001 (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com). This is a carousel with slides. There were women whose bodies were found but not identified. Cynthia Jean Hinds Shirley Marie Sherrill The body is later identified as Wendy Lee Coffield, who was 16 years old. Wendy went to live with her mother, Virginia Coffield. But Ms. Gaspar was hardly alone. 3. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If tears could build a stairway, Becky Marrero She worried that her daughter, only 14 years old, had been kidnapped, or worse. 3 Unidentified victims, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. Some of them had histories of prostitution, and many were last seen along Pacific Highway South near Sea-Tac airport. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. She was known to be a confident free spirit and was a friendly person with a certain charm that gave people the impression that she didnt take herself all that seriously. Her remains were found July 15, 1982. Within a month, four other bodies were found on the riverbank: Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Try again later. I was always afraid for her because she was that way.. Learn more about merges. Ridgway was long suspected in the killings but not arrested until 2001. Were they actually dead? Marcia Chapman and Cynthia Hinds, victims of the Green River Killer. She went missing in July and her body was discovered in August 1982. April 2003: Ridgway was charged with three additional murders (Wendy Lee Coffield, Debra Lynn Bonner and Debra Estes). Your email address will not be published. Body found in Green River July 15, 1982, near Kent. 9 May 1967 - 11 Mar 1988. Investigators like Tom Jensen and Fae Brooks, who spent countless hours on their hands and knees, poring over lists of suspects, and brought heartbreaking news to the victims families, are hopeful that technology like forensic genealogy will continue that work. Oops, something didn't work. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. There is little information available on 20 year old Sandra Major. Today, the remains of two women are still unidentified, and others are suspected but unconfirmed victims. We received a letter from her in 1982 with a Seattle postmark but no return address. Gary Ridgwaypled guilty to the homicides of the 49people listed below. Her reason for doing so was never disclosed. She was last seen on August 29, 1982 near South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The next day, more bones were discovered nearby; both were soon confirmed to be victims of the Green River Killer. Debra Lynn Bonner, 23, July 25, 1982, last seen south of Sea-Tac Airport. The victim, Wendy Lee Coffield, was a troubled teen who had experienced few joys in life before she was strangled with her panties and tossed into the river. (Copyright MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 2000.107), Gary Leon Ridgway, pictured in a 1982 King County Sheriff's booking mug. I remember telling her, Be a little girl for a while. It was a trip he had made on many occasions, yet this time it would be different. The police detectives at the scene quickly realized that there was a serial killer on the loose. SEATTLE (AP) _ In the three years since 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield was strangled and dumped in the Green River, her killer has slain as many as 42 other young women and eluded a multimillion-dollar police dragnet. On August 2nd, 1982, Marcias mother reported her missing. It is doubtful that her family knew what she was doing for money. The police got a lead on her identity after they published photographs of her tattoos in local newspapers. Marcia Faye Chapman According to Gallan, the body was on the southern side of the bridge. A timeline of the Green River killings, and the arrest and prosecution of Gary Leon Ridgway: July 15, 1982: Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found in the Green River south of Seattle. AP Photo/MOHAI archive Officials remove the body of 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield from the Green River on July 15, 1982. This is the location where the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. And what of the countless women who had just disappeared in those years, whose families would always wonder whether their daughters ended up in Mr. Ridgways truck? Please reset your password. Two teenage boys were cycling across the Meeker Street Bridge in Kent, Washington, when they spotted something floating in the water. Patricia Barczak My tie said that she was no longer walking on this plane., In Seattle, the investigation stalled for years. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. According to true crime author Ann Rule Gail was living a precarious, day-to-day existence with a man shed met at Trudys Tavern near the airport, a 34 year old man named Curt. After taking a closer look, they realized that it was a dead body. 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 April of 2003, Ridgway was accused of murdering Wendy Lee Coffield, Debra Lynn Bonner, and Debra Estes. Following her parents divorce in 1979, Wendys behavior only got worse with her mother describing her as, wild in a lot of ways but I dont think it was a harmful kind of wild. At one point, he claimed that he "got behind her" and started choking her. Deborah Bonner, victim of the Green River Killer. They came by again while she was out. He found a third body, that of a young girl who was partially clothed. There is also very little information available on Shawnda Summers. Dub quickly became infatuated with Martin, who made her happy enough for Dub to willfully work the streets to support him. If your kid doesnt come home, somethings wrong, she said. She too had been strangled to death. Her life took a major detour when she became pregnant in middle school. GreenRiverKillings. (Seattle: The Seattle Times, 1989), 128. Toys, Gifts, Collectibles, Board Games & Horror Lifestyle Items. However, Hinds was believed to have been in the river for a period of only several days. Not a whiner. She recalled sitting with a young Wendy in her high chair and teaching her to enunciate new words. But what Ms. Gaspar remembered most is the time they spent outside, some of her fondest memories with her daughter. Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. So grief, Ms. Gaspar said, is lonely. Tracy Winston Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. I was able to hold it together until toward the end, where my defenses finally started falling apart, she said in an interview, her voice still tinged with disbelief. The house, a two-bedroom with white-painted brick and mahogany trim, had an enclosed back porch and dining room where theyd sit around the table playing Yahtzee. There was a problem getting your location. Shortly afterwards, she was positively identified by her mother. 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. Please take a look at the photographs below. It was just really strange.. But he denied knowledge of the murders, and the police lacked further evidence to proceed. Gisele A. Lovvorn Mary Bridgett Meehan This time she took quite a few things from the family home (all her clothes, her Christmas gifts, the familys stereo and some money) so, in the hopes that a warrant might assist in locating her sooner, Colleens father filed criminal charges against his daughter. Gary Ridgway, pictured as a sophomore at Tyee High School. She was only 15 and pregnant. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Her mother described Wendy as a chronic runaway, someone who was running away from unhappiness or seeking excitement. On July 15, 1982, two teenage boys, who live in nearby Kent, Washington, spot a body in the Green River floating against the Meeker Street Bridge. The body was that of Wendy Lee Coffield, a dropout and runaway. Your email address will not be published. Kimi-Kai whose name translated to golden sea at dawn in Hawaiian was described by her mother as an adventurous girl who loved unicorns and anything purple. It was suspected that they were all murdered by the same person and dumped from the same location near the 25000 block of Frager Road. Sadly, this was just the beginning of Ridgway's killing spree. Two boys found her body seven days later in the Green River. She would leave in the winter without a coat., Ms. Gaspars sister, Judy Dove, remembered hearing about the change in Wendy, but never thought her disappearances were more than a phase. They struggled financially, often living in many low-income housing units and tents, and would pick blackberries in the fields during the summer in order to afford food. Cecile Gaspar wasnt home when the men first showed up. Thats when we knew that we had a serial killer, Mr. Reichert said. The only one it hurt was herself.. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. It seems that they were frivolous with their money. Tina Marie Thompson To avoid the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to every murder he had committed in King County. She was outgoing, trusting and loved to dance. Believing it might be a mannequin, Ainsworth attempted to snag the figure with a pole. Not a crier. Photo filed July 15, 1982. Its something that only you can experience within yourself., In early 2021, Ms. Gaspar received Wendys ashes, which she scattered near her home in Colorado. Green River taskforce photos from Seattle P-I archives Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, disappeared July 8, 1982. 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.. In 1980 she married a man named Dennis Christensen. According to Smith and Guillen's book, The Search for the Green River Killer, the man standing then asked Ainsworth if he found anything, to which Ainsworth replied, "Just this old singletree." If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The second body was identified as Cheryl Wims, 18, while the first remained a mystery Jane Doe B-10, or Bones 10. on Pacific Highway South before taking her to the ball field, where he strangled her and left her body. According to the police, she had a history of prostitution. The wondering became an obsession. 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. She was last seen on October 8th on her way to get cigarettes at a nearby convince store. Death certificate says she died of accidental drug and alcohol overdose, . July 15, 1982 - Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found floating in the Green River south of Seattle. Liked it? Denise had traveled up to Seattle sometime in the fall of 1982 with her boyfriend. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Photos of the bridge and other related images. Wendy Lee Coffield Flowers have been left. A California native, Gail moved to Washington in 1975 to live with friends. In the summer of 1980, he was arrested on charges of choking a sex worker. Coffield, The Seattle Times says, had been discovered on July 15 of the same year, and by August 16, the body count had risen to five. Does Your Horror Feature or Short Need Worldwide Distribution? Within a month, fourother bodies were found on the riverbank:Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. How can anybody wrap their head around their daughter being killed by a serial killer?. Wrecking crew finds body of Patricia Ann Yellow Robe, 38, Seattle. 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. Theres a certain tie that mothers and daughters have, she said. By 1991, the task force was reduced to one person: Detective Jensen. Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer - America's Deadliest Serial Murderer, Pocket Star. Wendy began hanging with a different crowd, spending more time alone in the basement, and skipping school. Despite the counseling she was receiving, Alma returned to prostitution and left the center. That doesnt go away. They waded into the water, thinking it was a mannequin, then they saw hair floating under water. Cynthia Jean Hinds As word of the so-called Green River Killer spread throughout the community, Mr. Reichert said, families began keeping their daughters close. Her nude body had been found slumped over a log in the Green River. Mary Bridgett Meehan The two separated soon after, but Ms. Gaspar, 17 at the time, said raising Wendy as a single, teenage mother was surprisingly easy. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. At some point Curt decided to take the short walk to the Midway Tavern in hopes of getting lucky at a poker game. Cheryl Lee Wims Marie Malvar Hair styles are only a best guess. And in September of that year, she joined with friends, family and spiritual leaders on Zoom to, in her words, honor the spirit that was Wendy. For a long time the idea of hosting a service seemed daunting, even unbearable, but after so many years of unrest about her daughter, Ms. Gaspar feels relief and lightness and knowing that shes been sent on her way., She had her own problems, Ms. Gaspar said, but she was a precious young life who hadnt found her way yet., The Young Woman Behind a Last Mystery of the Green River Killer, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/26/us/green-river-killer-mystery.html, Photo Illustration by Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times, King County Sheriffs Department, via Associated Press; Photo Illustration by Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times, Elaine Thompson/Associated Press; King County Sheriffs Department, via Associated Press; Photo Illustration by Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times. W ENDY Lee Coffield a 16-year old runaway from Pierce County Wash. disppeared on July 8 1982. Opal Mills, victim of the Green River Killer. 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 grew increasingly isolated and withdrawn. She was everybodys dream of a kid, she said. Through interviews with family members, police officers and forensic investigators, we can stitch together the life and death of a young woman who was known as Jane Doe B-10 longer than she was known as Wendy. Constance Naon But some unknowns persist. And then all of a sudden youve got two.. At the park, just off Des Moines Memorial Drive, detectives followed the man to a swampy area outside the diamond where they found the rest of the remains. They then drove out to his "usual spot", where they had sex in his truck. To this day, he doesn't like the sight of hair under water. On November 30, 2001, a suspect, Gary Leon Ridgway, 52, a longtime resident of the area, will be arrested. When she was sexually assaulted by a man in September, 1982. On August 15, 1982, Robert Ainsworth, 41, stepped into his rubber raft and began his descent south down the Green River toward the outer edge of Seattle's city limits. July 15, 1982: Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found in the Green River south of Seattle. Over time, the combination of advancing technology, science, and determined investigative work advanced the case until an arrest was made in 2001. The assailant was dubbed the Green . On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. Giselle enjoyed the Charlie Daniels Band and collected antique Jack Daniels whiskey labels. Wendy had been gone a year or two, she said. 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.
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