Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Green River Murders, Gary Ridgway Pleads Guilty 48 Times
Aired November 05, 2003 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Forty-eight murders, 48 guilty pleas -- 21 years after the first of Gary Ridgway's victims turned up in the Green River in Washington State, the cases are officially solved. And Ridgway is officially the most prolific serial murderer in U.S. history.
Kimberly Osias live from Seattle with more on a monster's admissions -- Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
Well, the names were read separately with details about each woman's murder, like where the bodied were taken -- 48 women in all. Forty-eight times Gary Ridgway confessed his guilt to the largest killing spree in American history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): A composed Gary Ridgway entered the packed King County courthouse. The prosecutor read Ridgway's graphic prepared statement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "I killed so many women I have a hard time keeping them straight." Is that true?
GARY RIDGWAY, SERIAL MURDERER: Yes, it is.
OSIAS: His statements spoke to motive. Ridgway killed because he didn't want to pay for sex.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "I placed most of the bodies in groups, which I call clusters. I did this because I wanted to keep track of all the women I killed."
OSIAS: His victims were prostitutes, drug addicts and runaways, all women he says he chose because they could go missing without leaving a definitive trail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think people can imagine what it would be like if one of their loved ones was murdered, or just disappeared, and they never knew what had happened to them.
OSIAS: Investigators say 54-year-old Ridgway was cunning and didn't fit into a stereotypical serial killer mold. But the break in the case came in November of 2001. DNA evidence helped conclusively link Ridgway's DNA to three of the women. Ridgway was arrested in Renton, Washington. Investigators say their work in the case is far from over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll continue as long as we think there may be evidence out there that needs to be recovered and certainly crimes that need to be solved.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: The defense has just spoken at a press conference. We have learned that there are no other jurisdictions involved. We have also learned that Gary Ridgway himself went with investigators back to the original sites. And also we've learned that Gary Ridgway plans to say he's sorry at sentencing.
Reporting live in Seattle, Kimberly Osias.
Back to you -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Kimberly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired November 5, 2003 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Forty-eight murders, 48 guilty pleas -- 21 years after the first of Gary Ridgway's victims turned up in the Green River in Washington State, the cases are officially solved. And Ridgway is officially the most prolific serial murderer in U.S. history.
Kimberly Osias live from Seattle with more on a monster's admissions -- Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
Well, the names were read separately with details about each woman's murder, like where the bodied were taken -- 48 women in all. Forty-eight times Gary Ridgway confessed his guilt to the largest killing spree in American history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): A composed Gary Ridgway entered the packed King County courthouse. The prosecutor read Ridgway's graphic prepared statement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "I killed so many women I have a hard time keeping them straight." Is that true?
GARY RIDGWAY, SERIAL MURDERER: Yes, it is.
OSIAS: His statements spoke to motive. Ridgway killed because he didn't want to pay for sex.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "I placed most of the bodies in groups, which I call clusters. I did this because I wanted to keep track of all the women I killed."
OSIAS: His victims were prostitutes, drug addicts and runaways, all women he says he chose because they could go missing without leaving a definitive trail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think people can imagine what it would be like if one of their loved ones was murdered, or just disappeared, and they never knew what had happened to them.
OSIAS: Investigators say 54-year-old Ridgway was cunning and didn't fit into a stereotypical serial killer mold. But the break in the case came in November of 2001. DNA evidence helped conclusively link Ridgway's DNA to three of the women. Ridgway was arrested in Renton, Washington. Investigators say their work in the case is far from over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll continue as long as we think there may be evidence out there that needs to be recovered and certainly crimes that need to be solved.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: The defense has just spoken at a press conference. We have learned that there are no other jurisdictions involved. We have also learned that Gary Ridgway himself went with investigators back to the original sites. And also we've learned that Gary Ridgway plans to say he's sorry at sentencing.
Reporting live in Seattle, Kimberly Osias.
Back to you -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Kimberly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
