And my sister she was a sweet person, a caring person and she was loved by a lot of people., There is no documented of 16 year old Opal Mills being involved in any kind of prostitution. Colleen was last seen alive on December 28th, 1982. When 16 year old Linda left her motel room on the afternoon of September 26th, 1982, she appeared to be in a good mood. Her parents, Tom and Carol Estes, still live in the Auburn home where they last saw their teenage daughter. Toys, Gifts, Collectibles, Board Games & Horror Lifestyle Items. She was last seen on the Sea-Tac Strip on July 17th, 1982. On August 4, 1962, Rebecca Marrero was born. Call (collect if necessary): 206-263-2130, Call between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to arrange to speak with a detective. A support group for parents of runaways only intensified her feeling of alienation. You have all the time to be a grown-up with all those problems. But she wanted to be an adult so bad.. Murder Victim. Photo filed July 11, 1983. 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. Are You A Horror Filmmaker? However, please be aware that not allowing certain cookies may impact your experience of the site. Interestingly, when the murders first started, some police officers theorized that they might be related to a "pimp war" or "drug involvement.". The body is recovered and the cause of death is determined to be murder by strangulation using the victims own clothes. On July 15th, 1982, Gallan Hirschi and his friend Robert spent the day riding their bikes. Mary Bridgett Meehan She had been killed by ligature strangulation. based on information from your browser. CreditPhoto Illustration by Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times. Just days later, they discovered three more victims in or near the river: Cynthia Hinds, 17; Opal Mills, 16; and Marcia Chapman, 31. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. But after nearly 40 years of worrying and wondering, Ms. Gaspar now knows what happened to her daughter. 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. Not a crier. Her mother described Wendy as a chronic runaway, someone who was running away from unhappiness or seeking excitement. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Tracy Winston He agreed to provide complete, truthful and candid information concerning the crimes that he had committed in King County and answer all questions during interviews conducted by the detectives or the prosecuting attorney. Today, the remains of two women are still unidentified, and others are suspected but unconfirmed victims. Murder Victim. Officials remove the body of 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield from the Green River on July 15, 1982. Resend Activation Email. Shawnda was last seen along Pacific Highway South near S144th. Horror Writers Wanted! Before long, a policeman arrived at the scene and questioned Ainsworth about his find. Giselle enjoyed the Charlie Daniels Band and collected antique Jack Daniels whiskey labels. 4. The body is later identified as Wendy Lee Coffield, who was 16 years old. Please take a look at the photographs below. The victim was Wendy Lee Coffield, a 16-year-old girl from Puyallup. Gail decided not to go, instead announcing she would go to work so that they can keep their motel room for a few more nights. She was just another kid that ran away that they didnt care about, she said. Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. 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. Arguments would ensue when her parents would speak negatively of Martin and say that he was a bad influence. He found a third body, that of a young girl who was partially clothed. She was also incredibly stubborn. As he drifted slowly downstream, he noticed a middle-aged balding man standing by the riverbank and a second, younger man sitting in a nearby pickup truck. I had no idea what we were getting into with her talking all the time, she said, laughing. Everybody was a potential friend, she said. It was a huge dark cloud over this community, he said. Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer - America's Deadliest Serial Murderer, Pocket Star. GREAT NEWS! On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Mr. Ridgway, one of Americas most devastating serial killers, terrorized King County, Wash. Try again later. 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. Seattle? July 15, 1982: Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found in the Green River south of Seattle. The girl had a pair of blue pants knotted around her neck. When she became pregnant for a third time, Mary decided to give the baby boy up for adoption, though she regretted it soon after. Until investigators knocked on her door, she had no idea what had happened. He agreed to provide complete, truthful and candid information concerning the crimes that he had committed in King County and answer all questions during interviews conducted by the detectives or the prosecuting attorney. They then drove out to his "usual spot", where they had sex in his truck. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Photo filed July 15, 1982. Alma Ann Smith Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. Gail Matthews She was better educated than either of usShe had luminous eyes, a love of learning and ambitions beyond working the street for her boyfriend-pimp, says her family.. Opal Charmaine Mills For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. My family left, and she was gone, Ms. Gaspar said. This is a "Bird's Eye" aerial image of the bridge, which is also known as Peck Bridge. They stopped on the bridge over the Green River to rest. 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. Thanks for your help! I thought of putting her on a milk carton. She kept her home phone number listed, just in case Wendy ever came looking. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. Sandra D. Major Delise Louise Plager The two stayed in a small apartment in Washington State. And that was over and over again. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Gary Ridgwaypled guilty to the homicides of the 49people listed below. Accidentally, the raft overturned as he tried to dislodge the figure from a rock and Ainsworth fell into the river. She also showed signs of a struggle, because she had bruises on her arms and legs. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? In fact, it would be another two decades before Wendys case saw any significant progress. The Shadow Girls begins with the GRK's very first found victim, Wendy Lee Coffield in July of 1982. For how many years, decades, I would not know how to answer that simple, innocent question., One night, five or so years after Wendys disappearance, Ms. Gaspar sat up in bed with a deep conviction. Back then, there werent amber alerts or social media search pages. Kelly Ware Please enter your username or email address. Mary Sue Bello His first victim is believed to be 16 year old Wendy Lee Coffield. Following an examination of the bodies at the scene, Chief Medical Examiner Donald Reay determined that all three girls died of strangulation. All kinds of things go through your head, she said. The persistent sneezing was usually her undoing. She was stunned. Join the Wicked Horror Staff. She came for a late birthday celebrationHer birthday was March 29th. Shed hug anyone. Never has done anything like this. Kimi Kai Pitsor In shock, he sat down and waited for help to arrive. Cynthia Jean Hinds Delise Louise Plager Coffield's body was found in the Green River in 1982 a week after she went missing. Drag images here or select from your computer for Wendy Lee Coffield memorial. In Colorado, life had taken a turn in the Stephens household. The man replied that he had not. As she moved into her early teens, her mother was struck and at times, frightened by her beauty and free spirit. Her body was found by two teenage boys riding their bikes across the bridge of the Green River, Wendy was under the Peck Bridge. The assailant was dubbed the Green . Some time before dark, she and her husband returned to their small town in southwest Colorado, just outside Mesa Verde National Park. She was one of those people you meet that would be like, Thats too much information!. It was a trip he had made on many occasions, yet this time it would be different. One week later her body . She had to see for herself. (Copyright MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 2000.107). 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. 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. Cynthia, who often went by Cookie, got a job through a private contractor to paint apartments, and worked with a friend, Opal Mills, another of Ridgways victims. For more details, please read our Privacy & Cookie Policy. We Want To Finance Your Film. Kimi Kai Pitsor She was last seen on October 8th on her way to get cigarettes at a nearby convince store. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? She was good-hearted and all that. Your email address will not be published. Yvonne Shelly Antosh On Aug 15, 1982, Robert Ainsworth, who was on a routine trip down the river, which he took many times, saw something in the water. Rivers In Time ProjectKing CountySeattle Public UtilitiesSeattle City Light, Wendy Coffield's body being pulled out of the Green River, 1982, Green River, Meeker Street Bridge, Kent, April 15, 2009, Green River Murder Victim Identified;P Probe Inches Along The Seattle Times, August 18, 1982, p. A13; Carlton Smith, Wendy Juvenile in Jeopardy. Please take a look at the photographs below. Her body was found in the Green River under the Peck Bridge. She was the first victim found.. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Eventually, the deaths of at least 48 women would be linked to the Green River killer. We thought: This is great. Pammy Avent However she was an incredibly talented artist who began to rebel in middle school. Debra Lorraine Estes The medical examiner's office determined that the young girl had been strangled to death and then thrown into the Green River, where she remained in the water for several days. Wendy strayed a bit, as some teenagers do, she said. GreenRiverKillings. Dub quickly became infatuated with Martin, who made her happy enough for Dub to willfully work the streets to support him. Stigma complicated matters, according to Dr. Taylor. By August 15, 1982, a total of five bodies had been found on or along the Green River. The two just had lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Seattles International District. CLICK HERE FOR MORE! Take a second to support Fallon Gannon on Patreon! 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." Year should not be greater than current year. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Kelly Ware By 1982 Wendy was working as a sex worker, had multiple run ins with police and was drinking and doing drugs often. Patricia Yellowrobe By 1982 Becky was 20 and was supporting herself as a sex worker. Try again later. 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. Marta Reeves Soliciting sex made it possible to live a lifestyle of traveling and being able to purchase heroinWhile Dub would go to the streets looking for business, Carl would spend time lurking in the taverns in Tacoma., The couple lived out of various motels as they traveled up and down the West Coast working the circuit. Gary Ridgway, pictured as a sophomore at Tyee High School. Gary Ridgwaypled guilty to the homicides of the 49people listed below. Wendy Lee Coffield Growing up Opal was a pure hearted, loving child who named the dolls and stuffed animals kept on her bed. April 2003: Ridgway was charged with three additional murders (Wendy Lee Coffield, Debra Lynn Bonner and Debra Estes). Body found in Green River July 15, 1982, near Kent. It was not believed that the Green River Killer murdered Wilcox, but the opinion of the investigators has been recently challenged. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. The following spring, a sample of Wendys remains was shipped to a forensics lab in Santa Cruz, Calif. When she returned, she acted like nothing was wrong, nothing had taken place, she hadnt been absent, Ms. Gaspar said. Carol Ann Christensen He has been a suspect for a long time, but before now, detectives had not found adequate evidence to build a case against him. She remembered the presiding fear. Please try again later. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Their daughter was born later that year. There is little information available on 20 year old Sandra Major. Crime Scene Location in Kent, Washington, United States. One by one, detectives began to stitch together the extent of what Mr. Ridgway had done. Photo filed Aug. 13, 1983. W ENDY Lee Coffield a 16-year old runaway from Pierce County Wash. disppeared on July 8 1982. Police investigated and later identified this young woman as Wendy Lee Coffield. 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. Linda Rule Looked like a body. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The second body was identified as Cheryl Wims, 18, while the first remained a mystery Jane Doe B-10, or Bones 10. I baked her a chocolate cake. She wanted to be a dancer. He stopped them, told them of his gruesome discovery and asked them to get the police. Mary Exzetta West Gail Matthews Wendy Lee Coffield Wendy had run away from home 36 years prior, and Ms. Gaspar had long since stopped waiting for a call. I didnt know what to make of any of it.. This location belongs to the following categories: Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to see future locations: Other locations that are relatively close to this place. Apply Now. Cecile Gaspar wasnt home when the men first showed up. She conceived yet again within a month. Verify and try again. On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. Born February 5th, 1959, Gail Mathews grew up much too fast. It was one of those conversations of, Yeah, Mom, I dont know why I do the things I do.. Debbie using her street name Betty Lorraine eventually agreed to work with police in hopes of filing charges against her rapist. During the search, a detective made another macabre discovery. 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. This is the location where the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found. This is a carousel with slides. She gave lessons and she was very good, and she taught dance exercise.. We last saw Sandra here in New York in 1982. and only God knows why. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. and secret tears still flow, The body of Wendy was recovered and the cause of death was determined to be . Green River Killer Gary Ridgway: Photos from the archives. At one point she said, The same lives that you took seem to be the same lives saving yours. The officer disbelievingly walked into the shallow river and reached out toward the ghostly form. 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. 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). This browser does not support getting your location. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Victims Spotlight: Remembering the Victims of the Green River Killer, She was described as cheerful, outgoing and someone who could take care of herself. Wendy Lee Coffield was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. 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. Colleen Renee Brockman You can change your choice at any time by using the Privacy Center link in our footer. At some point Gail began working as a sex worker. A young black woman's face was floating just beneath the surface of the water, her body swaying beneath her with the current. During Wendy's childhood, the pair lived in poverty, moving from one low-rent apartment to the next. She was also a devoted fan of the band The Grateful Dead. Aug. 12, 1982 - Body of Debra Bonner, 23, found in Green River. 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. Thus began one of the longest and largest serial murder investigations in United States history. Theres a certain tie that mothers and daughters have, she said. The oldest of three daughters, Shirley grew up in a tightknit family and was working as a sex worker by 1982. to target victims of opportunity (women walking home, hitchhiking, etc.). All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. Our outings would be in the mountains, she said. Shed open the paper to read about the latest victim count and wonder: Who can do this and not get caught? A few days later, a tattoo artist came forward to say that he recognized them. Ridgway's decision to dump his victims in this river earned him the nickname "the Green River Killer.". Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. It was just really strange.. 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. Over the next several months, at least 10 more women went missing from the Seattle area. She left her family home though she called her parents often to check in became pregnant and miscarried twice and was experimenting with drugs, mostly marijuana and LSD. Maureen Sue Feeney Opal Mills, victim of the Green River Killer. Women, many of them just girls, really, started disappearing in 1982. DNA evidence ties Ridgway to four of the cases, and circumstantial evidence to several others. Shed do anything for anybody., Unfortunately there is little known about Marcia Chapmans early life. 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. 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. TM & 2015 Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. A Time Warner Company. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. He was hazy on the details, but said he thought he had picked Wendy up near a K.F.C. The Peck Bridge is located where the Frager Road and Kent-Des Moines Road intersect in Kent, Washington.
