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CreditPhoto Illustration by Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times. COFFIELD Wendy Lee | Serial Killer Database Wiki | Fandom 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. Gary Ridgway admitted to killing of all of these women, but could not supply any significant information that would assist in the identification of these women. Maureen Sue Feeney We talked while she was there, Ms. Gaspar recalled. 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. The body was that of Wendy Lee Coffield, a dropout and runaway. Ms. Gaspar struggled to resume life without Wendy. It is impossible to put into words how much her murder has devastated and destroyed my family. 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. Please enter your username or email address. We have set your language to Becky Marrero Kimberly Nelson They were both held down by rocks in the water. 21 year old Carol Ann Christensen was last seen leaving Barn Door Tavern on Pacific Avenue South on May 3rd, 1983. In the summer of 1980, he was arrested on charges of choking a sex worker. On August 2nd, 1982, Marcias mother reported her missing. The assailant was dubbed the Green . When she became pregnant for a third time, Mary decided to give the baby boy up for adoption, though she regretted it soon after. They said, Nope, just call her Bones 10.. 18 year old Shirley Sherrill was once on the drill team and loved to dance. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6887254/wendy-lee-coffield. And how did they know her name? WENDY LEE COFFIELD - Stolen Lives The couple had no proper means of income, no car and were living out of motels. We last saw Sandra here in New York in 1982. Drag images here or select from your computer for Wendy Lee Coffield memorial. The next day, more bones were discovered nearby; both were soon confirmed to be victims of the Green River Killer. Learn more about managing a memorial . Her reason for doing so was never disclosed. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Thats when we knew that we had a serial killer, Mr. Reichert said. By 1982 Becky was 20 and was supporting herself as a sex worker. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. But he denied knowledge of the murders, and the police lacked further evidence to proceed. Opal Mills, victim of the Green River Killer. Ridgeway was charged with the murder of Wendy in April of 2003. Tracy Winston 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. The couple separated in 1980 and decided to share custody, although their daughter spent most of her time with her father. Investigators believe she was killed not long after her arrival in Washington. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Linda Rule Despite the fights Dub was always welcome in their home and she made a point to call and check in a few times a week, always ending the calls with I love you and Tell Dad I love him. Kimi Kai Pitsor Marcia Chapman and Cynthia Hinds, victims of the Green River Killer. Conviction - Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Before her disappearance, Wendy was, in her mother's 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. Over time, the combination of advancing technology, science, and determined investigative work advanced the case until an arrest was made in 2001. Cynthia Jean Hinds 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. They came by again while she was out. April Buttram For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Accidentally, the raft overturned as he tried to dislodge the figure from a rock and Ainsworth fell into the river. Colleen Brockman was only 15 years old when she disappeared. Marcia Faye Chapman Her mother described Wendy as a chronic runaway, someone who was running away from unhappiness or seeking excitement. The police detectives at the scene quickly realized that there was a serial killer on the loose. The man replied that he had not. DNA evidence ties Ridgway to four of the cases, and circumstantial evidence to several others. The sheer number of women he killed, and over such a long period of time, meant so many unknowns: There were women he confessed to killing whose bodies were found and identified, but what had they endured in their last hours? They were young, mostly teenagers or in their early 20s. You have all the time to be a grown-up with all those problems. But she wanted to be an adult so bad.. Unfortunately there is little information available on 23 year old Denise Bush. Terri adored her baby boy but she dropped out of school and never had the chance to go back. Just a month earlier, another young girl, identified as Wendy Lee Coffield, was found strangled and floating in the Green River. 3 Unidentified victims, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. Wendy Lee Coffield The way Wendy was identified, said Detective Jensen, I never would have believed it was possible 10 years ago. It is reported that she, well aware of all the Green River Killer, was very cautious and began working in nicer neighborhoods to meet wealthy johns. At first, it looked like a bag. Colleen Renee Brockman They stopped on the bridge over the Green River to rest. Not a crier. Wendy, was only 14 when she ran away from her home in Denver, Colorado, in 1983. While they were cycling home, they noticed that an object was stuck against an old post in the river. Even Ms. Gaspar briefly wondered whether he mightve been responsible for Wendys disappearance. She and her boyfriend, a 24 year old Bobby, were recently engaged and she hoped they could have a regular, normal life. That doesnt go away. They waded into the water, thinking it was a mannequin, then they saw hair floating under water. Pammy Avent Were it not for a change in the databases opt-out policy that made Ms. Gaspars profile visible to everyone except for law enforcement investigators, they would have identified her immediately. Green River Killer Frustrates Three-Year Search | AP News Year should not be greater than current year. Women, many of them just girls, really, started disappearing in 1982. Cynthia had also been working as a sex worker since she was 14 years old. Looked like a body. Murder of Wendy Lee Coffield - YouTube One by one, detectives began to stitch together the extent of what Mr. Ridgway had done. and bring you home again. Gisele A. Lovvorn Her remains were found July 15, 1982. She was last seen around 2 p.m. on February 6th, 1983 at Rainier Avenue South and South Ferdinand Street at a bus stop outside the Red Lion Hotel. Green river homicides investigation - King County, Washington She grew increasingly isolated and withdrawn. Oops, something didn't work. Thus began one of the longest and largest serial murder investigations in United States history. on Pacific Highway South before taking her to the ball field, where he strangled her and left her body. Make sure that the file is a photo. It was not believed that the Green River Killer murdered Wilcox, but the opinion of the investigators has been recently challenged. Wendy was a runaway who had a history of prostitution. and memories a lane, Ainsworth suspected that the men were out for a day's fishing. I just kept waiting for somebody to call and say, My young daughter ran away, Dr. Taylor said. Eventually, the deaths of at least 48 women would be linked to the Green River killer. 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. Shed been very close to her grandmother. The two stayed in a small apartment in Washington State. Her life took a major detour when she became pregnant in middle school. 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. Please try again later. The victim was Wendy Lee Coffield, a 16-year-old girl from Puyallup. Despite the counseling she was receiving, Alma returned to prostitution and left the center. She was just another kid that ran away that they didnt care about, she said. Shawnda Leea Summers What mother had been missing them for decades? But that may be at the request of her family. Wendy Lee Coffield Flowers have been left. Photo filed July 15, 1982. At some point Gail began working as a sex worker. Carrie Ann Rois On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. Sandra D. Major She was the first victim found.. Coffield's body was found in the Green River in 1982 a week after she went missing. The Green River Killer - Serial Killers Info A few months later, in November of 2001, Mr. Ridgway was arrested when DNA found on three victims was linked to hair and saliva samples obtained from him almost two decades prior. The body of Wendy was recovered and the cause of death was determined to be murder by strangulation using the victim's own clothes. He was older and was all too eager to lean on young Gisele for financial support; resulting her to turn to prostitution. Becky Marrero They knew that they had to find and catch him as soon as possible before any more women disappeared. The last time Kenneth saw his wife was sometime in 1982, when she dropped off their daughter for the last time. Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. My heart still aches in sadness Once in a great while, we get a hint that theres somebody there, Dr. Press said. I thought of putting her on a milk carton. She kept her home phone number listed, just in case Wendy ever came looking. 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. Her body was found by two teenage boys riding their bikes across the bridge of the Green River, Wendy was under the Peck Bridge. 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. I was like, OK, well, they dont need that, and Im not getting what I need there.. Sandra K.Gabbert I'd walk right up to Heaven According to her mother, Virginia, she had dropped out of school in junior high. She was last seen on the Sea-Tac Strip on July 17th, 1982. Though convicted of killing 49 young women and girls, he has confessed to 71 murders, and some investigators believe the actual number is even higher. Photos of the bridge and other related images. Gisele A. Lovvorn In a statement made by Sandras family they said We are grateful to finally know what happened to Sandra after all these years. Shed open the paper to read about the latest victim count and wonder: Who can do this and not get caught? Alma Smith was only 18 years old when she disappeared. I had contacted the police, she said. Terry Renee Milligan They stopped on the bridge over the Green River to rest. They were human beings., That summer, Wendy Stephens disappeared for the better part of a month. Debbie was young, capricious, had many friends who adored her and she loved horses. Women, many of them just girls, really, started disappearing in 1982. Coffield was strangled to death with her own pants and dumped in the water. Try again later. Enter your email address to follow Stolen Lives and receive notifications of new posts by email. (Copyright MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 2000.107). At the time of her death, the 16-year-old was reportedly living in a foster home. GREAT NEWS! You can change your choice at any time by using the Privacy Center link in our footer. Green River Killer Gary Ridgway: Photos from the archives - seattlepi.com From the time Debra Estes was a small child she was considered a headstrong, wild girl who was almost impossible to rein in. She remembered the presiding fear. The body is recovered and the cause of death is determined to be murder by strangulation using the victims own clothes. Mary was almost eight months pregnant when she went missing near the Western Six Motel on September 15th, 1983. It was going to get much, much higher. She had always been a brilliant student and had dreams of attending Yale to study computer science after graduating high school. Wendy began hanging with a different crowd, spending more time alone in the basement, and skipping school. By 1982 Wendy was working as a sex worker, had multiple run ins with police and was drinking and doing drugs often. Ridgway's decision to dump his victims in this river earned him the nickname "the Green River Killer.". On August 2nd, 1982, Marcias mother reported her missing. And then all of a sudden youve got two.. Alma Ann Smith 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. Anthony McNabb, got right to the point: Theyd come with news about Ms. Gaspars daughter, Wendy. 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.