Despite confessing to police that he planned to molest the boys, he was released, with no charges filed. He was fictionalized as a man who murdered a young boy in a way similar to Dodd's murder of Lee Iseli. Things seemed to settle down when he graduated high school, married his high school sweetheart, and enlisted in the army but it was later discovered that Ridgway was frequently taking advantage of sex workers. While it might conjure up images of a bustling suburban metropolis, a large area of Washington is actually covered with dense forestry, which makes it the perfect location for a serial killer to hide a body or kill someone away from prying eyes. Why? Seven Questions for Keith Roysdon, author of The Westside Park Murders, Meet Cathy Pickens, author of True Crime Stories of Eastern North Carolina. Dont forget about the one in omak currently, My partner was incarcerated and awaiting trial in seg at king county when Gary ridgeway was arrested. Robert Lee Yates Jr. targeted sex workers in Spokane, shooting them in the head after he solicited their services. His conviction for the murders of 49 women in the 1980s and 1990s gives him the chilling distinction of having the most confirmed murders of any American serial killer. Westley Allan Dodd 6. The total number of serial killings in the state stands at 276 or 7.35 per million inhabitants. Whether due to childhood abuse, mental health issues, or a need for power and control its important to remember that serial murderers arent anti-heroes. Join the creepiest email list you've ever been on. As a result, the state has been home to some of the grisliest crime scenes and darkest minds in American history. Washington is home to famous universities, attracting a plethora of young students, but its also a state with many problems with poverty and homelessness. American serial killer Israel Keyes is thought to have murdered at least 11 people before his 2012 arrest. The name comes from the horrible death that was inflicted upon the women. After pleading guilty to the charges of murder, he received the death penalty. The first time Dodd was arrested was at the age of fifteen, but he was released the next day because of his age. Vincent Gillespie, who has been in a legal battle against his stepmother to gain control of paintings by his father, Gregory Gillespie, was arrested in February on charges relating to the Capitol riot. In 2015, the Bellingham Police Department received a report from the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory on evidence found at Aughes home. This evidence would become key when convicting Dodds. Well, there arent many handsome and charismatic law student serial killers out there! Gary Ridgway 1. This time, he was arrested. In the case of a crime, they must rely on Alaska State Troopers, who may take hours to respond to the call. Reay stated that Dodd's death had likely not been very painful. After finishing probation, he stopped going to treatment and moved to Vancouver, Washington,[6] where he was hired as a shipping clerk. He is currently sitting on death row at the Washington State Penitentiary. As is the case with most serial killers, Yatess total number of victims is unknown, but he confessed to having taken the life of 18 women between 1975 to 1998. On April 26, Aughes vehicle was logged as entering the United States from Canada at the Oroville, WA border crossing. From 1975 to 1998, he is known to have murdered at least 11 women in Spokane. Finally, the high numbers of tourists in many cases, desperate individuals down on their luck create a pool of ideal victims for anyone looking to commit a nefarious act. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. This Clark County Parks employee was convicted of raping and strangling a 19-year-old girl, then burying her on park property. About Us Affiliate Disclosure Privacy Policy Contact Us. Im telling my kids who are students at WSU to be safe and take precautions. [20] Dodd was cremated following the autopsy, and his ashes turned over to his family. Despite the stereotypes perpetuated in movies, serial murderers do not have a great deal in common with each other. One of the most famous serial killers of all time, Ted Bundy, was a former University of Washington student and Tacoma man who confessed to murdering at least 30 young women in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado, and Florida, although the definite overall count is unknown. In 1989, though, Dodd took things to a new level. 2020 population: 7,705,920 . He was a law student, interested in politics and had a promising future ahead of him until his grim obsession took over. Serial killer Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, murdered at least 49 women in Washington state before he was caught in 2001. The defense did not call any witnesses or present any evidence, suggesting only that Dodd must be legally insane. Table of Contents [ hide] 1. Alaska. Sign up for the Crime Capsule newsletter today. Ridgway's preferred killing method was strangulation. He was charged with the murder of two people. Yates most disturbing murder was that of Melody Murfin. Based on their research, the following states have produced the highest number of real-life serial killers. He was in the military and was doing target practice at the time. Hours later, the vehicle was found abandoned in Eugene, OR. My partner said he was just a normal guy thats laugh at jokes in the readers digest. From sunny Florida to the rainy pacific northwest, its fascinating to study the places they committed their crimes and the towns that had no idea that a killer was among them. Fromtrue crimeto horror fiction, as a nation, we obsess over these terrifying, fascinating figures. Never would have guessed, although we did place bets on others at work. Interestingly, the police turned to fellow Washington serial killer Ted Bundy to help them find Ridgway. [10] Shortly afterwards, he was arrested again for exposing himself to a boy and was dishonorably discharged from the Navy. Jensen and Dave Trimble interviewed him. Bundy suggested that Ridgway might be engaging in necrophilia that helped police catch the Green River Killer as they staked out the grave sites. And from 1996-1998, the people of Spokane were terrorized by a string of mysterious murders. Of course, for a serial murderer, the cover of darkness also provides a perfect opportunity to target a victim. His last words, spoken from the second floor of the indoor gallows, were recorded by the media witnesses as:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, I was once asked by somebody, I don't remember who, if there was any way sex offenders could be stopped. He would then target them for robbery. He was convinced that if he was released, he would continue his gruesome killing spree. The Sheriffs were unable to solve the case, causing it to be closed without a conviction. True Crime. Six months later, Grant threatened two young boys playing outside of their house and forced them to get into his car. William Gohl (February 6, 1873 - March 3, 1927) was a German-American alleged serial killer who, while working as a union official, allegedly murdered sailors passing through Aberdeen, Washington. [24] There was much media attention; some TV news reports featured stories on the history of hanging, showing such things as the loud sound that the trap door can make, along with the silence that follows it, and the type of rope that was going to be used, and how to properly prepare it for optimum effect. Washington State is a relaxing place to live, with plenty of scenic natural parks and rugged mountain ranges. He evaded being caught by moving around the country, going on to kill young women in seven different states before he was finally caught and awarded the death penalty. In May 1984, he was arrested for molesting a 10-year-old boy but received only a suspended sentence. Cameras everywhere, dog, knife, everything locked, dont walk alone, etc. ShowtimesDexter the popular long-running TV series about a serial killer who hunts other serial killers portrayed Miami as a hotbed of serial predators. It eventually came out that he committed necrophilia. No action was taken. Gary Grant, like most serial killers, had a very troubled childhood. He was sentenced to life in prison and was sent to the Washington State Penitentiary, though he was eligible for parole in 2014. The Seattle Times reported that Dodd described in a diary written during his imprisonment that his father was emotionally and physically abusive, that he was often neglected in favor of his younger siblings, and that he witnessed violent fights between his parents. They enjoy causing pain, lack remorse, and empathy and are compelled to repeat their murderous acts again and again. The documents said investigators went to Aughes home in Bellingham where they found two pools of drying blood at the head of Aughes bed, blood splatter and a stain that was later determined to be semen. The child began fighting and crying as Dodd was leaving the theatre through the lobby, carrying the boy in his arms. Despite facing the death penalty, Forest was able to strike a plea deal for three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole due to his cooperation with authorities and the lack of physical evidence tying him directly to the murders. He was ranked at level 22, the highest point of the scale. After attacking two Seattle women in 1973, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, or to join a sex offender rehab program at Western State Hospital near Tacoma, which he soon escaped from, and killed two more women. Even today, the mystery and horror surrounding serial killers remains extremely powerful for many people. Bundy was decent-looking, a gifted academic and boasted charisma in spades. At school, Dodd was not welcomed into any social groups, leaving him with no friends. Washington is an amazing state, but there's no denying that we've had some bad luck with serial killers. One day later, Lee's body was discovered, which sparked a manhunt for the killer. Top 10 Alcohol Consuming Countries In The World, The Biggest Heists and Bank Robberies in American History. Billy Gohl 3. He even admitted to molesting girls his age throughout his time in school and the increasing urge to kill those girls as time went on. The younger boy was playing alone on a slide, and Dodd succeeded in convincing the boy to come with him. This has been a fertile target for serial killers. [7] He was arrested several times over the next few years for child molestation, each time serving short jail sentences and being given court-mandated therapy. As a teenager, he started to show a fascination with young boys. Despite Dodd's attempts to calm the boy, theatre employees became suspicious and followed Dodd out to the street. Dodd would claim that speaking in his own defense was pointless, and ultimately, "the system had failed repeatedly". Campbell was born in October of 1954 in Hawaii, but he eventually moved to Washington where he would be involved in a series of murders that would make him one of Washingtons most famous serial killers. Growing up in a poor and abusive home quickly put him on a path of violent crime. Authorities used the fingerprint to identify ONeall as a person of interest. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but later changed his plea to guilty. If I do escape, I promise you I will kill and rape again, and I will enjoy every minute of it. Jensen and Trimble then served a search warrant at Dodd's home in Vancouver. He was executed in the electric . The following month, he enlisted in the US Navy, and was assigned to the submarine base in Bangor, Washington, where he began abusing children who lived on the base.[11]. Billy Gohl. Aughe was reported missing on April 28, 1987, after a woman who was babysitting Aughes daughter said she never returned, according to court documents. Overall, California has seen a total of 128 cases of serial killing the second highest number in the country. Later, he would claim that this allowed him to look at her daily. By the time that he reached the end of his teenage years, he already had multiple strikes on his record for things like drunk driving, theft, drugs, and domestic abuse. He burned Lee's clothing in a trash barrel except for the boy's underwear, which he kept as a souvenir of the crime. Partial remains of Rimer werent discovered. You May Also Like: Bad Blood: The Murder of Athalia Ponsell Lindsley. Psychology. He was convicted of 48 murders, but confessed to a staggering 71, spanning from 1982 to 1998. Though he was caught multiple times, he was released on the condition that he would attend counseling. After more than forty years, detectives found more proof connecting him to other murders for which he is still awaiting trial. While financial gain accounts for approximately one-third of all serial murders, the victims come from all walks of life. Hopefully, I havent dissuaded you from visiting the PNW but just gave you a bit of fodder to read on your drive or flight here. Yates claimed the lives of over 13 women in Spokane, in addition to others in the Pierce County area in the late 1990s. ), Best Day-Trips To The Oregon Coast From Portland (5 Options). Florida actually does seem to attract serial killers with a rate of 9.92 serial murders per million inhabitants. Robert Lee Yates, a former prison guard and later a helicopter pilot for the United States Army, murdered 16 women between 1975-1988. He would then dump his victims' bodies in wooded areas or near rivers, hence his moniker. Its not just this genre of movies that captures our imagination. BELLINGHAM, Wash. A 36-year-old missing person's case in Whatcom County is now a homicide, and prosecutors believe an accused serial killer who's been serving a prison sentence in Oregon . Their preferred victims, motives for killing, modus operandi, and the locations all vary greatly. I planned many ways to kill a boy." Few months later he was arrested. Love Washington? The murder of Kara Rudd was what ultimately resulted in Kondros imprisonment, but it took weeks after her disappearance before the police were able to locate her body. The rise of Nevada as a gambling destination could explain the jump in serial killings in the 1980s. The local police contacted the Portland Police task force investigating the kidnapping and murder of Lee Iseli. Joseph Kondro 2. Warren Leslie Forest is one of the most notorious serial killers in modern history. ONeall was later found guilty of auto theft in 1989 for stealing Aughes car. [28], Griffiths, Richard (producer and director). He refused to appeal his case or the capital sentence. Fictional murderers such as Hannnibal Lecter take center stage in best-selling novels as well mainstream movies. Washington State is home to one of Americas most notorious serial killers: Ted Theodore Bundy whose name has become synonymous with sadism, depravity, and horror. The tragic 2006 Capitol Hill massacre was committed by Huff, a 28-year-old in Seattle who was invited to a post-rave party, left quietly, then returned with a 12-gauge shotgun and a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, killing six people and wounding two. He was convicted of 48 murders, but confessed to a staggering 71, spanning from 1982 to 1998. Dodd then tied Lee to his bed and molested him, taking photographs of the abuse. Worst decade for serial killings: 1980's. Washington Although serial killers have existed in most countries around the globe, a great many of them come from the United States. Reports say the victim was buried on park property. The seclusion provides opportunities to prey on vulnerable individuals and offers many remote locations to dispose of evidence. The Serial Killer Database which chronicles crimes committed between 1900 and 2014 reveals that Alaska leads the US in the most serial killings. Like other states on this list, a number of notorious serial killers caught the attention of the nation. His victims were sex workers that he would hire, do the deed with and then shoot in the head. Death Penalty. Whether the appropriate punishment is deemed to be life imprisonment or the death sentence, these violent offenders pose an ongoing threat to the public and must never be released back into general society. A patrol officer nearby heard the shots and headed straight to the scene, but before the officer was able to tell him to drop his weapon, Huff placed the gun in his mouth and shot himself in the head. Westley Allan Dodd (July 3, 1961 January 5, 1993) was an American convicted serial killer and sex offender. In Oregon, however, serial killers prefer to strangle their victims to death.
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