After nearly two decades of fear, missed opportunities, and unanswered questions, the Green River Killer investigation finally reached its breaking point.

In the final episode of our Green River Killer series, DNA evidence brings detectives back to a name that had appeared in their files for years: Gary Ridgway.

We break down the moments investigators came dangerously close to catching him, including the disappearance of Marie Malvar, survivor Rebecca Garde’s identification of Ridgway, the 1987 search of his home, and the DNA breakthrough that ultimately led to his arrest in 2001.

Then, we examine the plea agreement that spared Ridgway the death penalty in exchange for information about the women he murdered. Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 murders in 2003 and later received a 49th conviction—but he claimed there were many more vic ...