Posted on Mar 22, 2023
Missed evidence at WA's crime lab could've stopped the Green River killer in the 1980s
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In 2001, Gary Ridgway was arrested for the murder of nearly 50 women and girls. During the 1980s and '90s, detectives struggled to catch the suspect known as the Green River Killer.
But according to some new investigative reporting, the Washington State Crime Lab overlooked some key evidence that could have linked Ridgway to the killings as far back as the 1980s, before he took more lives.
NBC News reporter Lewis Kamb talked with KUOW’s Kim Malcolm about the overlooked evidence — microscopic particles of a unique paint, that were found on the very first victim.
But according to some new investigative reporting, the Washington State Crime Lab overlooked some key evidence that could have linked Ridgway to the killings as far back as the 1980s, before he took more lives.
NBC News reporter Lewis Kamb talked with KUOW’s Kim Malcolm about the overlooked evidence — microscopic particles of a unique paint, that were found on the very first victim.
Missed evidence at WA's crime lab could've stopped the Green River killer in the 1980s
Posted from kuow.org
Crime
State of Washington
SeaTac
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."What’s the biggest lesson to be learned from this?
I think in this case, it was changing techniques or strategies. The crime lab had ample opportunity to do that over nearly 20 years on this case. And their focus primarily was on this larger trace evidence, hairs and fibers. And when that wasn't fruitful year after year, could they have changed tactics and strategies, and tried different things?
And that’s what the trace evidence supervisor talked with me about. She felt in retrospect, it always bugged her that they didn't do that. And ultimately, she felt they probably should have changed course. But they didn't."
..."What’s the biggest lesson to be learned from this?
I think in this case, it was changing techniques or strategies. The crime lab had ample opportunity to do that over nearly 20 years on this case. And their focus primarily was on this larger trace evidence, hairs and fibers. And when that wasn't fruitful year after year, could they have changed tactics and strategies, and tried different things?
And that’s what the trace evidence supervisor talked with me about. She felt in retrospect, it always bugged her that they didn't do that. And ultimately, she felt they probably should have changed course. But they didn't."
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