In the early 2000s Gary Ridgway was found guilty of murdering 49 women, many of them prostitutes, between the years 1982 and 1998. This catapulted Ridgway to becoming the second-most-prolific serial killer in United States history after Samuel Little. He is currently 73 years old and serving out 49 consecutive life sentences at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.
While “Sins of the Father” is only the latest in many documentaries made on Ridgway and his crimes, a number of narrative films have been based on the story as well. These include 2004’s “The Riverman” about the assistance that convicted killer Ted Bundy (Cary Elwes) gave the case, as well as 2005’s “Green River Killer,” the 2008 Lifetime movie “The Capture of the Green River Killer,” and the 2019 horror film “Bundy and The Green River Killer.” A 2021 episode of Netflix’s true crime series “Catching Killers” also covered the extensive decade-long Green River Case.
Here is the official synopsis:
“Sins of the Father: The Green River Killer” explores what it’s like to grow up the child of one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, Gary Ridgway, the infamous Green River Killer. This special unpacks Ridgway’s horrific crimes, the double life he led, the 20-year police investigation that brought him down, and the long-lasting effects of a father’s unspeakable sins on his son and family. From FOX Alternative Entertainment and Streetcar Entertainment the two-hour documentary is executive-produced by Robert Twilley (“Suburban Nightmare: Chris Watts,” “Snapped”) and Mike Welsh (“Gone Before Her Time,” “Alaska State Troopers”).
