The Green River killer case in Washington state has reached a breakthrough as authorities have confirmed the identification of the last known set of remains, belonging to a 16-year-old girl. Tammie Liles, a victim previously associated with the case, has now been officially identified, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. Liles, from Everett, Washington, was targeted by the notorious serial killer, Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River killer. This development brings closure to the investigation that has haunted the region for decades.
Another Piece of the Puzzle
Previously, authorities had already identified a different set of partial remains as belonging to Tammie Liles. With this recent identification, there are no more unidentified remains believed to be connected to Ridgway. His reign of terror targeted vulnerable girls and young women, particularly sex workers and runaways, during the 1980s and 1990s in the Seattle area. The Green River killer earned his nickname because the initial victims were found in the waterway running through the suburbs south of Seattle.
Tammie Liles. Photo Credit: @kingcosoPIO via X.com
The Long Road to Justice
Gary Ridgway had been a prime suspect in the Green River killings for years, but it wasn’t until 2001 that authorities were able to link him to the crimes. Advances in DNA technology finally allowed them to connect a saliva sample obtained in 1987 to semen found on several victims. Since then, investigators have been tirelessly working to identify and bring closure to all of Ridgway’s victims.
A Sense of Relief
According to Eric White, spokesperson for the King County Sheriff’s Office, the identification of Tammie Liles brings a sense of relief to the officials involved in the case. They are finally able to provide answers to the family members of Ridgway’s victims, giving them some closure after years of uncertainty. “It’s an immense feeling of satisfaction that in this case, that started in the early 80s, we are able to identify all of Gary Ridgway’s victims,” White stated.
The Work of Genetic Genealogy
The identification of Tammie Liles was made possible through the work of Othram, a Texas-based genetic genealogy company specializing in forensic DNA analysis. After building a DNA profile for the unidentified victim, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team tentatively identified her as Liles. Confirming the match, investigators obtained a DNA sample from Liles’ mother, providing conclusive evidence.
Closure and Justice
Gary Ridgway, who has already pleaded guilty to 49 slayings, including that of Tammie Liles, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. With the identification of all his victims, the community can now find some closure, knowing that justice has been served.
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