SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The last known remains of a victim of the Green River Killer, one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history, have been identified, bringing closure to a decades-long mystery.
On Friday, authorities announced that they had finally identified the victim as Wendy Stephens, who was only 14 years old when she disappeared in 1983. The remains were found in a remote area of Utah in 1986, but it wasn’t until now that advancements in DNA technology allowed for her identification.
The Green River Killer, also known as Gary Ridgway, terrorized the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s and 1990s, and was convicted of 49 murders, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. He is serving a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
The identification of Wendy Stephens brings the total number of his known victims to 5, with several other unidentified victims still awaiting identification. The case has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and television shows over the years, and the identification of Stephens’ remains has brought renewed attention to the case and the killer’s other unidentified victims.
Authorities continue to work tirelessly to bring closure to the families of the Green River Killer’s victims, and the identification of Wendy Stephens is a step toward achieving that goal. Her family has expressed relief and gratitude that they can finally lay her to rest and begin to heal after nearly 40 years of uncertainty.