wendy lee coffield autopsy report wendy lee coffield autopsy report
Photo filed July 15, 1982. There was an error deleting this problem. Thesethree women are listed on the official Green River Homicides list. The house, a two-bedroom with white-painted brick and mahogany trim, had an enclosed back porch and dining room where theyd sit around the table playing Yahtzee. According to her family, the last time Becky left the family home she turned back to her mother and said Im going to be gone for a long time, and where Im going, I cant take a baby. She was a good friend of Debra Estess and was last seen alive on December 2nd west of the SeaTac Strip. After loosing her job at the at the Dairy Queen in South Tacoma and failing a test to join the Navy, Dub decided to work on getting her GED. This will never put an end or closure on her death or murder. The 16-year-old was found floating underneath this bridge. In fact, it would be another two decades before Wendys case saw any significant progress. As he peered into the clear waters his gaze was met by staring eyes. It seems that they were frivolous with their money. A a registered member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Browning, Montana, Carol moved to Grays Harbor, Washington, in 1969. Gary Ridgway admitted to killing of all of these women, but could not supply any significant information that would assist in the identification of these women. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Kimi Kai Pitsor TM & 2015 Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. A Time Warner Company. She had been killed by ligature strangulation. Maureen Sue Feeney He agreed to provide complete, truthful and candid information concerning the crimes that he had committed in King County and answer all questions during interviews conducted by the detectives or the prosecuting attorney. When Wendy was 11, they moved with Ms. Gaspars second husband, Alan Hodde (who died in 2010), to a suburb of Denver, a short walk from Wendys new school and the hospital where Ms. Gaspar worked as a nurse. November2001: Gary Leon Ridgway was arrested and subsequently charged with the murders of Cynthia Jean Hinds, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Carol Ann Christiansen. . No farewell words were spoken Debra Lynn Bonner was 23 years of age. On August 15, 1982, Robert Ainsworth, 41, stepped into his rubber raft and began his descent south down the Green River toward the outer edge of Seattle's city limits. She gave lessons and she was very good, and she taught dance exercise.. I baked her a chocolate cake. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Try again later. On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. Gail Matthews no time to say goodbye He has been a suspect for a long time, but before now, detectives had not found adequate evidence to build a case against him. As the winter of 1982-83 wore on, Ms. Gaspar did her best to keep track of her daughter. Kimi Kai Pitsor This is where the two men found the body of Wendy Lee Coffield in 1982.Genetic genealogy helped identify the youngest know victim of one of the nation's most. She was last seen on August 29, 1982 near South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. i 13| Essentially, Coffield was naked, with the exceptionofher shoes and socks. Required fields are marked *. Her life took a major detour when she became pregnant in middle school. July 15, 1982 - Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found floating in the Green River south of Seattle. Before long, a policeman arrived at the scene and questioned Ainsworth about his find. She was only 16 years old. The body was that of Wendy Lee Coffield, a dropout and runaway. On November 30, 2001, a suspect, Gary Leon Ridgway, 52, a longtime resident of the area, will be arrested. Coffield's body was badly decomposed. My heart still aches in sadness She was a murder victim of Gary Leon Ridgway, known as "The Green River Killer" who was responsible for the murders of 49 women in Seattle, Washington, between 1982 and 1984. And my sister she was a sweet person, a caring person and she was loved by a lot of people., There is no documented of 16 year old Opal Mills being involved in any kind of prostitution. I badgered them a few times. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. A few days later, a tattoo artist came forward to say that he recognized them. Good mother., Like Wendy and Dub, 17 year old Cynthia Hinds dropped out of high school after falling in with the wrong crowd. The discovery of the body behind a meat packing plant was the first clue police had to the developing nightmare of the Green River serieal killer's actions. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? They were both held down by rocks in the water. Marcia Faye Chapman Advertise With Wicked Horror. Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, left her Tacoma foster home July 8, 1982, and was not seen alive again. Arguments would ensue when her parents would speak negatively of Martin and say that he was a bad influence. We Want To Finance Your Film. The body of Wendy was recovered and the cause of death was determined to be . At one point she said, The same lives that you took seem to be the same lives saving yours. Some of them had histories of prostitution, and many were last seen along Pacific Highway South near Sea-Tac airport. A nonprofit operation run by volunteers, the Doe Project had pioneered the use of forensic genealogy the same technology used to find Californias Golden State Killer in 2018 to identify Jane and John Does. Pammy Avent Below, you will find the address and the GPS coordinates for this location. Shed hug anyone. Accidentally, the raft overturned as he tried to dislodge the figure from a rock and Ainsworth fell into the river. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Wendy Coffield (6887254)? The body of Wendy Lee Coffield is removed from the Green River in 1982 Email Print Share Reprints Follow @TIME Marcia Chapman's hand seemed to be waving in the river's current when Detective. Ridgway's decision to dump his victims in this river earned him the nickname "the Green River Killer." I'd walk right up to Heaven Gisele A. Lovvorn Thats when we knew that we had a serial killer, Mr. Reichert said. She was just an immature teenager who was trying to find her way in life. For more details, please read our Privacy & Cookie Policy. But some unknowns persist. She too had been strangled to death. Shed been active in her church too. It was suspected that they were all murdered by the same person and dumped from the same location near the 25000 block of Frager Road. Alma Ann Smith That doesnt go away. They waded into the water, thinking it was a mannequin, then they saw hair floating under water. Details of the Washington State County where the killer roamed unabated are revealed. Way too much coffee. After giving birth to a healthy baby boy, she put him up for adoption and married a man named Kenneth Mathews, 24, in 1977. Cynthia, who often went by Cookie, got a job through a private contractor to paint apartments, and worked with a friend, Opal Mills, another of Ridgways victims. Some time before dark, she and her husband returned to their small town in southwest Colorado, just outside Mesa Verde National Park. Wendy had run away from home 36 years prior, and Ms. Gaspar had long since stopped waiting for a call. Kelly Kay McGinnis was 18 years of age and was last seen on June 28, 1983 at South 216h Street and Pacific Highway South. On July 15, 1982, two teenage boys, who live in nearby Kent, Washington, spot a body in the Green River floating against the Meeker Street Bridge. The body of Wendy was recovered and the cause of death was determined to be murder by strangulation using the victim's own clothes. on Pacific Highway South before taking her to the ball field, where he strangled her and left her body. She began to feel isolated and started running away from home when she was 14. Within a half hour, he noticed a man with two children on bicycles. Officials remove the body of 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield from the Green River on July 15, 1982. Formerly known as Jane Doe B-16 or Bones 16, Sandra was eventually identified in 2012 after one of her cousins saw a television show about the Green River Killer and submitted DNA to the King County Sheriffs Office. Maybe both. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. CLICK HERE FOR MORE! Some of them had histories of prostitution, and many were last seen along Pacific Highway South near Sea-Tac airport. One can only assume that they may have had a lack of financial resources and that their low socioeconomic status may have contributed to Dubs future course of life. She saw a counselor once a week and, though she wanted to discuss other things, all she could think about was Wendy. She was last seen on October 8th on her way to get cigarettes at a nearby convince store. This time she was determined to turn things around by keeping this child and getting her GED. It is doubtful that her family knew what she was doing for money. Ms. Gaspar struggled to grasp what shed been told. They struggled financially, often living in many low-income housing units and tents, and would pick blackberries in the fields during the summer in order to afford food. I was able to hold it together until toward the end, where my defenses finally started falling apart, she said in an interview, her voice still tinged with disbelief. The Shadow Girls begins with the GRK's very first found victim, Wendy Lee Coffield in July of 1982. no one will ever know. One by one, detectives began to stitch together the extent of what Mr. Ridgway had done. For years the Green River Killer case will have the largest number of unsolved murders attributed to one individual in the history of the United States. By 1982 Wendy was working as a sex worker, had multiple run ins with police and was drinking and doing drugs often. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Marie Malvar At some point Curt decided to take the short walk to the Midway Tavern in hopes of getting lucky at a poker game. Carrie Ann Rois They stopped on the bridge over the Green River to rest. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. And now were doing it., Ms. Gaspar described a certain amount of comfort that came with not wondering if shes going to call me or knock on my door, or how many grandkids do I have? But, she added, When you go to bed each night, and you think about the last of her moments, thats not peace., For parents of the other Green River victims, support groups that formed in the 80s gave them a place to mourn together. Kimberly Nelson (Seattle: The Seattle Times, 1989), 128. The next day, Ms. Gaspars parents and sister came to visit from Phoenix. Ms. Gaspar struggled to resume life without Wendy. Her remains were found July 15, 1982. As she moved into her early teens, her mother was struck and at times, frightened by her beauty and free spirit. They came by again while she was out. The nameless women continued to haunt him, he said, but you cant investigate a case, except to process the remains, unless you know who someone is.. Serial Killer House in SeaTac, Washington, United States, Crime Location in Burien, Washington, United States, Place of Interest in Seattle, Washington, United States, Place of Interest in Tacoma, Washington, United States, Crime Location in Tacoma, Washington, United States, Place of Interest Queens, New York, United States, Crime Location Brooklyn, New York, United States, Place of Interest Augusta, Georgia, United States, Filming Location Long Beach, California, United States. Marie Malvar Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. June 2003:In exchange for the prosecutor not seeking the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to all murders that he committed in King County. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Patricia Yellowrobe She was one of those people you meet that would be like, Thats too much information!. I miss her everyday and it will never stop, Deborah Lynn Bonner was 23 years old when she was last seen on July 25th, 1982. Victims Spotlight: Remembering the Victims of the Green River Killer, She was described as cheerful, outgoing and someone who could take care of herself. The next day, more bones were discovered nearby; both were soon confirmed to be victims of the Green River Killer. She was so young and died before she ever really got to live, she said. A vegan activist tried to ruin a chef's pub by posting fake one-star reviews on Tripadvisor despite having never visited the restaurant.. Joss Beechim-Horton runs the Manor House Inn in Callington . DNA evidence ties Ridgway to four of the cases, and circumstantial evidence to several others. He led the police to crime scenes, including where he killed Wendy. Anthony McNabb, got right to the point: Theyd come with news about Ms. Gaspars daughter, Wendy. Moreover, six months prior to Coffield's discovery, the body of her friend Leanne Wilcox was found several miles from the river in an empty lot. Terri was 16 years old at the time of her disappearance. We use cookies to deliver personalized advertisements, improve your online experience, and to analyze our site's performance. By 1982 Becky was 20 and was supporting herself as a sex worker. They took a report, filed it. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Revised December 2, 2001, The Free Encyclopedia of Washington State History. She was only 15 and pregnant. But he denied knowledge of the murders, and the police lacked further evidence to proceed. A few months later, in November of 2001, Mr. Ridgway was arrested when DNA found on three victims was linked to hair and saliva samples obtained from him almost two decades prior. It was mid-October 2020, and she and her husband, Warren, were spending the day with a grandniece, their weekly babysitting engagement. Gisele Ann Lovvorn, 17, July 17, 1982, near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She often went speed walking with her mother and was incredibly close with her big brother, Garrett, who took his job as Opals protector very seriously. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. She would just take off, she said, describing disappearances that might last days or even weeks. 3 Unidentified victims, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. Despite Sandra turning to sex work to support them, they were barely able to afford motel rooms and fast food. The youngest of two daughters, Wendy was 12 when she and a friend ran away to a nearby truck stop, hoping to catch a ride. The last time her mother, Nancy McIntyre, saw Sandra was when they met for lunch at a Mexican restaurant where Sandra talked all about her upcoming trip to San Francisco and Hollywood. 21 year old Carol Ann Christensen was last seen leaving Barn Door Tavern on Pacific Avenue South on May 3rd, 1983. Linda Rule known to her family as Janie had a background all too familiar among Green River victims. Today, the remains of two women are still unidentified, and others are suspected but unconfirmed victims. According to this newspaper article in the Tacoma News Tribune, Coffield was partially clothed. Terry Renee Milligan The extracted DNA sample went through several rounds of sequencing and bioinformatic cleanup. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. Thus began one of the longest and largest serial murder investigations in United States history. For more information, please read our Privacy & Cookie Policy. A Portland native, Denise was an experienced and fairly cautious sex worker who often traveled to Seattle, where the money was better, to work. Gary Ridgway, pictured as a sophomore at Tyee High School. 4. If you call after hours, please leave voice mail so we can get back in touch with you. Shawnda was last seen along Pacific Highway South near S144th. Over time, the combination of advancing technology, science, and determined investigative work advanced the case until an arrest was made in 2001. On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. Two teenage boys were cycling across the Meeker Street Bridge in Kent, Washington, when they spotted something floating in the water. On August 2nd, 1982, Marcias mother reported her missing. AP Photo/MOHAI archive Officials remove the body of 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield from the Green River on July 15, 1982. "I'm saying, stop moving and I'll let you go. I just kept waiting for somebody to call and say, My young daughter ran away, Dr. Taylor said. Hair styles are only a best guess. She was outgoing, trusting and loved to dance. Then, late in the afternoon on March 21, 1984, the King County Sheriffs Office got a call. Were it not for a change in the databases opt-out policy that made Ms. Gaspars profile visible to everyone except for law enforcement investigators, they would have identified her immediately. By the time this article was published, the bodies of four more sex workers had turned up in the Green River. The body is later identified as Wendy Lee Coffield, who was 16 years old. In Denver, Ms. Gaspar looked frantically for Wendy, scouring the neighborhood by car and gathering intelligence from her daughters friends. Ridgway was arrested Nov. 30, 2001 for investigation of. Family newspaper obituaries and a missing persons report from 1983 served as confirmation, and the Doe Project notified the Sheriffs Office that it had a name. (AP Photo/King County Sheriff's Department, ho), Investigators move the body of a woman found slain. Way too much true crime. For how many years, decades, I would not know how to answer that simple, innocent question., One night, five or so years after Wendys disappearance, Ms. Gaspar sat up in bed with a deep conviction. Her mother described Wendy as a chronic runaway, someone who was running away from unhappiness or seeking excitement. Within a month, fourother bodies were found on the riverbank:Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. The two stayed in a small apartment in Washington State. Lisa L. Yates During his confession, Ridgway stated that he picked the young girl up on a highway. Most of these and subsequent victims had a history of prostitution and of run-ins with the law. April Buttram Believing it might be a mannequin, Ainsworth attempted to snag the figure with a pole. The bridge is close to Riverfront Park. At some point Gail began working as a sex worker. She would leave in the winter without a coat., Ms. Gaspars sister, Judy Dove, remembered hearing about the change in Wendy, but never thought her disappearances were more than a phase. Sandra was last seen alive on April 17th of 1983 on Pacific Highway South near South 142nd Street. and secret tears still flow, In 1980 she married a man named Dennis Christensen. Shawnda Leea Summers Murder Victim. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. A California native, Gail moved to Washington in 1975 to live with friends. A number of sources refer to the bridge as "Peck Bridge". However, please be aware that not allowing certain cookies may impact your experience of the site. Sandra K.Gabbert The two separated soon after, but Ms. Gaspar, 17 at the time, said raising Wendy as a single, teenage mother was surprisingly easy. The medical examiner's office determined that the young girl had been strangled to death and then thrown into the Green River, where she remained in the water for several days. Their daughter was born later that year. Never has done anything like this. Rivers In Time ProjectKing CountySeattle Public UtilitiesSeattle City Light, Wendy Coffield's body being pulled out of the Green River, 1982, Green River, Meeker Street Bridge, Kent, April 15, 2009, Green River Murder Victim Identified;P Probe Inches Along The Seattle Times, August 18, 1982, p. A13; Carlton Smith, Wendy Juvenile in Jeopardy. She remembered the presiding fear. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Typically she would return after just a few days. Yvonne Shelly Antosh And, most inexplicably, why? Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Law enforcement officials did not always treat chronic runaways as potential victims, which could delay initial search efforts. During the search, a detective made another macabre discovery. Over the next several months, at least 10 more women went missing from the Seattle area. Learn more about managing a memorial . Wendy was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. At her funeral, her family played her favorite song, Love Begins with One Hello.. Just a day or two later, sometime in August 1983, Wendy ran away for the last time. Her body was found July 15, by two teenage boys riding their bikes across the bridge of the Green River, Wendy was under the Peck Bridge. She reportedly dropped out of school because she was bored and was living with her boyfriend out of various motels. Murder Victim. The persistent sneezing was usually her undoing.