Suspect admits killings
The week's news at a glance.
Seattle
The man suspected of being the most prolific serial killer in American history has confessed to 48 murders in a bid to escape the death penalty, according to news reports this week. In a plea deal, Gary Leon Ridgway, 54, is expected to admit to being the Green River Killer, who targeted mainly prostitutes and runaways in Washington. The first bodies were found by the Green River south of Seattle in 1982. Detectives thought the murders stopped in 1984, but Ridgway reportedly admitted killing a woman as late as 1998. “I find it incredible that an individual was able to cause that many deaths,” said the father of one victim, “to perpetrate that much suffering and misery on so many people.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
July 20 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include AI replacing workers, and Donald Trump trying to divert media attention away from the Epstein files
-
5 suspiciously good cartoons about the Epstein files
Cartoons Artists take on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
-
A glorious Greek island without the 'swank'
The Week Recommends Lesbos doesn't welcome 'hoards' of tourists, but is 'magnificent' and worth exploring