Anyone who has lived in this area long enough knows a lot about Gary Ridgway. Maybe too much.
The most prolific serial killer in United States history has been convicted of 48 separate murders in Pierce and King Counties, and has confessed to nearly double that number since he was arrested in Renton in 2001.
Fascination with Ridgway’s story has led to many bestselling books, a Lifetime Original Movie and even inspired some band names and song mentions.
Now, a local man wants to take dark fascination with the crimes a bit deeper and start a local sightseeing tour that follows Ridgway’s gruesome landmarks, according to a KOMO News article. He hopes tourists will pay money to visit body dump sites along the Green River and places Ridgway frequented when he picked up his victims.
The entreprenuer and stay-at-home dad sees the tour as filling a gap in local history. Besides, murder tours are not unheard of across the United States. However, members of the community have voiced opposition to the venture. Throughout the KOMO article's 80 comments, readers have said they believe the idea is disrespectful to victim families and a tribute to "capitalism at it's finest."
According to KOMO, the man plans to sell tour tickets at $45 a pop starting in July, with some of the proceeds going to charity.
