Judith Lorraine Lynch: The Ex-Wife of Serial Killer Gary Ridgway

Who Is Judith Lorraine Lynch?

Judith Lorraine Lynch may not be a household name, but her connection to one of the most notorious serial killers in American history places her at the center of a chilling true crime story. As the third wife of Gary Ridgway, better known as the Green River Killer, Judith spent over a decade unknowingly married to a man who confessed to killing dozens of women.

Judith Lorraine Lynch and Gary Ridgway (Green River killer) source: https://oddstops.com/

Born in 1944 in the United States, Judith Lorraine Lynch (sometimes known as Judith Mawson) is an American woman who led a relatively quiet life—until she discovered her husband’s horrifying double identity. Before marrying Gary Ridgway, she had been married once before and had two daughters, Marie and Rachel Lynch.

She worked as a writer and lived a modest life, far removed from the dark world her husband was hiding.

Marriage to Gary Ridgway

Judith met Gary Ridgway in 1985. At the time, he worked as a truck painter and appeared to be a kind, caring partner. They married in 1988 and remained together for 14 years. Judith often described the relationship as happy and fulfilling. Ridgway treated her well, and she believed she had found a loving, dependable man.

Judith Lorraine Lynch Source: Imdb

In many interviews, Judith has said that their marriage felt almost perfect. She had no idea that the man she loved had already murdered multiple women—and would later confess to killing many more.

Discovering the Truth

Everything changed in 2001 when Gary Ridgway was arrested in connection to the Green River killings, a series of murders involving mostly sex workers and runaway women in Washington state. When Ridgway’s name made headlines, Judith was stunned. She initially refused to believe he was guilty.

I was crying. No, it can’t be him. Then I found out that he’d had the carpets removed because he’d killed women on them, and there were bloodstains. He’d had sex with some of them on the bed and killed them. I look back and think, ‘Was my life real with him or did he just use me?’

But the truth was unavoidable. After investigators found Ridgway’s DNA on several victims, and following his own chilling confessions, Judith could no longer deny what he had done. She filed for divorce in 2002.

Life After Divorce

After divorcing Gary Ridgway, Judith chose to live a quiet and private life. Though she never remarried, she did speak out about her experience in various interviews and true crime shows. She appeared in several documentaries, including:

• Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?
• The Devil You Know
• Twisted
• Born to Kill?
• Murder Made Me Famous

She was also the subject of a biography titled She Married the Green River Serial Killer: The Story of an Unsuspecting Housewife by Pennie Morehead.

Judith has stated that her ability to trust men was shattered by her experience, and she has remained single since the divorce.

How Did She Not Know?

Many people have questioned how someone could live with a serial killer and not know. Judith has explained that Ridgway led a very controlled double life. He never brought his crimes home and worked hard to maintain a normal, affectionate relationship with her.

During their marriage, Ridgway’s killings slowed down significantly. Of the more than 70 women he is believed to have murdered, only three were killed while he was married to Judith. Investigators believe that his domestic life may have temporarily suppressed his criminal urges.

Where Is Gary Ridgway Now?

Gary Ridgway – The Green River Killer

Gary Ridgway is currently serving 48 life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Washington State Penitentiary. In 2001, he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to 49 counts of first-degree murder. In a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, he agreed to confess to as many crimes as possible.

To this day, he is one of the most prolific serial killers in United States history.