wendy lee coffield autopsy report

Theclay reconstructions were done by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to assist us in identifying the women. In early September, the Doe Project uploaded the DNA kit to the public genetics databases GEDMatch and later FamilyTreeDNA. Body found in Green River July 15, 1982, near Kent. Before her disappearance, Wendy was, in her mother's words, a "magical kid." Born on Oct. 10, 1968, she was the only daughter of Ms. Gaspar and her then-husband, Charles Stephens (who died in 2014). Cheryl Lee Wims Not enough sleep. 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. In a statement made by Sandras family they said We are grateful to finally know what happened to Sandra after all these years. 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. Within a month, fourother bodies were found on the riverbank:Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The oldest of three daughters, Shirley grew up in a tightknit family and was working as a sex worker by 1982. Two boys riding their bicycles across a bridge spotted the tennis shoes first of fully clothed body. 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. But that may be at the request of her family. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. 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. During Wendy's childhood, the pair lived in poverty, moving from one low-rent apartment to the next. They came by again while she was out. what it meant to lose you, By 1983 Carol was a young mother separated from her husband but she was determined to make it work for the sake of her daughter, Sarah, her absolute pride and joy. Burial Details Unknown Tammie Charlene Liles Flowers have been left. Patricia Barczak Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. July 15, 1982 - Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found floating in the Green River south of Seattle. We talked while she was there, Ms. Gaspar recalled. After years of inactivity, detectives hoped to finally put names to the remaining unidentified bones. There were women he confessed to killing but whose bodies could not be found. Colleen was last seen alive on December 28th, 1982. She eagerly agreed to testify in court when she was last seen by detectives on September 20th. Gisele was only 17 years old when she was murdered by that animal sitting over there who we have to call a manDying would be too easy for him. Hair styles are only a best guess. Ainsworth suspected that the men were out for a day's fishing. Opal Charmaine Mills She kissed me, like always, and then she left. A native of southern California, Andrea moved to Seattle sometime in 1980 to live with her father and step mother. She loved everybody. Photos of the bridge and other related images. Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, July 8, 1982, at state receiving home, Tacoma. At one stage, they lived in a tent and attempted to make money by selling blackberries that they had foraged. Denise Darcel Bush Search above to list available cemeteries. (AP Photo/King County Sheriff's Department, ho), Investigators move the body of a woman found slain. Gisele A. Lovvorn Victims Spotlight: Remembering the Victims of the Green River Killer, She was described as cheerful, outgoing and someone who could take care of herself. July 15, 1982: Body of Wendy Lee Coffield, 16, Puyallup, found in the Green River south of Seattle. Love Real Life Ghost Hunting Shows? 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. She was one of those people you meet that would be like, Thats too much information!. She was just an immature teenager who was trying to find her way in life. A a registered member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Browning, Montana, Carol moved to Grays Harbor, Washington, in 1969. California native Gisele Lovvorn had, by all accounts, a normal and happy childhood. As he peered into the clear waters his gaze was met by staring eyes. 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. After strangling Coffield to death, he dragged her down to the river and pushed her into it. Linda Rule If you call after hours, please leave voice mail so we can get back in touch with you. 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. This location belongs to the following categories: Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to see future locations: Other locations that are relatively close to this place. Law enforcement officials did not always treat chronic runaways as potential victims, which could delay initial search efforts. In July 1982, the first body had been found floating in the Green River in King County, Washington. Women, many of them just girls, really, started disappearing in 1982. Wendy began hanging with a different crowd, spending more time alone in the basement, and skipping school. Denise Darcel Bush Try again later. When she was sexually assaulted by a man in September, 1982. They stopped on the bridge over the Green River to rest. To avoid the death penalty, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to every murder he had committed in King County. Kimberly Nelson Ms. Coffield had run away from home and was making extra cash working the Strip, a motel-lined stretch of Pacific Highway South near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport that had long been a hub for transients and sex workers. DNA evidence ties Ridgway to four of the cases, and circumstantial evidence to several others. It was believed that she had been murdered within 24 hours of her discovery. She dropped out of middle school, left her family home by 14 and was an occasional drug user (marijuana and Ritalin) who turned to sex work to financially support herself. Carol Ann Christensen I badgered them a few times. Take a second to support Fallon Gannon on Patreon! One by one, detectives began to stitch together the extent of what Mr. Ridgway had done. The discovery of the body behind a meat packing plant was the first. They took a report, filed it. Delise Louise Plager As he drifted slowly downstream, he noticed a middle-aged balding man standing by the riverbank and a second, younger man sitting in a nearby pickup truck. As is the case for many young women, Wendy Lee Coffield began acting out pretty much the moment she hit puberty. Shes invisible to us, but we can see her impact on the genetic networks that were working on.. Copyright 2022 WickedHorror.com - All Rights Reserved. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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. A former resident of Walla Walla, Washington, Alma dropped out of school at 17 and went back and forth between Seattle, where her father lived, and Walla Walla, where her mother resided. This will never put an end or closure on her death or murder. By 1982 Wendy was working as a sex worker, had multiple run ins with police and was drinking and doing drugs often. Wendy Stephens, formally known as Jane Doe B-10 or Bones 10, was Gary Ridgways youngest known victim and was only recently identified in January of 2021. Terry Renee Milligan Over time, the combination of advancing technology, science, and determined investigative work advanced the case until an arrest was made in 2001. 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. When the police recovered Coffield's remains from the water, they had no idea that this was just the beginning of a nightmare that would stretch on for more than a decade. SEATTLE (AP) _ In the three years since 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield was strangled and dumped in the Green River, her killer has slain as many as 42 other young women and eluded a multimillion-dollar police dragnet. The murderer dubbed the Green River Killer was eventually identified as Gary Leon Ridgway, a boring little man of meager intelligence, whose presence was so painfully average and unremarkable he was able to lure, torture, and kill dozens of young women without anyone noticing or even suspecting him. She was last seen on August 29, 1982 near South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. Reach 250,000+ A Month on Display, Mobile, OTT VOD Apps and Video. Mary began going to group sessions at the Youth Eastside Services to get herself back on track. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. They were both held down by rocks in the water. Born sometime in 1965, Shawnda was one of three children and had a history of prostitution. Maureen Sue Feeney Stigma complicated matters, according to Dr. Taylor. She grew increasingly isolated and withdrawn. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Wendy had been gone a year or two, she said. Just a month earlier, another young girl, identified as Wendy Lee Coffield, was found strangled and floating in the Green River. Photo filed July 11, 1983. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. At Ridgways trial, her sister Michelle gave this moving speech about her sister: Gisele was very much loved by her family and has been missed very much every day for the last 20 years. Wendy Lee Coffield It lies 260 yards east of Kent Des Moines Road. During Gary Ridgways sentencing hearing Shawndas sister, Sharse Woods-Summers, made a victim impact statement. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. She was remembered by friends as an extremely generous girl who didnt have a malicious bone in her body. She was last seen on March 3rd, 1983, on Pacific Highway South. Anyone can read what you share. Try again later. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Toys, Gifts, Collectibles, Board Games & Horror Lifestyle Items. no time to say goodbye She was last seen on the Sea-Tac Strip on July 17th, 1982. Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer - America's Deadliest Serial Murderer, Pocket Star. DNA analysis, however, didnt turn out to be the solution investigators had hoped. Try again later. Theclay reconstructions were done by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to assist us in identifying the women. It was mid-October 2020, and she and her husband, Warren, were spending the day with a grandniece, their weekly babysitting engagement. She also showed signs of a struggle, because she had bruises on her arms and legs. 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. Soon after, the two men left in the old pick-up truck and Ainsworth continued to float down the river. Kimi-Kai whose name translated to golden sea at dawn in Hawaiian was described by her mother as an adventurous girl who loved unicorns and anything purple. We use cookies to deliver personalized advertisements, improve your online experience, and to analyze our site's performance. The identity of Wendy Marie Stephens was one of those unknowns. The man replied that he had not. She was last seen around 2 p.m. on February 6th, 1983 at Rainier Avenue South and South Ferdinand Street at a bus stop outside the Red Lion Hotel. All Rights Reserved, Slender Man stabbing, Waukesha, Wisconsin, Update: Police Release Dead Serial Killers Account of Murder of Samantha Koenig. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Good mother., Like Wendy and Dub, 17 year old Cynthia Hinds dropped out of high school after falling in with the wrong crowd. Along with the circumstances of Wendy's young life, when the 15-year-old girl, desperate for love and safety, tragically encountered a remorseless serial . Her body was found in the Green River under the Peck Bridge. As the winter of 1982-83 wore on, Ms. Gaspar did her best to keep track of her daughter. Kimi Kai Pitsor In the fall of 2019, the King County Sheriffs Office contacted Colleen Fitzpatrick, a co-founder, along with Margaret Press, of the DNA Doe Project. Looked like a body. Almost everyone that knew 18 year old Mary Meehan would describe her as outgoing and vibrant. Police investigated and later identified this young woman as Wendy Lee Coffield. She remembered the presiding fear. Try again later. It was a trip he had made on many occasions, yet this time it would be different. The police detectives at the scene quickly realized that there was a serial killer on the loose. Correspondence concerning this report should be addressed to Alexandra M. Gonzlez Villanueva, . Never has done anything like this. Wendy had run away from home 36 years prior, and Ms. Gaspar had long since stopped waiting for a call. All kinds of things go through your head, she said. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. According to Gallan, the body was on the southern side of the bridge. It would have been her second day on the job. Please try again later. Are You A Horror Filmmaker? Its not anything that were privy to in our small but tangible realm. Lisa L. Yates Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Things were finally looking up. Debra Lynn Bonner was 23 years of age. Tina Marie Thompson 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. She was also incredibly stubborn. In shock, he sat down and waited for help to arrive. AP Gary Leon Ridgway is seen in this 1982 King County Sheriff's booking mugshot, left, and an undated King County Sheriff's booking mugshot. This is the first of 49 bodies found of suspected victims of a serial killer. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Soon after reinforcement arrived at the scene, detectives sealed off the area and began a search for evidence. The body was that of Wendy Lee Coffield, a dropout and runaway. But some unknowns persist. On July 15th, 1982, Gallan Hirschi and his friend Robert spent the day riding their bikes. She had shown advanced signs of decomposition. Her brother, Terry, stated She still was a human being and she still had family that cared and loved her just like all the other ones had family that cared and loved them. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Her body was found by two teenage boys riding their bikes across the bridge of the Green River, Wendy was under the Peck Bridge. Wendy Lee Coffield was 16 years old and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. The bar where Ted Bundy abducted Brenda Carol Ball, The street where cop killer Maurice Clemmons was shot dead, The house that 8-year-old Ann Marie Burr was abducted from, The location where mobster Robert DiBernardo was murdered, The location where Dannette and Jeannette Millbrook were last seen, The house from Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). People would ask me, Do you have children? she said. English Patricia Barczak Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Patricia Yellowrobe Meanwhile, a dark saga had begun 1,300 miles to the northwest. A Portland native, Denise was an experienced and fairly cautious sex worker who often traveled to Seattle, where the money was better, to work. People werent strangers to her. At some unknown point she turned to sex work and, shortly before her disappearance, she became a resident of the Echo Glen Childrens Center, which helps girls involved in prostitution to break the cycle and get out of that lifestyle. Marta Reeves Does Your Horror Feature or Short Need Worldwide Distribution? As word of the so-called Green River Killer spread throughout the community, Mr. Reichert said, families began keeping their daughters close. She was only 15 and pregnant. How can anybody wrap their head around their daughter being killed by a serial killer?. It was published on August 19th, 1982, just over a month after Wendy's remains were discovered. We received a letter from her in 1982 with a Seattle postmark but no return address. She left her family home though she called her parents often to check in became pregnant and miscarried twice and was experimenting with drugs, mostly marijuana and LSD. Oops, something didn't work.

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