The Worst Murders To Ever Take Place In Washington

Serial killers are rare, but their reputation and vicious acts keep people's attention for years.

What defines serial murder varies, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it occurs when someone kills two or more people in separate events. Usually, these perpetrators need a "cool down" period before they move onto their next target. Their motivations vary, as well -- from anger and financial gain to sexual desire and ideologies.

These incidents happen across the United States, and Washington has its own share of serial killers. Here are the most notorious murderers throughout the Evergreen State's history.

Gary Leon Ridgway

Gary Leon Ridgway is state's most notorious serial killer and one of the most prolific in the country. Nicknamed the "Green River Killer," reports say he targeted young and vulnerable women from 1982 to 1998. Ridgway's preferred killing method was strangulation. He would then dump his victims' bodies in wooded areas or near rivers, hence his moniker. The serial killer was convicted of 48 murders, but he confessed to 71 slayings. He's serving life at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

Warren Leslie Forrest

A former Clark County Parks employee, this war veteran was sentenced to life in prison for raping and strangling a 19-year-old girl. Reports say the victim was buried on park property. Warren Leslie Forrest was officially charged for another murder, but authorities suspected him of at least six more people in the Vancouver area back in the 1970s. He's serving his time at the Washington State Penitentiary, though he was eligible for parole in 2014.

Robert Lee Yates Jr.

This serial killer used his reputation as a decorated army veteran and family man to evade the law for years. Robert Lee Yates Jr. targeted sex workers in Spokane, shooting them in the head after he solicited their services. Officials said he confessed to claiming the lives of 18 women between 1975 to 1998, but he may have more victims. Yates was originally sentenced to death, but it was later changed to life imprisonment after Washington abolished the death penalty in 2018.

Photos: Getty Images, Washington Department of Corrections