“Gary Ridgway’s Green River Killer Victim Identified as Lori Anne Razpotnik: Law Enforcement Makes Breakthrough”

Accident – death – Obituary News : Law enforcement officials have made a significant breakthrough in the long-standing case of the Green River Killer’s unidentified victims. Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, confessed to 48 counts of aggravated murder between 1982 and 1998. Now, through advanced forensic genetic genealogy testing, a DNA technology company has identified the remains of one of the victims found in Auburn in 1985 as Lori Anne Razpotnik.

Lori Anne Razpotnik, a 15-year-old girl, went missing in 1982 after running away from her family home in Lewis County. Her family never saw her again, and her disappearance remained a mystery until now. The King County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the City of Auburn about potential human remains on December 30, 1985. The investigation, led by the Green River Task Force, resulted in the discovery of two sets of human remains, referred to as Bones 16 and Bones 17.

Forensic examination of the skeletal remains determined that Bones 16 belonged to an African-American woman aged between 20 and 25. Her remains were found near a fallen log. Approximately 40 to 50 feet away, investigators found Bones 17 at the foot of a rotten stump on a ridge. The forensic anthropologist determined that Bones 17 belonged to a Caucasian girl between the ages of 14 and 17.

Interestingly, the remains of another teenage victim of Gary Ridgway, Kimi-Kai Pitsor, were found approximately 250 yards west of Bones 16 and Bones 17. Investigators had previously discovered Kimi-Kai’s skull two years before the discovery of the other remains.

When questioned about Bones 16 and Bones 17, Ridgway claimed he could not remember specific details about them, except that he believed he had killed one of the women before Kimi-Kai and the other after her. He described the location as an ideal place to dispose of a victim due to its “fantastic bank and trees.”

In 2002, Ridgway agreed to cooperate with investigators and revealed the burial sites of his victims. It was during this process that Bones 16 and Bones 17 were located. However, their identities remained a mystery for years. In 2012, through DNA testing, law enforcement identified Bones 16 as Sandra Majors.

Law enforcement recently contracted with Parabon Nanolabs to conduct forensic genetic genealogy testing on Bones 17. This cutting-edge DNA technology allowed investigators to develop a new DNA profile for the victim. Detectives then reached out to Lori Anne Razpotnik’s mother, who provided a saliva sample for comparison. The University of North Texas confirmed that the victim was indeed Lori Anne Razpotnik through DNA comparison testing.

Casey McNerthney, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, stated that Lori Anne’s murder was included as one of Gary Ridgway’s 48 aggravated murder counts for which he was sentenced in 2003. Ridgway is currently serving 49 consecutive life sentences at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

This breakthrough is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring closure to the families of the Green River Killer’s victims. The use of advanced DNA technology and forensic genealogy testing has proved instrumental in identifying previously unknown victims. The dedication of law enforcement agencies and advancements in forensic science continue to shed light on cold cases and provide justice for the victims and their families..