Oregon checks link to skeletal remains and Green River killer

PORTLAND, Ore. — Investigators are looking for a possible Oregon link to Seattle’s Green River serial killer after the remains of a 16-year-old Portland girl were identified 26 years after she was reported missing.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office identified the remains of Angela Marie Girdner, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Hillsboro announced Tuesday.

Convicted killer Gary Ridgway denies any involvement in the death, but investigators are revisiting the case, deputies said.

Ridgway is serving 48 consecutive life sentences in Washington state after pleading guilty to killing 48 women in King County in the Seattle area. The case got its nickname from the area where some of the first bodies were found.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Ridgway claimed he killed two people, Shirley Shirell and Denise Bush, in King County but later transported the bodies to Oregon.

The skeletal remains of Girdner were found in April 1985 in a wooded area near the Tualatin Country Club in suburban Portland. Hers was one of four bodies discovered within a mile of each other that year — including Shirell and Bush.

Girdner had been a straight-A student at a private school in Beaverton, commuting from Portland every day, before she ran into problems with drugs and was reported as a runaway by her parents in 1983, the sheriff’s office said.

Other remains found near Girdner’s were identified in 1998 as Tammie Liles, who was last seen in the Seattle area working as a prostitute in 1983 when she was also 16, Oregon deputies said.

Ridgway also denies any involvement in the death of Liles, but investigators are also re-examining her case, said Sgt. David Thompson, Washington County sheriff’s spokesman.

“Because of the close proximity of Tammie’s and Angela’s remains to the remains of Shirley and Denise, the location where their bodies were disposed of, and the time frame of the murders, detectives believe that Gary Ridgway is responsible for their deaths,” Thompson said.

The possibility of prosecuting Ridgway for any charges arising in Oregon depended on the terms of his plea deal in Washington state, Tony Green, a spokesman for Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, said Tuesday.

Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, said there was no barrier to Oregon prosecution.

“The plea resolution reached with Gary Ridgway in King County pertained only to his crimes in King County,” Donohoe said, adding that his office will provide any assistance necessary for Oregon investigators.

Dental records that recently became available led to the Girdner identification, said the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.

“We try to stay abreast of all these cold cases, and we never give up on them, certainly,” said Veronica Vance, a forensic anthropologist for the medical examiner who made the initial identification.

“It’s frustrating for the families and for us too,” Vance said. “But we’re just very, very happy we were able to get them identified and get some closure for the family.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Washington State Trooper Chris Gadd is transported inside prior to a memorial service in his honor Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Jury selection begins in Everett trial of driver accused in trooper’s death

Jurors questioned on bias, media exposure in the case involving fallen Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Gadd.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Marysville School Board President Connor Krebbs speaks during a school board meeting before voting on school closures in the district on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Marysville school board president to resign

Connor Krebbs served on the board for nearly four years. He is set to be hired as a staff member at the district.

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / Washington State Standard
Labor advocates filled up the governor’s conference room on Monday and watched Gov. Bob Ferguson sign Senate Bill 5041, which extends unemployment insurance to striking workers.
Washington will pay unemployment benefits to striking workers

Labor advocates scored a win on Monday after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed… Continue reading

Aristide Economopoulos / NJ Monitor
Guns are shown at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, N.J.
Washingtonians will need state permit to buy guns under new law

The requirement will go beyond the state’s existing background checks.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.