December 17th, as many of you know, is International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers. What is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, you ask? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like! It’s a day of remembrance and mourning for those in the sex worker community who’ve lost their lives to the many forms of violence perpetrated by mankind; murder, shame, stigma, religiosity, patriarchy, misogyny, the punitive, carceral criminal justice system. December 17th is an annual day of collective, cathartic rage at and community support within a world that kills sex workers with fear and hate, then erases their lives with sanctimony and indifference.
Dr. Annie Sprinkle started International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers on December 17th, 2003, the day before Gary Ridgway, AKA the Green River Killer, was sentenced to 48 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Ridgway is one of America’s most notorious serial killers; he is confirmed to have murdered 49 teenage and young adult women, mostly sex workers and runaways, on and around the Pacific Highway South in Washington State in the 1980’s and 90’s, and he is suspected of dozens more similar crimes. The homicidal rapist, necrophile, maternal incest-fantasy driven, bedwetting Ridgway is currently 71 years old, serving out his time at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.
Dr. Sprinkle’s vigil started in Seattle and has since grown into an international movement. In her own words:
“Violent crimes against sex workers go underreported, unaddressed and unpunished. There really are people who don't care when prostitutes are victims of hate crimes, beaten, raped, and murdered. No matter what you think about sex workers and the politics surrounding them, sex workers are a part of our neighborhoods, communities and families.”
We’ve started a new tradition at SWOP-Behind Bars; each December our podcast, All In A Day’s (Sex) Work, observes December 17th by telling stories of our fallen friends and colleagues. These mini-episodes of the podcast can be found wherever you listen to podcasts, or here: https://anchor.fm/adswproject. We’ll be posting the transcripts on the blog as well.
On the 17th, SWOP-Behind Bars will be hosting a 24-hour online vigil which is open to the public.
This is as good a time as any to remind you all that if you as a sex worker who has been a victim of violent crime and need support, or if you just, ya know, need support, SWOP Behind Bars has a 24/7 community support line that can be reached at 1-877-776-2004. They also host a chat line that can be accessed through their website at swopbehindbars.org.
To start our series, I’d like to read you the names of the women confirmed as murdered by the Green River Killer, because too many people know his name, and not enough people know theirs.
Green River Remains of five of the women listed below were found in or near the Green River. Wendy Lee Coffield was 16 years of age and last seen on July 8, 1982 in the Tacoma, Washington area. Her body was found in the Green River under the Peck Bridge. The Peck Bridge is located where the Frager Road and Kent-Des Moines Road intersect in Kent, Washington.
Debra Lynn Bonner was 23 years of age. She had been missing since July 15, 1982 from South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South, south of the SeaTac Airport. Her body was found on August 12, 1982 in the Green River near Kent, Washington.
Marcia Faye Chapman was 31 years of age. She was last seen leaving her home near South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South on August 1, 1982.Her body was found in the Green River on August 15, 1982.
Cynthia Jean Hinds was 17 years of age and last seen on August 11, 1982 in the area of South 200th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was recovered in the Green River near Kent, Washington on August 15, 1982.
Opal Charmaine Mills was 16 years of age. She last spoke with her family on August 12, 1982 when she made a collect call home from South 194th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was recovered next to the Green River near Kent, Washington on August 15, 1982.
Tracy Winston was 19 years of age. She was last seen on September 12, 1983 at 6 p.m. at the Northgate Mall. Her body was found on March 27, 1986 in Cottonwood Park at South 238th Street and Frager Road, one mile from the Peck Bridge.
Star Lake Remains of the women listed below were all found along Star Lake Road in south King County. Gail Matthews was 23 years of age and last seen on April 10, 1983 around 6 p.m. near South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on September 18, 1983 at South Star Lake Road and 51st Avenue South.
Delores Lavern Williams was 17 years of age. She was last seen in March of 1983 at a bus stop outside the Red Lion Inn on Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on March 31, 1984 near South 53rd Street and Star Lake Road.
Terry Renee Milligan was 16 years of age. She was last seen on August 29, 1982 near South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on April 1, 1984 near Star Lake Road.
Sandra K. Gabbert was 17 years of age and last seen on April 17, 1983 near South 142nd Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on April 2, 1984 at Star Lake Road and 55th Avenue South.
Alma Smith was 18 years of age. She was last seen on March 3, 1983 near South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on April 2, 1984 at South 277th Street and Star Lake Road.
Carrie Ann Rois was 15 years of age. She was last seen between May 13, 1983 and June 13, 1983.
Her body was found March 10, 1985 in a swampy area off the Star Lake Road
Highway 18 / I-90 Remains of the women below were all found near where Highway 18 intersects with I-90 in eastern King County. Tina Marie Thompson was 22 years of age and last seen on July 25, 1983 between 1:30 and 3 a.m. at South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on April 20, 1984 near Highway 18 and Southeast 104th Street, south of the Highway 18/I-90 interchange.
Maureen Sue Feeney was 19 years of age. She was last seen on September 23, 1983 between 5 and 6 p.m. at 1515 East Madison Street in Seattle. Her body was found on May 2, 1986 on the east side of Highway 18 near Southeast 104th Street. Exit 38 / I-90 Remains of the women listed below were all found near Exit 38 off I-90. Delise Louise Plager was 22 years of age. She was last seen October 30, 1983 at 3 p.m. at a bus stop on Beacon Hill. Her body was found February 14, 1984 near Exit 38 off I-90.
Lisa L. Yates was 21 years of age. She was last seen between December 17 and December 23, 1983. Her body was found March 13, 1984 near Exit 38 off I-90.
Kimberly Nelson was 20 years of age and was last seen on November 1, 1983 about 11 a.m. at a bus stop outside the Ben Carol Motel on Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on June 13, 1986 on Garcia Road, approximately three miles from Exit 38 off I-90.
Highway 410 Remains of the women below were all found near Highway 410, east of Enumclaw, Washington. Debbie May Abernathy was 16 years of age. She was last seen September 5, 1983 at 8th Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Seattle. Her body was found on March 31, 1984 on a logging road of Highway 410 near Milepost 37.
Mary Sue Bello was 25 years of age and last seen on October 11, 1983 in the Magnolia area of Seattle. Her body was found on October 12, 1984 near Milepost 34 on Highway 410.
Martina T. Authorlee was 18 years of age. She was last seen on May 22, 1983 outside the My Place Tavern at South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found November 14, 1984 near Milepost 36 on Highway 410.
Marta Reeves was last heard from when she made a phone call to her husband on March 5, 1990. Her body was found September 20, 1990 on Highway 410 between mileposts 33 and 34.
Roberta Hays was last seen sometime after February, 1987. Her body was found on September 11, 1991 near Milepost 36.5 on Highway 410.
Pammy Avent was 16 years of age and last seen on October 26, 1983 after leaving her home in Seattle.
Her body was found on August 16, 2003 near Milepost 26 on Highway 410.
South Airport / Tyee Golf Course Remains of the women listed below were all found near the sound end of SeaTac Airport & Tyee Golf Course. Gisele A. Lovvorn was 19 years of age. She was last seen July 17, 1982 in Normandy Park. Her body was found September 25, 1982 in a wooded area near South 200th Street and 18th Avenue South.
Constance Naon was 21 years of age. She was last seen on June 8, 1983 at 6 p.m. near South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found October 27, 1983 in a vacant lot near South 192nd Street and 28th Avenue South.
Kelly Ware was 22 years of age. She was last seen on July 17, 1983 at a bus stop at 22nd Avenue East and East Madison Street, and last heard from on July 18, 1983. Her body was found October 29, 1983 in the 2500 block of South 192nd Street.
Mary Bridgett Meehan was 19 years of age and last seen at the Western Six Motel near South 165th Street and Pacific Highway South on September 15, 1982 at 8:30 p.m. Her body was found on November 13, 1983 at South 192nd Street and 27th Avenue South.
Andrea M. Childers was 17 years of age. She was last seen on April 14, 1983 about 12 p.m. at a bus stop on 21st Avenue and Union Street.
Her body was found October 19, 1989 in a wooded area near South 190th Street and 24th Avenue South.
Tigard, Oregon Remains of the women below were found in Tigard, Oregon. Denise D. Bush was 23 years of age. She was last seen October 8, 1982 at 12:30 p.m. at the Moonrise Hotel at South 144th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her skull was found in Tigard, Oregon on June 12, 1985.
Shirley Marie Sherrill was 19 years of age and was last seen in October/early November, 1982 in the Chinatown area of Seattle. Her body was found on June 14, 1985 in Tigard, Oregon.
North Airport / Ballpark Remains of the women listed below were all found north of SeaTac Airport near a ballfield. Shawnda Leea Summers - 17 years of age. She was last seen on October 2, 1982 at 5 p.m. on Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on August 12, 1983 in a vacant lot near South 146th Street and 22nd Avenue South.
Cheryl Lee Wims - 18 years of age. She was last seen on May 23, 1983 leaving a residence in the 2100 block of 21st Avenue south. Her body was found in a wooded area near South 146th Street and 16th Avenue South on March 22, 1984.
Bone Find
The remains of a white female, between 14 and 18 years of age were found on March 21, 1984 behind the ballpark at South146th Street and 16th Avenue South.
Highway 18 Remains of the women listed below were all found near Highway 18 in south King County. Cindy Ann Smith - 17 years of age. She was last seen on March 21, 1984 at 5 p.m. at 20055 28th Avenue South. Her body was found on June 29, 1987 near Green River Community College.
Patricia Barczak was 19 years of age. She was last seen near South 139th Street and Pacific Highway South on October 11, 1986. Her body was found off Highway 18 near Seattle International Raceway in February.
Other King County Sites Remains of the women below were found in various sites in King County. Linda Jane Rule was 16 years of age and last seen on September 26, 1982 at the Seals Motel on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Her body was found on the campus of Northwest Hospital on January 31, 1983.
Carol Ann Christensen was 29 years of age. She was last seen when she got off work on May 3, 1983 near South 148th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her remains were recovered on May 8, 1983 in a wooded area near Southeast 242nd Street and 248th Avenue Southeast in the Maple Valley area of King County.
Yvonne Shelly Antosh was 19 years of age. She was last seen on May 31, 1983 at 11 p.m. at the Ben Carol Motel at South 140th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found on October 15, 1983 at Southest 316th Street and the Auburn-Black Diamond Road.
Colleen Renee Brockman was 15 years of age. She was last seen in the downtown Seattle area on December 28, 1982. Her body was found on Jovita Boulevard in Pierce County, Washington on May 26, 1984.
Mary Exzetta West was 16 years of age and last seen around 2 p.m. on February 6, 1984 at Rainier Avenue South and South Ferdinand Street. Her body was found on September 8, 1985 in a wooded area of Seward Park at the base of a tree.
Debra Lorraine Estes was 15 years of age. She was last seen on September 20, 1982 at South 333rd Street and Pacific Highway South. Her remains were recovered on May 30, 1988 in the 200 block of South 346th Street.
Patricia Ann Yellowrobe was 38 years of age and last seen in the Seattle area. Her body was found in Seattle on August 16, 1998 in the 9400 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive South in King County.
April Buttram was 18 years of age and last seen at a bus stop in the Rainier Valley between August 18 and September 1, 1983. Her body was found August 30, 2003 on Southeast 96th Street just east of Snoqualmie Parkway.
Marie Malvar was 18 years of age and was last seen getting into a truck at a 7-11 store at South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South. Her body was found September 27, 2003 in the 29200 block of 65th Avenue South.
Still Missing These four women are listed on the official Green River Homicides list. They remain missing today. Kassee Ann Lee was a 16 year-old girl. She was last seen on August 28, 1982 in the area of South 200th Street and 30th Avenue South. This area is just east of Pacific Highway South.
Becky Marrero was 19 years of age. She was last seen on December 3, 1982 when she left her motel room at South 168th Street and Pacific Highway South.
Kelly Kay McGinnis was 18 years of age and was last seen on June 28, 1983 at South 216h Street and Pacific Highway South.
Patricia Ann Osborn was 19 years of age and last seen on October 28, 1983 when she left an area at North 115th Street and Aurora Avenue North in the City of Seattle to walk to a nearby restaurant.