‘Green River Killer’ to recieve COVID vaccine before Washington state residents

“All DOC employees and incarcerated individuals aged 65 or older regardless of job duties or location will get the vaccine,” a DOC spokesperson told the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH.

Gary Leon Ridgway is the second most prolific serial killer in the United States. He was convicted of 49 murders, but confessed to killing 71. Ridgway strangled his victims and dumped their bodies in forested areas in King County, WA. Later he would return to have sexual intercourse with the dead bodies. His victims were alleged to be sex workers, underage runaways and other vulnerable women.

Press gave him the name 'Green River Killer' after his first five victims were found in the Green River near Seattle, WA. The Department of Corrections is unable to confirm if Ridgway received the vaccine due to health laws.

According to a spokesperson, Democrat Governor Jay Inslee’s office is moving forward with vaccinating inmates despite criticism. In the early days of the outbreak, Ineslee tried to release thousands of prisoners including Ridegway using COVID as the reason to do so. However, in a 5-4 vote, The Supreme Court of Washington rejected the lawsuit which called for the release.

"We recognize there is frustration about vaccines and we have heard it. We are trying to get as many people vaccinated as possible with the limited doses we are receiving from the federal government." The spokesperson added, "There are some high cases (COVID) in some prison facilities and those can be spread to the general population through prison guards coming in and out of the facilities. Regardless how you feel about the prison population, it also impacts people who work in these facilities and bring the disease home to their families and into their communities."