Victims' families address Ridgway

06:19 AM PST on Friday, December 19, 2003

KING5.com

More than 20 families who lost a loved one to Gary Ridgway had 10 minutes in court to tell him about their loss. Here are some of the excerpts:

Victim: Cynthia Hinds

Sherry Garrett, sister

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Victim: Opal Mills

Kathy Mills, mother

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Carol Estes, mother

She was just an immature teenager trying to find her way in life...it was snuffed out by Gary Ridgway. There isn't any life for me anymore, I just go through day by day and try an hold myself together.

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What made you hate with such intensity? Did you hate her or was she just in the wrong place? My sister and I both went different ways but we both ended up face-to-face with the same monster.

Victim: Carol Christensen

Daughter, Sarah King

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she was a mother, a wife, a sister...One day you'll miss your family like we miss ours...I'm glad that you didn't get death because death is too good for you, death is too peaceful for you.

Victim: Gisele Lovvorn

Michelle Blair, sister

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Victim: Sandra Gabbert

Nancy Gabbert, mother

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Family of Opal Mills Sister of Cynthia Hinds Father of Linda Rule

Dennis Meehan, brother

She was tough, outspoken and wild. But she was also an artist, who was very trusting of people and caring of others. I feel pain for the victims' families who do not have this opportunity today. I often wonder when words are thrown out such as "closure" how that affects and how each individual comes to grips with that. For myself, there is a certain amount of closure that comes today.

KING

He doesn't care, he couldn't care less. If he has shed any tears it's only for himself because he was caught and lost his freedom. Life as he knew it ended the day he was arrested....Gary, it was not your right to decide who lived and who died. Mary was no less a human being as your mother or your son...I don't see how any family member of your own can stand by your side and give you support. Maybe they can see the good side of you, just as I could see the good side of Mary...The need for answers outweighed my thirst for your death...To me you are already dead...I'm glad you choked my sister from behind. At least I know when she took her last breath and closed her eyes, her last visual memory wasn't of you.

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Helen Dexter, motherI didn't know how to deal with the anger, since that time I've been able to process all that anger. I believe had the investigations gone right in the past 20 years, many of us would not be in this court. I believe we are still victimized by some politically ambitious careerists, the self-proclaimed heros have put the victims and their families on a shelf. Our lives have been run havoc by the news media, they have no respect, they twist the facts...Now it will be the blood writers who will make tons of money on our suffering. There is no closure. It goes on forever.

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Vicky Ware, sister

I know he feels no remorse, he would probably like to choke everyone who's been up here today...I will see you in hell.

Victim: Linda Rule

Robert Rule, father

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Victim: Shirley Sherrill

Rosemary Fries, mother

For 20 years in my heart, I kept hoping someone had made a mistake. On November 5th, my worst fears were confirned, that she would never come home again. Gary Ridgway made a mistake when he thought nobody cared about his victms.

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Michele Andrews, sister

You have said your memory when you took all these women was gone, ours is not. You said they meant nothing to you but they meant everything to us. I hope someday someone will show you the cruelty that you have bestowed upon us.

Deanna Brewer, sister

My anger is much more deep than anything you can feel...My sister was loved...she had dreams. My family has never been the same since I was 13 watching the news. Today a door closes but it does not bring closure.

Victim: Shawnda Summers

Jodi Norman, mother

This was a hate against children that was committed... If the politicians cared about this crime, it should not have taken 20 years…There should have been no plea bargain. I’m a taxpayer, how do you think I feel that I had to take care of you and all your lawyers? Seattle is giving the message, commit a crime and you can bargain. If the prosecuting attorney said death, it should have been death. Shame on Seattle.

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Sharse Summers-Woods, sister

I choose not to be angry anymore…You manipulated the system to spare your own. Yes, you were spared. Now it shames me to see how our politicians do not embrace America’s daughters…It’s time to change the laws, this was a hate crime against women and children. We have to elect officials who are cowards and will not stand to protect your wives, daughters and children.

Victim: Kimi-Kai Pitsor

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You were forgiven before I even knew your name…I wish for you peace. Members of the media I cannot forgive your actions, you have chosen to sensationalize (the lives of the victims)…the intention has always been to make money. .Mr. Ridgway does not deserve the death penalty, nor does anyone else for that matter…For those who make money from books, donate the money to charity to help the abused.

Victim: Marie Malvar

KING

You took away my best friend from me 20 years ago and you tore my family apart. You stated your victims, you did not know their names or faces. But my sister - she’s the one who fought you and put a permanent scar on your arm…I’m glad you do not have the death penalty, I would rather see you rot in jail…because I know there are people in jail who are waiting for you, I personally know some of those people.

Jose Malvar, Jr., brother

You are a loser. There are days I drove up that hill (in Kent), I didn’t know my sister was right there. Hopefully, justice will be served…somebody will have the glory to take you out in prison. I will always be angry, I will never have that closure.

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Kandice Watt, sister

You have left a dark empty space in our lives…she led her own life from a very young age but she always came back to see her family. She had five children. I can’t find words for the injustice you’ve done. Just as you chose to forget your victims, we freely choose to give you no further consideration. We refuse to let anger and hatred permeate our family.

Victim: Tracy Winston

Kevin Winston, brother

I was 12 years old and a classmate and came up to say he heard my sister was on the Green River list…Not one day that hasn’t gone by that I don’t feel like s---. I’m a grown man and I can’t help but cry… I got her birth date tattooed on my arm. That helps me deal with this.

I hope you go into general population, not protective custody. ..I will be mailing you a picture of her on her birthday every year.

KING

The one thing that bothers me the most, other than the fact that Tracy is gone from our lives, is that you don’t remember her. She thought of you as a friend. She knew you and you knew her…She told her friend Chris that you were helping her look for a job…All her defenses were down when she was with you, and you took her life at her most fragile.

I have in my notes that I will never forgive you. I do forgive you and I am truly sorry for what you have put your family through.

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Daryle Imburgia, son

I was around two when my mother went missing…I don’t remember her. I never got a part of my mother’s memorial service so I got her name tattooed on the back of my neck.

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Joan Mackie, mother

My daughter was (visiting us). She was engaged, she showed me her ring. She didn’t even have a chance to unpack her suitcase. Maybe you will remember my daughter when the door slams on you in prison.

Victim: Patricia Barczak

Diane Soriano, advocate for mother and grandmother

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Her dream was to become a baker and own her own bakery and bake wedding cakes.

The only part of Patty they could find was her skull. She was buried in an infant's casket.

Victim: Patricia Yellow Robe

LuAnna Yellow Robe, sister (reading for father)

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Ronna Walsh, sister

You haven’t destroyed our family. We are so strong that we stand beside each other. I never hated anyone to the point of wanting them to die and I know this experience is going to make our family stronger…I know that through forgiveness is my freedom.