Ok, so… sometimes I like to watch documentaries or YouTube influencer specials on serial killers or unsolved mysteries, maybe even a few “supernatural” type shows… I don’t have any sort of unhealthy obsession with all that, but it does pique my interest once in a while. I read a book about H. H. Holmes when I was a teenager (seriously wish I could remember the title). The only reason I did that was because he was hanged on my birthday (many years before I was born, of course, but listen… I may or may not like to find historical shit that happened on May 7th, okay?!).

Aaaanyhoozle… last night, after The Boyfriend went to bed (hims works long hours *sad face*), I was perusing through KallMeKris‘ channel, bored and looking for something to end the night with, when I came across her recent-ish special on the Green River Killer.

Aaaaand – holy shit. I was a teensy bit tired when I started it, but when she said “…near Kent, Washington” (!!!), that sleepy shit got yeeted right out the ear holes. I’m surprised the cats didn’t lay sparks when I jerked involuntarily. Heh.

Ok, ok… sorry, I’m just a little bit weirded out about the whole thing and I’ve started to ramble and lose focus… ADHD much?!

Bear with me, haha *deep breath*

Sooooo… we moved to Kent, WA in 1986 – I was 4 years old. That made my mom about 30 years old. Granted, our old house (and yes, I looked it up on Google Maps lol) address says “Covington” – but I’ve heard “Kent” my entire life. Maybe back then our address WAS Kent. A lot of changes happen in metropolitan areas in a span of 40 years, ya know? Either way… the fact is that our house (and the elementary school I went to) is smack dab in the middle of all the areas where Gary Ridgway dumped bodies – literally DURING the years he was doing so.

Whuuuut… the… feeeeeck?! How did I not know about this already?! He’s legit one of the most notorious serial killers in the U.S. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was only 4 years old and only lived there for 3 years, so I’m glad I DIDN’T know about it back then, but… it never came up, and I’m almost 43. I’ve watched enough documentaries, movies, specials, etc. on serial killers and whatnot that you would THINK I’d have at least skimmed by this guy at some point?! 😐

Found this map on the interwebs this morning, cuz ya know… ADHD needs to be fed all the interesting things, like – JUST how close did we live to all this?! If you notice victims 40 and 41 on Hwy 18 there? Less than 6 miles north(east) on that highway and a short jaunt onto residential roads, you’ll find our old house on SE 261st. And the first group of victims to be found (1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) are about 5 miles west of the elementary school I went to. A lot of the victims were found within 5 to 10 miles of us, and the rest within 20 (with the exception of a couple way down south in Oregon).

Of course, I had to ask my mom if she remembered our old address in Kent (she did not). When she asked why, I told her I was doing some research (then went radio silent for a few). I finally asked if she’d heard about the Green River Killer/Gary Ridgway… and she said, “Yes. We lived there when he was on the loose. And we were close to the Green River.” Told her that’s the research I was doing and sent her the body map and she responded, “Grandma’s house was right there in Renton.”

So yeah… there ya go. I was today year’s old when I discovered just how close I lived to one of our countries most notorious serial killers – WHILE he was doing the murder-hobo’ing. Feckin wild, dude. All the cray-cray.