Detectives Searching New Areas For Potential Green River Victims
This new area is off busy Kent-Des Moines Road, just blocks from Ridgway's old home.
Our sources tell us Ridgway led them to one specific spot on a hillside just off Kent-Des Moines Road.
Three independent sources confirm that Ridgway is cooperating with detectives, leading them to some of his possible dumpsites in an effort to avoid the death penalty.
"The King County Sheriff's Office does not have any authority to enter into any sort of plea negotiations, so what we're doing is we're diligently pursuing all 49 cases, as well as the seven charged," said Katie Larson with the Green River Task Force.
The detectives can't bargain with Ridgway on the seven murders he's charged with, but Prosecutor Patty Eakes and her colleagues can. In an unusual move, Eakes was one of four Green River prosecutors helping dig up the hillside.
Detectives were working a grid search in the area, hoping to find the remains of seven women whose names are on the Green River list. Their bodies have never been found.
On Saturday, detectives searched nearby, just off Military Road South. It's only four blocks from where Ridgway lived during the time of the killings.
Monday, search dogs sniffed for human remains.
Police and prosecutors refuse to comment on a possible plea bargain. But Tim Meehan would like to see them cut a deal. His sister Mary is on the Green River list, and he wants to know who killed her.
"If he provides them with the information that they're looking for, to bring closure to the majority of cases, if not all the cases, then let's go ahead and give him life," Meehan said.
Police claim they didn't turn up anything significant at Monday's search. Ridgway has been moved from the King County jail to a secret location. According to our sources, that's so he can cooperate with detectives in a more private setting.
Ridgway's lawyers so far have denied any deal is in the works.