Tammie Liles: DNA evidence helps identify victim of notorious Green River Killer after nearly 4 decades

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

TIGARD, OREGON: The King County Sheriff's Office has identified the last known remains of a victim of the infamous Green River Killer, who was convicted of killing 49 women, almost four decades after the victim's disappearance. 

Tammie Liles, whose partial remains were discovered in 2003 and labeled as 'Bones 20', has now been conclusively identified through advanced DNA testing by Othram, a leading sequencing laboratory specializing in forensic genetic genealogy.

'Bones 20' was determined to be Tammie Liles

Tammie was first identified as a victim of the Green River Killer in 1988 when forensic investigators matched dental records to a separate set of remains found near Tigard, Oregon. Throughout the 1980s, Gary Ridgway, notoriously known as the Green River Killer, terrorized the state of Washington, leaving a trail of fear and devastation.

Convicted of killing 49 women, he has confessed to a staggering 71 murders, though investigators suspect the actual number may be higher. 

Discovering tragic fates of Green River Killer's victims

The King County Sheriff's Office revealed that in 1985, the remains of two unidentified women, Tammie and Angela Girdner, were discovered near the Tualatin Golf Course in Tigard, Oregon. Later that June, the remains of two additional women were found nearby, off Bull Mountain Road.

The subsequent identification revealed the latter two women as Denise Bush and Shirley Sherrill, both last seen in Seattle in October 1982, Yahoo. Initially, Ridgway denied any connection to the murders of Tammie and Angela.

However, the Green River Killer later confessed to moving the remains of some victims from King County to Tigard, aiding investigators in piecing together the partial remains. Ridgway's admission came after years of investigation and relentless efforts by law enforcement.

According to investigators, there are no additional remains of recognized victims of the Green River Killer that remain unidentified.

In November 2003, Ridgway pleaded guilty to the murder of 'Bones #20' (Tammie Liles), Denise, and Shirley, along with 45 other victims. Subsequently, he admitted to the murder of a 49th victim. 

Ridgway is currently serving a life sentence at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.