SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
Former Member
Missing Since: October 31, 1982 from Tacoma, Washington
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: October 21, 1969
Age: 13 years old
Height and Weight: 5'3, 110 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Vorak's left middle finger is smaller than average.
Details of Disappearance
Vorak was last seen by her family in her hometown of Tacoma, Washington on Halloween night, October 31, 1982. She may have been sighted later in the evening at a bus depot in Seattle, Washington, but this report has not been confirmed. Vorak disappeared that night and has never been seen again. She did not have a history as a runaway or a record for prostitution, but she did frequent the streets of Tacoma and neighboring areas. Her mother believes she may be alive and living in the Seattle, Washington area, but investigators believe she is deceased.
Vorak's name was added to the list of probable victims of the Green River serial killer in May 1993. It is believed Vorak was a victim of the serial killer(s) due to her location in the northwest United States, where many young women disappeared and/or were murdered by the suspected assailant(s), between 1982 and 1984. Other possible victims of the murderer(s) may include Pammy Annette Avent, April Dawn Buttram, Marie Molina Malvar, Patricia LeBlanc, Kase Lee, Rebecca Marrero, Kelli McGinness, and Patricia Osborn. Avent's body was located in August 2003, twenty years after she was reported missing. Buttram's and Malvar's bodies were found in September 2003. None of the other women have been located and all cases remain unsolved.
Gary Leon Ridgway was charged with aggravated murder in four of the deaths linked to the Green River killer in December 2001. Photos of Ridgway are posted below this case summary. Ridgway had been one of the suspects in the case since 1984. Authorities questioned him that year after witnesses placed him with two of the victims and his pickup truck was identified as being at the scene of the victims' last known locations.
Ridgway's home was searched in 1987 and he provided a saliva sample at that time. DNA testing was performed on the saliva in 2001 and matched three of the victims: Opal Mills, Marcia Chapman and Cynthia Hinds. The women's bodies had been discovered in the Green River near Seattle in August 1982. Ridgway was allegedly connected to the fourth victim, Carol Christensen, through circumstantial evidence.
Ridgway was arrested twice for soliciting prostitution; once in 1982 and again in October 2001. Many of the Green River victims were runaways or prostitutes. A 1980 charge against Ridgway was dropped when a prostitute claimed he choked her. Ridgway told authorities that he attacked her in self-defense, as she was allegedly biting him. One of his former wives came forward after his 2001 arrest and claimed that Ridgway preferred to have sexual relations outdoors. She also said that he often employed a chokehold while engaged in sexual activity. A prostitute who stated Ridgway paid her for sex in the early 1980s supported the story, stating that he attempted to choke her during intercourse.
Ridgway's residence and his parents' home were searched after his 2001 arrest. Authorities discovered an envelope containing bone fragments, tufts of human hair, numerous blood stains, boxes of latex gloves, costume jewelry and several wigs. Many of the assumed Green River victims were missing jewelry and/or wigs at the time their remains were discovered. Ridgway is married and his neighbors considered him to be a family-oriented individual. Profilers have said that he does not fit the mold of most accused serial killers, as he did not seek attention for his crimes.
Prosecutors announced in April 2002 that they would seek the death penalty in Ridgway's case. Authorities have located several of his former vehicles and purchased his pickup truck and camper from their current owners in May 2002. A photo of his truck is posted below this case summary. Ridgway owned the truck during the early 1980s, the time when many of the victims disappeared or were discovered deceased. Investigators stated that they hoped to uncover evidence related to the murder cases inside the vehicles.
In a surprise move, Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of murder in November 2003. He agreed to cooperate with authorities in exchange for them dropping the death penalty specifications against him. It was he that led them to the bodies of Marrero, Avent and Malvar. Ridgway will serve life in prison with parole instead of facing execution. With his cooperation investigators hope to uncover the remains of the other victims.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Tacoma Police Department
253-798-4721
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Tacoma Police Department
253-798-4721