I always wondered what it would be like to kill
Ridgway was born to Mary Rita Steinman and Thomas Newton Ridgway. He has two brothers, Gregory Leon Ridgway and Thomas Edward Ridgway. Gary was brought up in the McMicken Heights neighborhood of SeaTac, Washington. Ridgway's home life was troubled; relatives described Mary Steinman, his mother, as tyrannical. Other family members have said, that Ridgway witnessed many violent arguments between his parents. Also during his childhood, Ridgway had a habit of wetting the bed during the night. His mother would belittle him and embarrass him in front of his whole family. From a young age, Ridgway had conflicting feelings of sexual attraction and anger toward his mother.
As a young child, Ridgway had a low I.Q., and his academic performance in school was poor. At one point in high school he had to repeat a single grade twice, in order to attain grades decent enough to move on to the next grade. When he was 16, he stabbed a six-year-old boy. He had led the boy into the woods and then stabbed him through the ribs into his liver. According to the victim, Ridgway walked away laughing and saying, "I always wondered what it would be like to kill."
After High School Ridway went to Vietnam for service in the Vietnam war. When he came back from duty, Ridway spent the next 30 years of his life painting trucks. Even though, Gary got married three times and was very religious; he enjoyed the company of prostitutes and hookers.
As a young child, Ridgway had a low I.Q., and his academic performance in school was poor. At one point in high school he had to repeat a single grade twice, in order to attain grades decent enough to move on to the next grade. When he was 16, he stabbed a six-year-old boy. He had led the boy into the woods and then stabbed him through the ribs into his liver. According to the victim, Ridgway walked away laughing and saying, "I always wondered what it would be like to kill."
After High School Ridway went to Vietnam for service in the Vietnam war. When he came back from duty, Ridway spent the next 30 years of his life painting trucks. Even though, Gary got married three times and was very religious; he enjoyed the company of prostitutes and hookers.