
Several women who encountered Gary Ridgway survived and later provided descriptions to police. These accounts offered critical insights into his behavior, appearance, and methods. Despite this, the information was not sufficient to identify him at the time.
Encounters typically occurred in areas associated with prostitution, where Ridgway approached victims in his vehicle.
Witness statements contributed to composite sketches and behavioral profiling. However, the volume of leads made it difficult to isolate a single suspect.