Wendy Marie Stephens (October 10, 1968 – c. Spring 1983), known as Jane Doe B-10 or Bones 10 while unidentified, was a teenager who was murdered by Gary Ridgway in Washington in Spring 1983. She was Ridgway’s seventeenth known murder victim. She was identified in January 2021.
Disappearance
Wendy is presumed to have run away from her home in Colorado in the Spring of 1983. She was reported missing by her family. She is believed to have ended up in Washington shortly before her murder.
Discovery
Wendy’s remains were discovered north of the SeaTac airport on March 21, 1984. She was found near the remains of another victim, Cheryl Wims, who was found a day later. Her cause of death was determined to be from strangulation.
Aftermath
Both Wendy and Cheryl were linked to the Green River killings very soon after they were found, though Cheryl would be the only one to be identified.
In 2001, the Green River Killer was identified as Gary Ridgway. He confessed to most of the murders attributed to him, including Wendy’s. He was convicted of her murder, along with the murders of forty-eight other women.
Identification
In 2020, the DNA Doe Project announced they were using genetic genealogy to identify Wendy’s remains. In January 2021, they announced that they had identified Wendy, and her case was solved.
Wendy’s remains were cremated and scattered close to her mother’s home in Colorado.
Gallery
Sandra Major
Sandra Denise Major (January 17, 1962 – December 24, 1982), known as Jane Doe B-16 or Bones 16 while unidentified, was a young woman who was murdered by Gary Ridgway in Seattle, Washington, on December 24, 1982. She was Ridgway’s sixteenth known murder victim. She was identified in June 2012.
Background
Sandra was born on January 17, 1962, in an unknown place. She spent most of her childhood in New York, though she moved to Seattle, Washington, at some point. She is believed to have become involved in sex work.
Disappearance
Sandra was reported missing by a friend on December 24, 1982. They told police they last saw her getting into a truck. It’s unknown what happened to her afterward.
Discovery
Sandra’s remains were discovered on December 30, 1985, in a ravine near Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn, Washington. Her cause of death couldn’t be determined, though her case was deemed a homicide.
Sandra’s remains were the second set recovered in the area. Mimi Pitsor’s remains were found in December 1983, and the remains of Lori Razpotnik were recovered in January 1986, though her remains were initially discovered in February 1984. The remains of Shelly Antosh were found near the area in October 1983.
Aftermath
All three women were linked to the Green River killings as soon as their remains were recovered, though Mimi Pitsor was the only victim to be identified.
The Green River Killer was identified as Gary Ridgway in 2001. He confessed to most murders attributed to him, including Sandra’s. He was convicted of her murder, along with the murders of forty-eight other women.
Identification
In April 2012, one of Sandra’s cousins watched a TV movie about the Green River killings. The movie urged anyone with information about Ridgway’s unidentified victims to come forward.
Sandra’s cousin recognized that the reconstruction of Jane Doe B-16 looked like Sandra, who they knew disappeared from Washington in 1982. They called the King County Sheriff’s Office about the potential match. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Sandra in June 2012.
