The Beginning Of Evil

Lifetime's original miniseries "The Capture of the Green River Killer" is based upon the true story of serial killer, Gary Ridgway. Ridgway was responsible for the horrible, gruesome murders of numerous women, mainly prostitutes, that were committed in Washington State between the early 1980's and the late 1990's. Sheriff David Reichert, for nearly 20 years, was the dedicated police officer, with his determination in hunting down the killer of these murders. David Reichert also wrote a book "Chasing the Devil: My Twenty Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer." Ridgway earned the name "Green River Killer" when the first five victims were found near the Green River. The miniseries is told through the eyes of one young runaway, Helen "Hel" Remus whose fate lead her to the encounter with the notorious serial killer.

Part 1 of the miniseries opens with Helen speaking in front of the camera about a book of poems she received. She reads, "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." The picture fades and then pictures of the Green River are shown. Detective David Reichert gets injured after an encounter with a criminal he was arresting for domestic abuse and then is ordered to sit at his desk and is not to take on any more cases until he heals.

July 15, 1982, the first victim is found near the Green River. The body is identified as 16 year old Wendy Coffield. On August 12, 1982, David Reichert takes the phone call that gives him the case that will change his life forever. The call informs him that another victim is found near the Green River. The body is identified as 17 year old Marsue Haller. Now, feeling troubled, David has to figure out who killed these two young women. He's thinking it might be a serial killer. Someone like Ted Bundy but he doesn't want to jump to any conclusions.

August 15, 1982, a fisherman finds another victim in the Green River. When David and the police search the area, two more victims are found. The bodies are identified as 16 year old Opal Mills, 31 year old Marcia Chapman, and 17 year old Cynthia Hinds. The autopsies are being done on the victims. David is speaking with the coroner to find out how the victims were killed. All of the victims, that the coroner could see, died from strangulation. Some of the victims have been dead for more than 2 weeks.

Meanwhile, in the middle of all the murders being discovered, Helen is living her life. She is best friends with Kat, lives with her alcoholic mother, and is getting sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. She doesn't know what to do. Hurt and confused, she starts stealing money and stealing clothes.

Back at the police station, the officers gather around to hear the investigation about the murders. There's five bodies and no clues as of yet. David stands up and gives the other officers details about each victim and their lifestyle in prostitution, friends and boyfriends. Looking into the victims' backgrounds may give them some clues about their killing. The police then bring in a suspect. A cab driver, Jeb Dallas, who took a lie detector test and says that he didn't do it. There wasn't any evidence connecting him to the murders so they had to let him go. Sadly, another victim was found. The body was identified as 17 year old Laura Meeks. David's boss was upset and hassled him about finding a suspect already due to political and public pressure. As of November 1982, there were six women dead and seven women missing.

Helen is now thinking her life is crappy. She told her mother about what her boyfriend did to her. Her mother slapped her. Her mother's boyfriend left and blames her. She talks with Kat about what happened and asks her, "Do you think what happens to us is our fault?"

To be continued.....

Lizzy   =)