Kent attorney Mark Prothero will talk about defending Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer, at the April 6 Kent Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon.
The luncheon goes from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Meridian Valley Country Club, 24830 136th Ave. S.E.
Prothero was one of the lead defense attorneys for Ridgway. Prothero co-authored a book about the case, “Defending Gary: Unraveling the Mind of the Green River Killer.”
Ridgway was arrested in November 2001, after DNA evidence conclusively linked him to four unsolved homicides. Additional victims were later added to the indictment. The media dubbed Ridgway the “Green River Killer,” because his first five victims were found in the Green River in King County.
In 2003, Ridgway was spared the death penalty when he entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Per the terms of that agreement, Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of aggravated first-degree murder and agreed to cooperate in locating the remains of additional victims. Ridgway is serving a life sentence without parole for the murders.
For the past seven years, Ridgway has kept a relatively low profile at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. However, with the discovery of human remains linked to Ridgway in December 2010 in an Auburn ravine, he has again been thrust into the spotlight and recently plead guilty in Kent to his 49th murder. Prothero represented Ridgway at the sentencing.
Prothero is a partner with Hanis Irvine Prothero of Kent. He has more than 25 years of experience in criminal defense. He is a frequent lecturer at legal education seminars and is recognized for his expertise on evidence, forensic DNA, mental state defenses and the death penalty.
In 2010, Prother was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to be the first criminal defense attorney on the Washington State Forensic Investigation Council.
Tickets for the membership meeting are $20 for a full lunch and $12 for soup and salad. The cost is $30 for non-Chamber members. The dress code at the country club requires collared shirts and no denim.
For tickets, go to www.kentchamber.com or call the Chamber at 253-854-1770.
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