Remains have Green River tie; teen missing since 1983

The discovery of the remains of 16-year-old Pammy Annette Avent over the weekend is another indication that the man charged with seven of the Green River serial killings is talking to investigators about other victims.

Avent's remains, found east of Enumclaw on Saturday, were identified yesterday. The discovery comes after reports that Gary L. Ridgway is trading information for his life.

King County Sheriff's Detective Kathleen Larson would not say whether Ridgway directed members of the Green River Task Force to the site nor would she say whether the case is connected to Ridgway or the other Green River slayings.

With the discovery and identification of Avent's remains, the case now becomes an active, independent homicide investigation, Larson said.

"Let's stay focused on Pammy. This is her day," said Larson.

Yesterday was an emotional day for Avent's family, Larson said.

"They've not known where Pammy has been for 20 years, and hopefully, we've brought them some measure of closure," she said.

Larson said the King County Medical Examiner's Office identified her remains by comparing teeth to her dental records, which Avent's family gave the Washington State Patrol years ago.

The cause and manner of death have not been determined.

Her remains were found about 40 feet from the road, covered with foliage and dirt, but apparently not buried, Larson said. They were found near milepost 26 on Highway 410, not far from where the remains of Mary Sue Bello, 25, Martina Theresa Authorlee, 18, and Debbie May Abernathy, 26, were found in 1984.

Abernathy and Bello were last seen about the time Avent disappeared. Abernathy was last seen Sept. 5, 1983, when she left home to go to downtown Seattle. Mary Bello was last seen Oct. 11, 1983, on the Sea-Tac strip. Avent was last seen Oct. 26, 1983, headed toward Seattle's Rainier Valley.

Authorlee, whose remains also were found in the cluster along Highway 410, was last seen May 22, 1983, at South 188th Street and Pacific Highway South.

The killer was known to dispose of bodies of victims in small clusters; the first bodies found were in and near the Green River.

Larson said Avent was included on the original list of possible victims based on criteria such as lifestyle, witness information and family records.

Ridgway, a 54-year-old truck painter from Auburn, had been a prime suspect in the investigation years ago.

He was arrested in 2001 and charged with seven of the 49 so-called Green River slayings. He has pleaded not guilty to killing Debra Bonner, 23; Wendy Coffield, 16; Debra Estes, 15; Marcia Chapman, 31; Carol Christensen, 22; Cynthia Hinds, 17; and Opal Mills, 16.

He is scheduled for trial in July 2004 and could face the death penalty if convicted.

However, sources have told The Seattle Times that Ridgway is nearing a plea deal that would spare him the death penalty in exchange for resolving some of the other cases attributed to the Green River killer.

Ridgway's statements are being evaluated to determine if they are true and complete, one source said.

At the time of his arrest in 2001, Ridgway told detectives that "not all of them are mine," according to sources. He did not, however, specify any numbers. If King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng agrees Ridgway has cooperated sufficiently, the death penalty would be removed and if Ridgway is convicted he would be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of release, sources said.

If rejected, Ridgway's admissions could not be used against him, and the case would proceed to trial under the original charges.

Ridgway began cooperating with prosecutors and investigators weeks ago, leading to his transfer last month from the King County Jail to another location so he could work with law-enforcement officers, sources said.

A judge sealed the reasons for the move, and Ridgway's location remains secret.

Previously, Maleng said he would not plea-bargain in Ridgway's case, given the severity of the charges.

But with the chance to close some of the Green River killings and to provide answers to the families of the victims, Maleng has indicated he would accept the deal for Ridgway's full cooperation, one source said.

Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office, declined to comment on the existence of the plea deal.

"We will review any new cases referred to the Prosecutor's Office, and then we would make a decision with regard to any additional charges," Donohoe said.

Until Saturday's discovery, Avent was one of seven women believed to be Green River victims whose bodies had not been found. The remaining six, who disappeared in 1982 and 1983 from Seattle or South King County, are:

• Kase Anne Lee, 16, last seen Aug. 28, 1982, at her South King County home.

• Rebecca T. Marrero, 20, last seen Dec. 3, 1982, at Western Six Motel near South 168th Street and Pacific Highway South.

• Marie M. Malvar, 18, last seen April 30, 1983, at a store at South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South.

• Kelli K. McGinnis, 18, last seen June 28, 1983, at South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South.

• April Dawn Buttram, 17, last seen Aug. 18, 1983, when police spoke to her in the 7300 block of Rainier Avenue South.

• Patricia Anne Osborn, 19, last seen Oct. 20, 1983, as she left a motel at North 115th Street and Aurora Avenue North.