Carol Ann Christensen, a 21-year-old female and a registered member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Browning, Mont., was just beginning a new chapter in her life, separated from her husband and determined to make her own way as a young mother. On May 2, 1983, her second day as a waitress at the Barn Door Tavern on Pacific Avenue South, she finished her lunch and walked out of the establishment, intending to return for her evening shift. That was the last time she was seen alive. Her family's hope turned to despair when, six days later on Mother's Day, May 8, 1983, a family hunting for mushrooms made a gruesome discovery in a wooded area of Maple Valley, off Southeast 244th Street and Highway 169. They found the remains of Carol Christensen.
An investigation into her death revealed a bizarre and ritualistic crime scene. Carol had been strangled, and there was no evidence of sexual assault. Her body appeared to have been submerged in water before being dressed again, with one shoe on the wrong foot. A bag was placed over her head. In a macabre display, two cleaned fish were laid across her chest, raw sausage was placed around her, and a wine bottle was in her hand. These unsettling details led some to believe the arrangement was a symbolic and twisted representation of the Eucharist. The placement of a stone inside her was also noted as a commonality with other victims of a prolific serial killer who was terrorizing the region.
For years, Carol Christensen's murder remained unsolved, a painful cold case for her grieving family, including her young daughter, Sara. The investigation eventually focused on Gary Ridgway, who would come to be known as the Green River Killer. When questioned shortly before his arrest, Ridgway admitted to knowing Carol but denied any sexual contact. However, the advancement of DNA technology would ultimately provide the evidence needed to bring a measure of justice. Semen found on Carol's body was a conclusive match to Ridgway's DNA. This crucial link led to his indictment for her murder, one of the many lives he tragically cut short. Carol is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Hoquiam, Washington.
