In the spring of 1983, a 20-year-old Native American woman named Linda Jackson vanished from the streets of Seattle. Her disappearance on May 3rd occurred during a time of great fear in the Seattle area, as the Green River Killer was actively preying on vulnerable women. Tragically, Linda was not immediately reported missing by anyone who knew her.
It was only when investigators sought her out as a potential witness in the sprawling Green River Killer case that a missing person report was officially generated.
Years passed without any word from Linda. When authorities finally began to piece together the timeline of her disappearance, they discovered that her own family had not had contact with her for a staggering ten years. Investigators learned that Linda had been involved in sex work, which is likely why they believed she might hold information crucial to their investigation into the string of murders plaguing the community. She was known to use several aliases, including WyLynda Wells, Lynette Anderson, and Taquisha Jackson, among others.
Despite the strong suspicion of foul play surrounding her disappearance, Linda Jackson’s case grew cold. No arrests were ever made, and no suspects were ever officially named in connection with her vanishing. Her body has never been recovered, leaving her loved ones without answers. Although she disappeared during the period of Gary Ridgway's murderous activities, she was not among the victims he confessed to killing. Officially, Linda Jackson remains a missing person, her story a somber and unresolved chapter in a dark period of Seattle's history.
