Attorney Michele Shaw, who was part of Gary Ridgway's defense team, spent a lot of time with his family following his arrest and during the subsequent legal proceedings. During an interview with Kitsap Sun, Shaw said Gary's entire family was devastated to learn what he had done. However, she thinks they may have been questioning his involvement since his first interview with police in 1987.
Shaw said he had the impression that Matthew Ridgway "took it so well" because he may have "held out the possibility that his dad could have been" the Green River killer since 1987. Although Gary's family was disturbed to learn he was a serial killer and the specific details of his crimes, Shaw said they wanted to try to forgive him and "continue to have a relationship" with him in some capacity.
Although he consented to an interview with authorities in preparation for his father's trial, Matthew avoided the media and has refused to comment on his father's crimes following his conviction and subsequent incarceration. According to Crimes Lab, Matthew last spoke with the media 2003. At that time, he was married and living in California. He expressed that he will always remember his father as the man who raised and supported him throughout his childhood and early adulthood.
Gary Ridgway remains incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. In March 2019, former reporter John McCoy spoke to AETV and said he was told the Green River killer "was in poor health and kept in close confinement."
