THE CAPTURE OF THE GREEN RIVER KILLER
Throughout the film the narrator poses many questions pick three to answer as discussion questions at the end
of the film.
The Green River Killer Day 1
1. What is the name of this story’s narrator?
2. What does her mother call her and why?
3. Who is the first victim they show?
a. How old was she?
b. When did they find her?
c. What did she do for a living?
4. Hypothesize why the Green River killer chooses prostitutes, what made them vulnerable (name 3
reasons)?
5. How did the Green River Killer kill his victims?
6. What did the Green River Killer leave in his victims and where did he leave it?
7. What is the profile of The Green River Killer? (You will need this info for day 2 question 5)
8. Who is the first person to go to the police and say he knows whom The Green River Killer is? When
does this happen?
9. Who does he accuse and what does the accused do for a living?
10. Who do the police immediately suspect?
The Green River Killer Day 2
1. Who are the police’s two main suspects?
2. When do the police receive an anonymous letter from The Green River Killer? Do the Seattle police
(Dave Reichert) think it is authentic? Why? What does the FBI think?
3. By March 22, 1984, how many are dead and how many are missing in The Green River Killer case?
4. Who do the Seattle police eventually talk to about “the mind of a serial killer”?
5. What advice does this Florida State prisoner offer? Provide details. In the end does this advice prove
helpful? How do these details differ from the profile provided by the FBI?
6. By June 12, 1985, how many are dead and how many are missing in The Green River Killer Case?
The Green River Killer Day 3
1. End of disk 1, beginning of disk 2 why does Helen get into the truck?
2. By March 6, 1987, how many are dead and how many are missing in The Green River Killer Case?
3. This movie is based upon what novel?
4. What does this black and white scene refer to? What is the purpose of this scene?
5. What technique does Dave Reichert use to jump start leads for the case?
6. What happens to Helen?
7. What does Dave Reichert say about love?
8. By March 1989, how many are dead and how many are missing in The Green River Killer Case?
The Green River Killer Day 4
1. How do the dead talk to the living?
2. Dave Reichert experiences a flashback to his childhood, what is the purpose of this flashback? How
does it affect who he becomes?
3. Who does Dave Reichert believe is The Green River Killer?
4. What about Gary Ridgway would make him a good serial killer? If he were The Green River Killer how
has he been able to hide in plain sight?
5. Who are the two victims that they find DNA evidence on? Who does the DNA point to as the killer?
6. Other than DNA what else helps convince police they have the right man?
7. Why did he put rocks in their vagina? Why did he weigh them down?
8. What was the killers’ process for luring women to their death?
9. How many women does The Green River Killer admit to killing?
10. Does The Green River Killer ever admit to killing Hel? How many girls are “lost”?
11. What was the sentencing for the Green River Killer?
Follow-up questions:
1. Why do you think The Green River Killer eventually stopped killing well before he was caught?
2. What is the purpose of Helen’s character (name 3)? What does Helen represent?
3. What has happened throughout Helen’s life that has led her to where she ends up?
4. Throughout the film Helen poses many questions pick three and discuss.