FILM 1885: THE RIVERMAN

FILM 1885: THE RIVERMAN

TRIVIA: Robert Keppel had been a University of Washington Criminology Professor when he was approached by Detective Dave Reichert to help solve the Green River Serial Murders case. Keppel was a profiler, who had helped track down Ted Bundy. While on death row in Florida, Bundy contacted Keppel offering to find the killer he had dubbed "the Riverman" in hopes that he would get a stay of execution. Keppel then began a series of psychologically grueling and often combative interviews with Bundy. Keppel became obsessed with the case and with Bundy, eventually coercing him to confess for the murders of eight women still listed as missing from his reign of terror. The real life relationship between Keppel and Bundy served as the inspiration for the movie, Silence of the Lambs (1991) staring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. The Green River Serial Killer was finally brought to justice on November 30, 2001 when advances in forensic DNA proved that suspect Gary Ridgway was in fact the killer. On November 5th, 2003 Gary Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of aggravated first degree murder in a King County, Washington (Seattle) courtroom. Due to a plea bargain centered around Ridgway's assistance in helping authorities find missing victims, Ridgway avoided the Death Penalty.

Robert D. Keppel had watched the film and was very pleased with it. He also praised Cary Elwes and Bruce Greenwood's performances.

Based on the best-selling book, "The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer" by Robert Keppel