Benjamin Shane Ridley

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

King County Sheriffs Office (WA)

Missing From:

Burien, Washington

Summary:

Benjamin Shane Ridley vanished from Burien, Washington, on July 2, 1982, under circumstances that have left his family and authorities puzzled for decades. At the time of his disappearance, he was living with his family but had recently transitioned to a foster home in Burien. Just a day after moving in, he inexplicably disappeared without a trace, and despite extensive searches and investigations, he has not been heard from since. For unclear reasons, Benjamin wasn't reported missing until 2017.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

Benjamin Ridley was placed in a foster home in Burien on July 1, 1982, and the next day he was never seen again. The prevailing theory among investigators is that Benjamin, affectionately known as Benjie, may have chosen to leave voluntarily, possibly in an attempt to reunite with his biological parents.

Additional Details:

In the early 2000s, Benjamin's sisters took it upon themselves to locate him, utilizing his Social Security Number in their search efforts. Unfortunately, their attempts yielded no results, prompting them to take further action. It wasn't until 2017 that they officially reported him missing, reigniting interest in his case and bringing renewed attention to the mystery surrounding his disappearance. According to information shared by his sister Rose Marrs, Ridley's disappearance was not officially reported until decades later. Marrs said she and another sibling were led to believe for years that their brother had left for California to start a new life, only later concluding that he had never voluntarily left. The case is now being investigated by the King County Sheriff's Office as a cold case. Marrs identified Detective Aaron Thompson as the current investigator and said the case is assigned # C17030680. Marrs said she created a Facebook page dedicated to her brother's case in hopes of generating new leads and preserving awareness of the disappearance. "I'm hoping someone who might have seen something or someone who knows something about it will see the story and will come forward with what they know," Marrs told The B-Town Blog. His sisters, Heather and Rose, are still searching for answers. Rose adds, "Benjie, if you're out there, please let us know. We miss you and love you."

Case Last Updated:

Oct 19, 2026