A Bellingham author is sharing her story of loss after her mother was linked to one of America's most notorious serial killers. Mallina Wilson's memoir, "All in a Moment," comes out October 27. It tells what happened to her family after the headlines faded — and how she found peace decades later.
Quick Take
- Mallina Wilson's memoir "All in a Moment" releases October 27, 2026.
- Her mother, Amina Agisheff, vanished when Wilson was 15 and was found dead two years later near North Bend, Washington.
- Investigators believe Agisheff was the first victim tied to Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, though he was never charged in her case.
- The case has stayed unsolved for 44 years.
- The book focuses on grief, trauma and forgiveness, not true crime.
What Happened to Wilson's Mother
Wilson was just 15 years old when her mom kissed her forehead and said goodbye. She never came home.
Two years passed. Then, weeks before Wilson's high school graduation, her mother's remains turned up near North Bend, Washington. Investigators told the family something chilling: they believed Agisheff was the first victim connected to Gary Ridgway, the man later known as the Green River Killer.
Ridgway was never charged with her murder. The case is still open today, 44 years later.
"All in a moment, a life can shatter. But in that same moment, the journey to wholeness begins," Wilson writes.
That line gives the book its title. It also sums up what the memoir is really about: not the crime itself, but everything that came after.
Not a True-Crime Book
Even though the story connects to one of the most famous serial murder cases in U.S. history, Wilson says her book is not true crime. She's not focused on the killer or the investigation.
Instead, she writes about what happens to the people left behind. That means the confusion, the shame, the anger and the questions that never get answered.
Wilson also pushes back on advice she says never helped her. People often told her to "let it go." She hated that phrase.
"That phrase, 'let it go,' still makes me cringe," Wilson writes. "There's no such thing as letting go of those things. You don't let it go. You learn to let it change you."
That's the heart of her message: pain doesn't disappear. But it can shape you into someone stronger, if you let it.
Why She Wrote It
Wilson didn't write this book to relive the worst day of her life. She wrote it for other people stuck in their own pain.
The memoir covers her chaotic childhood, years of grief and abandonment, and her long road toward forgiveness. It's meant for anyone dealing with loss that doesn't wrap up neatly — whether that's from violent crime, family trauma, or something else entirely.
Retired LAPD homicide detective Steve Hodel, who wrote "Black Dahlia Avenger," reviewed the book. He said it shows how violent crime doesn't just hurt the victim — it hurts the whole family left behind.
"Mallina Wilson reminds us that the aftermath of violent crime belongs not only to the victim, but to the family left behind — and that sometimes the hardest answers are the ones we must learn to live without," Hodel said.
That's a big point for readers to understand: closure doesn't always come. Sometimes healing means learning to live without it.
A Space to Share Stories
Wilson isn't stopping at the book. She's also inviting readers to share their own "all in a moment" stories — the turning points that changed their lives forever.
People can submit their stories privately, anonymously, or publicly through the book's companion website. The goal is simple: help people who went through something devastating feel less alone.
Here's a quick look at the key details:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Book title | All in a Moment |
| Author | Mallina Wilson |
| Release date | October 27, 2026 |
| Topic | Grief, trauma, forgiveness after mother's murder |
| Mother's name | Amina Agisheff |
| Suspected killer | Gary Ridgway (Green River Killer) |
| Case status | Unsolved, 44 years later |
Wilson works as a real estate broker in Bellingham and also coaches people professionally. She says forgiveness and compassion are at the center of how she now lives her life.
Why It Matters
Stories like Wilson's give a voice to people who rarely get attention after a crime makes headlines: the family. Her memoir offers a real look at how grief lingers for decades, and how forgiveness can still be possible even without answers. For anyone carrying an unresolved loss, her message is clear — you don't have to let go to move forward.
