Billy Ray Waldon was born on January 3, 1952, in Oklahoma. A man of Native American heritage, he later adopted the name Nvwtohiyada Idehesdi Sequoyah, which means “He who walks with the Creator” in Cherokee. His identity and cultural background were central to his life’s journey, and he was deeply involved in Cherokee culture and activism. He was associated with the American Indian Movement (AIM) and was also an advocate of Esperanto, a constructed international language, which he promoted as a tool for global unity.

Despite his cultural advocacy, Waldon’s early life was marked by instability. He had multiple encounters with law enforcement and a growing suspicion of the U.S. justice system. During the 1980s, he became increasingly alienated from mainstream society, embracing causes that aligned with anti-establishment and Indigenous rights movements.

Billy Ray Waldon's crime spree began in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 10, 1985, when he robbed and wounded a man. On November 15, he shot a 28-year-old woman in the head, but she survived. Two days later, on November 17, he robbed another woman at gunpoint and shot her; she died from her injuries two days later. On November 23, two people were shot as they got out of their car.

About two weeks later, Waldon broke into a home in San Diego, California, and shot 43-year-old Dawn Ellerman in the neck. Her 13-year-old daughter died from smoke inhalation while trying to save her mother from a fire set in the house. On December 19, police spotted Waldon fleeing from a robbery in his car. He managed to escape and abandoned the vehicle, later going to the home of 59-year-old Gordon Wells, whom he shot and killed. After this, Wells' neighbor was shot and wounded, and Waldon stole a car, which was later found abandoned in January 1986.

A ballistics test connected the crimes in San Diego with those in Oklahoma, leading to a federal arrest warrant for Waldon. On April 23, 1986, he was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list. In June 1986, Waldon stole a car and was caught after trying to flee from police. He initially gave a false name but was identified as Waldon through fingerprints.

Waldon faced three murder charges in California, along with numerous other charges, including armed robbery and rape. He was arraigned on June 20, 1986, and pleaded not guilty. In July of the same year, while in jail, he was beaten by other inmates after refusing to kill another inmate. He also attempted to escape from jail by chipping at his cell wall.

His trial began in 1991 after delays related to his mental competency and self-representation claims. Waldon was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and several other charges in December 1991. He was sentenced to death in February 1992.

On January 23, 2023, Waldon's convictions and death sentences were overturned due to issues related to his self-representation and legal counsel. The California Supreme Court granted him a new trial.