Carroll Edward Cole was born in Sioux City, Iowa, as the second son to LaVerne and Vesta Cole. Shortly after his younger sister was born in 1939, the family moved to California where LaVerne secured work in a shipyard. The move came just before LaVerne was called to serve in World War II. During his father's absence, Cole's mother engaged in multiple affairs, often bringing Cole along and threatening him to keep silent about her indiscretions. Vesta also subjected Cole to emotional abuse, including dressing him in girls' clothing, which led to teasing at school where classmates mocked his "girly name."

At the age of eight, Cole committed a shocking act by drowning a classmate named Duane in a lake in Richmond, California. Initially deemed an accident, Cole later admitted to the crime in his autobiography, revealing it was an act of revenge that started from his deep-seated resentment towards his mother.

As a teenager, Cole was often in trouble with the law, mainly for petty thefts and public intoxication. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army but was discharged for misconduct in 1958. His troubled behavior escalated, and in 1960, he attacked two couples in their cars at a lovers' lane. Overwhelmed by violent urges, he confessed to the police about his fantasies of strangling women.

Cole's mental health struggles led to several stays in mental hospitals. Despite being diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, he was released from Stockton State Hospital in 1963. Moving to Dallas, Cole's life continued to spiral. He married an alcoholic stripper named Billie Whitworth, but the marriage ended disastrously when he burned down a motel in a fit of jealousy.

Continuing his pattern of violence, Cole attempted to strangle an 11-year-old girl in Missouri shortly after his marriage ended, which resulted in a five-year prison sentence. Upon release, he attacked more women and voluntarily entered another mental institution. He was released yet again and returned to San Diego.

In San Diego, Cole committed his first confirmed adult murder in 1971 by strangling Essie Louise Buck and driving around with her body in his car trunk. He continued his killing spree, targeting women he believed were unfaithful, mirroring the hatred he felt towards his mother. .

Cole's life took another dark turn when he married Diana Faye Younglove Pashal in 1973. The marriage was turbulent, and Cole often disappeared for days, during which he committed further murders. In 1979, he killed Pashal, but police mistakenly concluded she died from alcohol consumption, and he was released.

After several more murders and a brief capture where he was initially overlooked as a suspect, Cole confessed to the murders of over a dozen women when faced with undeniable evidence in 1980. In 1981, he received a life sentence in Texas. He faced additional charges in Nevada and was sentenced to death in 1984.

Cole was executed by lethal injection in 1985. Despite his heinous crimes, his final moments included mundane requests for fast food and conversion to Catholicism.