Donald Henry Gaskins, also known as "Pee Wee," began his notorious criminal activities in 1970 in South Carolina. His victims were mostly hitchhikers and individuals he encountered while driving along the highways. This approach allowed him to prey on those who were alone and vulnerable.

His first recorded violent act occurred in September 1970 when he picked up a hitchhiking woman and harmed her. This incident marked the beginning of a series of crimes that escalated in brutality over the years. Gaskins was cunning and evasive, frequently changing his locations and appearances to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Gaskins expanded his targets to include not only strangers but also people he knew. A chilling instance was when he betrayed an acquaintance in 1973, offering a ride only to attack them later. This demonstrated his willingness to harm those who trusted him.

By 1975, Gaskins had committed what he referred to as his "serious murders," which involved more premeditation and cruelty. Among these was the disturbing murder of a young boy, indicating the depth of his depravity.

Despite the randomness of his attacks, a breakthrough came in 1976 when a series of clues led the police to Gaskins. They arrested him after finding physical evidence that connected him to multiple crimes.

Gaskins was tried and found guilty in 1976, receiving a death sentence. His trial revealed the extent of his crimes, as forensic evidence and personal belongings of the victims were presented, solidifying his conviction.

Attempting to avoid execution, Gaskins admitted to additional murders in 1978, hoping this would lead to a reduced sentence. However, his strategy failed, and it did not alter the outcome of his initial sentencing.

Even while on death row, Gaskins's violent nature persisted. In 1982, he killed a fellow inmate, proving that incarceration had not changed his homicidal tendencies.

Gaskins was executed on September 6, 1991, by the electric chair, marking one of the first uses of this method in South Carolina since the reinstatement of the death penalty.