Bio

Randall Brent Woodfield was born on December 26, 1950, in Salem, Oregon. He grew up in a middle-class family and had a childhood that seemed stable and supportive. Woodfield was popular at school and became a standout athlete. He played football at Newport High School and later continued to play at Portland State University.

As a teenager, Woodfield began to show troubling behavior. He committed acts of indecent exposure, which started when he was only 11 years old. His first arrest for this behavior occurred in high school. Coaches at the school tried to keep his arrest quiet so he could remain on the football team. Over the next few years, he faced multiple arrests for smaller crimes like vandalism and public indecency.

Despite these troubles, Woodfield was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1974. Unfortunately, he was cut from the team shortly after. This was a significant disappointment for him, as he had always aspired to play professional football. Following this, he dropped out of college, only three semesters away from graduation, and found himself without a clear path forward.

In 1975, Woodfield was arrested for attempting to rob a woman at knifepoint. He received a ten-year sentence for this crime. After serving four years, he was released on parole. However, his run-ins with the law did not end there. Throughout the late 1970s, he continued to get into trouble, primarily for theft and indecent exposure.

Woodfield's early life was marked by a blend of achievement in sports and a growing pattern of antisocial behavior. Though he had the potential to do well, his early signs of trouble ultimately led him down a darker path.

Murder Story

Randall Woodfield, known as "The I-5 Killer," was a serial killer who committed a series of rapes and murders along the Interstate 5 corridor in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His crime spree began in 1979 and lasted until 1981. Woodfield is believed to have murdered up to 18 women, though he was convicted of three murders.

Woodfield's victims were primarily women aged between 14 and 37 years. His first known murders took place in Oregon. In October 1980, he killed Shari Hull and attempted to kill Beth Wilmot, who survived the attack despite being shot in the head. In February 1981, he murdered Donna Eckard and her 14-year-old daughter, both found shot in their home in California.

Many of Woodfield’s crimes involved sexual assault, and he was known for using a handgun during his attacks. He gained notoriety for his methodical approach, robbing gas stations and ice cream parlors while also committing sexual assaults.

As police investigated a shooting death in Beaverton, Oregon, they discovered evidence linking Woodfield to several attacks. Upon searching his home, authorities found items that connected him to the murders. He was arrested on March 7, 1981.

During his trial, he faced multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and sodomy. He was convicted in October 1981 and sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 90 years. While Woodfield was tried for four murders, it is suspected that he could be linked to many more, with estimates ranging from 3 to over 18 victims.

In prison, he faced additional scrutiny. His case continued to unfold, with DNA evidence linking him to murders from 1980 and 1981 surfacing years later. Despite the ongoing investigations and the suspicions surrounding him, he remained the only individual charged for the crimes attributed to the I-5 Killer.

Woodfield continues to serve his sentence at the Oregon State Penitentiary.