Randall Woodfield was born on December 26, 1950, in Salem, Oregon, and grew up in the small coastal town of Otter Rock. During his teenage years at Newport High School, he excelled in athletics, particularly in football, but also began exhibiting concerning behaviors such as indecent exposure.

Despite these issues, Woodfield attended Portland State University, where he continued to shine as a football player and was involved in the Campus Crusade for Christ. His promising football career saw him drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1974, but it was cut short due to his recurring legal troubles, including multiple arrests for public indecency.

Randall Woodfield's criminal activities began in early 1975, shortly after he returned to Portland from Wisconsin. Several women in Portland were accosted by a man wielding a knife, who forced them to perform sexual acts before robbing them. Woodfield was arrested on March 3, 1975, after being caught with marked money from one of the robberies. He confessed, citing poor sexual impulse control due to steroid use, and was sentenced to ten years in prison, but was released on parole in July 1979.

Following his release, Woodfield's crimes escalated. He began a series of robberies and sexual assaults along the Interstate 5 corridor in late 1980. His criminal acts earned him the nickname "I-5 Bandit." He targeted gas stations, restaurants, and other businesses, often wearing disguises such as a fake beard or athletic tape on his nose. His modus operandi involved sexually assaulting his victims before robbing them. The spree continued until his arrest in early 1981.

Woodfield's violence further escalated to include murder. On February 3, 1981, Donna Eckard and her daughter were found shot to death in their home in California. Similar crimes occurred in Oregon and Washington, with victims often sexually assaulted before being killed. Woodfield's final known murder was of Julie Reitz on February 15, 1981, whom he shot after raping her in her home.

Woodfield remains incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary. He has been linked to numerous unsolved murders through DNA testing and other methods. Woodfield has never confessed to any of the crimes and has unsuccessfully attempted to sue author Ann Rule for her book about his life and crimes. He continues to be a suspect in as many as 44 homicides and over 60 rapes.

Woodfield's victims were predominantly young, thin, white women, often employees of businesses along Interstate 5. He typically concealed his identity with various disguises and targeted victims at random or following rejected sexual advances. His crimes involved sexual assault followed by murder, with victims often shot to death. Woodfield's killings became more frequent over time, showing a lack of remorse and responsibility.

Woodfield was convicted of the murder of Shari Hull and attempted murder of Beth Wilmot, but he has been linked to numerous other murders and assaults. His confirmed victims include Cherie Ayers, Darcey Fix, Douglas Altig, Donna Eckard, Janell Jarvis, Julie Reitz, and several others, with law enforcement estimating his total number of victims to be significantly higher.

Woodfield was arrested on March 7, 1981, after a series of positive identifications and evidence linking him to the crimes. He was tried and convicted in June 1981 for the murder of Shari Hull and the attempted murder of Beth Wilmot, receiving a life sentence plus 90 years. Additional convictions in October 1981 added 35 years to his sentence. Despite suspicions of involvement in numerous other crimes, financial constraints prevented further prosecutions.