Willie was born to Elizabeth Oalman in Covington and had four brothers. He often spoke about his struggles with drugs, alcoholism, and violence. According to his mother, he only completed the ninth grade and left home at the age of 16 due to his drug use.

Willie's father, John Kelton Willie Jr., spent 27 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary for various crimes. In 1954, he was imprisoned for cattle theft, and he later returned to prison for aggravated battery and parole violations. In 1964, John received a life sentence for second-degree murder, but his sentence was commuted to 10 years, leading to his release in 1972. Unfortunately, he was imprisoned again for aggravated battery and was finally released in October 1983.

On May 23, 1978, Willie and his cousin Perry Wayne Taylor assaulted and drowned 19-year-old Dennis Buford Hemby, then stole his marijuana.

On May 28, 1980, Willie and Joseph Jesse Vaccaro picked up Faith Hathaway, who was walking home after celebrating her upcoming enlistment in the U.S. Army. They drove her to a remote location, raped her, and murdered her by stabbing. They left her body at Frickes Cave, south of Franklinton, Louisiana.

Three days later, on May 31, 1980, Willie and Vaccaro kidnapped 20-year-old Mark Allen Brewster and his 16-year-old girlfriend Debbie Cuevas from Madisonville. They forced the two to drive to Alabama, where Brewster was tied to a tree, shot, and left for dead. He survived but was paralyzed. Cuevas was raped multiple times throughout the ordeal. The assailants then took Cuevas back to Louisiana, where they planned to kill her, but were persuaded by an accomplice, Tommy Holden, to release her.

Because the kidnapping involved crossing state lines, the case fell under federal jurisdiction. Both Willie and Vaccaro pleaded guilty to multiple counts of kidnapping and received consecutive life sentences. During the trial, Willie mocked Cuevas and displayed no remorse. Willie was also convicted of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Hathaway, resulting in a death sentence. Vaccaro received two life sentences for the murder of Hathaway and the kidnapping of Cuevas and Brewster.

Willie had initially pleaded guilty in the federal kidnapping case to avoid execution, thinking he couldn't be executed if in federal custody. However, he was transferred to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1983.

After their murder trials, Willie and Vaccaro faced charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and attempted murder. They pleaded guilty and received additional life sentences.

While on death row, Willie confessed to the murder of Dennis Hemby, resulting in another life sentence. He also admitted to the murder of Deputy Sheriff Louis Wagner II, although later recanted. Serial killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole falsely confessed to Wagner’s murder, but a grand jury declined to indict them.

Willie also claimed to have killed two other men, including a hitchhiker and a brick truck driver. However, no further details were provided.

In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean began corresponding with Willie, eventually becoming his spiritual advisor. Prejean worked to help Willie reconcile with his crimes and with God.

Willie was executed on December 28, 1984, shortly before his 27th birthday. He was the sixth person executed in Louisiana within a 13-month period. Sister Prejean attended the execution at his request. Willie’s last meal included fried fish, oysters, shrimp, french fries, and a salad. His final words expressed a hope for relief for his victim's family and a condemnation of killing in all forms.

Faith Hathaway's parents, Vernon and Elizabeth Harvey, founded the group Parents of Murdered Children to support other victims' families and advocate for more transparency in court proceedings. Sister Prejean wrote the book "Dead Man Walking" about her experiences with Willie and other death row inmates, which was later adapted into a film and an opera. Debbie Cuevas, now Debbie Morris, wrote a memoir detailing her journey of forgiveness and her opposition to capital punishment. Michael L. Varnado, the detective in Hathaway's case, also wrote a book recounting his views on the case.