Ronald Joseph Dominique was born into a world of modest means on January 9, 1964, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. As the youngest of six children, he spent his childhood in a trailer park on the city’s outskirts, where his parents worked as laborers. Despite the financial constraints of his family, Ronald managed to complete his education at the local Thibodaux High School, graduating in 1983.

With aspirations of furthering his education, he went on to Nicholls State University, aiming to pursue a degree in computer science. However, his interest waned, and he dropped out in the mid-1980s. During his school years, Ronald faced significant challenges. He struggled with communication, battled weight issues, and suffered from low self-esteem—all of which made him a target for bullying.
 

Although he found solace in singing with the school choir, Ronald remained a figure on the social periphery, not engaging in the typical high school activities like sports, drugs, or drinking. His high school years also marked a critical personal discovery for Ronald—he realized he was gay. This realization led him to visit a local gay bar a few times. Unfortunately, some classmates spotted him, which only fueled more harassment and forced Ronald to vehemently deny any rumors about his sexuality.

On June 12, 1985, Ronald was arrested for sexual harassment via telephone, leading to a $75 fine. With limited education, he found himself bouncing between low-skilled jobs, often relying on his family for support. In 1994, he was fined for drunk driving. His troubles continued when, in 1996, a young man claimed Ronald had assaulted him, though charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Ronald's life took a darker turn as he frequented gay bars, often dressed as his favorite singer, Patti LaBelle.

Despite these forays into social life, he struggled to form meaningful relationships and was often marginalized by the local gay community. He remained unmarried and had no children. The most harrowing aspect of Ronald's story involves his crimes. Between 1997 and 2006, he preyed on men and teenagers, luring them with offers of alcohol, drugs, or shelter. His victims, who were not necessarily homosexual, were often African-American, and he met them in various locations, including during walks or drives in his pickup truck.

After gaining their trust, Ronald would bring them to his trailer, overpower them, and commit his crimes. He strangled his victims and disposed of their bodies in remote areas, leaving a trail that would eventually lead investigators to him. Ronald's first confirmed victim was David Mitchell, a 19-year-old whose body was found in a ditch. Initially ruled as an accidental drowning, the circumstances were suspicious as the water level was low and Mitchell's trousers were lowered. After Ronald's eventual confessions, the true horror of his actions came to light, with a series of murders that had terrorized the community finally being attributed to him.

In 2006, after a series of investigations and a crucial tip from a suspicious encounter, police attention turned to Ronald. His subsequent arrest was inevitable after DNA evidence linked him to multiple victims. He confessed to 23 murders, detailing his actions in a manner that only the true perpetrator could know. Ronald was eventually sentenced to eight life terms in 2008, after a plea bargain spared him the death penalty. He remains incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.