Scott William Cox was born on November 3, 1963, in Newberg, Oregon. He grew up in a typical American family but faced many challenges in his early life. As a child, Cox encountered problems related to his mental health. By 1975, he had been admitted to mental institutions numerous times, showing signs of serious emotional and psychological struggles.

Cox's teenage years were troubled. He began to have issues with the law and was involved in various criminal activities. Before his murder convictions, he had already been convicted of forgery and gun theft. These early run-ins with law enforcement set a precedent for his later arrests.

As an adult, Cox became a long-haul truck driver. His job required him to travel extensively across the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Mexico, and as far east as Ohio. Working as a truck driver allowed him to visit many different places and meet various individuals, which played a role in his criminal activities.

During this time, Cox used different names, including Seth Scott Cutter, to create fake identifications. This was part of his criminal behavior that eventually led to multiple arrests. At the time of his arrest for murder, he was living under post-prison supervision for his forgery conviction.

On May 30, 1991, in downtown Seattle, a woman was found alive after being severely attacked. She had been beaten, bitten, raped, and left for dead. Witnesses saw her thrown out of a truck. Although she survived, her injuries required hospitalization. Local detectives believed the incident was linked to a serial killer or someone on the verge of becoming one. They identified the truck involved as belonging to Woodland Trucking. The driver was Seth Scott Cutter, who initially claimed he was innocent.

Investigators soon discovered that Cutter had a history of violence against women. In November 1990, he had assaulted another woman, strengthening the belief that he was a serious threat. He was eventually linked to the attack in Seattle, but due to a lack of evidence and the victim's decision not to pursue charges, he was not arrested. However, local police continued their investigation and deemed Cutter a suspect.

Scott William Cox, Cutter's real name, was already under scrutiny for earlier crimes. After being caught for forgery and gun theft, he was convicted. During a murder investigation in 1991, he confessed to killing two women, Rheena Ann Brunson and Victoria Rhone. He stated that he wanted to release his anger on a prostitute. After drinking alcohol and using cocaine, he picked up Brunson and attacked her violently, stabbing her in the heart. He also admitted to beating other women but denied killing anyone else.

During his time as a long-haul truck driver, Cox had traveled extensively, leading detectives to suspect him in many unsolved homicide cases across North America. He became a prime suspect in about 20 other murders. After his arrest, he faced trial for his crimes. On September 15, 1993, he pleaded no contest to two counts of murder. He received a 25-year prison sentence.

Cox was released on parole on February 22, 2013, after serving 20 years of his sentence. As part of his release terms, he had to wear a GPS tracking device and adhere to strict restrictions. Since then, he has faced multiple arrests for violating his parole conditions. He remains a prime suspect in several unsolved murder cases, including the death of Tia Hicks, who disappeared in December 1990, and others that remain open and investigation ongoing.