Steven Dean Gordon was born on February 3, 1969, in Lynwood, California. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Norwalk, where he spent most of his childhood. Growing up, Gordon lived in poverty and faced some health issues, which caused him to miss a year of school. He was often bullied at school because of his short stature. This bullying affected him and led to an aggressive personality.

After finishing school, Gordon graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1988. He chose not to continue his education and found a job at Disneyland. There, he worked as a handyman for the fast food restaurants within the park. He met a fellow employee named Lanai Lewis, and they began a relationship. Gordon became known in his community for his passion for playing softball. He played on the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts team in the early 1990s.

In 1992, Gordon faced legal troubles when his sister accused him of sexually abusing her daughter. Initially, he pleaded guilty but later took back his plea. This led to a guilty verdict, and he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. After his release, he married Lewis on February 22, 1995, and they had a daughter named Kayla two years later. To support his family, Gordon worked multiple jobs, including as a mailman at the Orange County Register and as a car washer at an auto repair shop.

The family later moved to Riverside, but during this time, Gordon's behavior began to worsen due to financial and domestic stress. Lewis noted that he became irritable and made threats of suicide. In 2001, she left him and filed for divorce, leading to restrictions that prevented Gordon from contacting her and their daughter.

After their separation, Gordon tried to reconnect with his family but was unsuccessful. In August 2001, he kidnapped Lewis and their daughter, which led to his arrest. He was charged with two counts of kidnapping and found guilty in April 2002. He received a 10-year prison sentence but was paroled in February 2010.

After his release, Gordon struggled to find stable housing and eventually met Franc Cano, another man with a criminal history. They quickly formed a close friendship. In 2010, the two men cut off their ankle monitors and fled, but they were caught shortly after. Both served time for parole violations.

Steven Dean Gordon and his accomplice, Franc Cano, were arrested on April 11, 2014, after a woman’s body was found at a recycling center. The victim was Jarrae Nykkole Estepp, a 21-year-old prostitute. She had just arrived in California a few days before her death. This incident led investigators to look into the disappearances of three other women: Josephine Monique Vargas, Martha Anaya, and Kianna Rae Jackson.

A review of evidence linked Gordon and Cano to the crime scene. They were both on parole and wearing ankle monitors when these women disappeared. Upon their arrest, the police searched for the bodies of Vargas, Anaya, and Jackson but were unable to find them.

During a lengthy interrogation, Gordon confessed to killing these women. He said he had started luring them into his car in October 2013, with Cano often hiding in the back seat. Once inside the car, the women were taken to a secluded area, where they were assaulted and then strangled. Gordon described how they disposed of the victims' bodies after stripping them and washing them to destroy evidence.

He identified Jackson as their first victim. After picking her up, they opted to kill her when she noticed their ankle monitors. His testimony revealed he initially wanted to convince Estepp to quit prostitution, but an argument led to her death when she resisted and sprayed him with Mace.

In late November 2014, Gordon and Cano were charged with four murders. DNA evidence and text messages discussing their plans for the victims helped build the case against them. Gordon was tried separately from Cano and began the trial on November 16, 2016. Despite previously pleading guilty during interrogation, he later recanted and claimed he was not guilty. He even fired his lawyer and defended himself.

During the trial, the evidence presented included DNA testing and text messages which pointed to their involvement in the crimes. Ultimately, on December 15, 2016, Gordon was found guilty on all counts. The jury sentenced him to death.

Later, in February 2017, he received his official death sentence. The investigation also led to the identification of another potential victim, Sable Alexandria Pickett, who went missing in February 2014, and is believed to be his fifth victim. As of May 2022, Gordon remains on death row, and Cano has received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.