Ward Francis Weaver III was born on April 6, 1963, in Humboldt County, California, to Trish and Ward Weaver Jr.. His father abandoned the family when he was four years old and would later be convicted of a double homicide in 1984, earning a death sentence in California. Weaver’s stepfather, Bob Budrow, was described as an abusive alcoholic. The family eventually relocated to Portland, Oregon, where Weaver's troubling behavior intensified.

From a young age, Weaver exhibited violent and sexually abusive tendencies. His sister later testified that by the age of 12, he had already physically and sexually abused a family member. Allegations of repeated rape and abuse by a teenage relative were made in 1981, but local prosecutors chose not to pursue charges after he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve. His military service was short-lived; he was discharged for heavy drinking and dereliction of duty in 1982.

During his time in the Navy, he met Maria Stout, whom he married in 1984. The couple had four children, though one of them, Francis, was later revealed not to be his biological son. Their relationship was marked by repeated violence. Maria was hospitalized after Weaver beat her while she was five months pregnant. The marriage ended in divorce in 1993 after years of abuse.

In 1986, Weaver attacked two teenage girls in Fairfield, California, striking one of them with a concrete block. He was convicted of assault and served a brief prison sentence. Upon release, he moved to Canby, Oregon, where he ran a small store and lived with his children.

His history of domestic violence continued through the 1990s. In 1995, he brutally attacked a new girlfriend, Kristi Sloan, with a cast iron skillet. Though she survived, she declined to press charges, and the two later married in 1996. That marriage also dissolved after four years of abuse.

Weaver’s family history added further notoriety to his crimes. His father, Ward Weaver Jr., had been convicted of the rape and murder of an Air Force recruit and his fiancée in 1981 and buried them in his backyard — a chilling parallel to his son’s later crimes. Weaver Jr. has also been suspected in as many as 24 other unsolved murders.

In 2002, Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis disappeared in Oregon City, Oregon. Ashley went missing on January 9, 2002, after leaving her apartment to walk to the bus stop. Miranda vanished two months later, on March 8, 2002, under similar circumstances. Both girls were friends and attended the same school and dance class. Their disappearances sparked significant concern and media coverage.

After Ashley's disappearance, friends and family formed search parties. A fundraiser was planned in hopes of finding her. Meanwhile, there were concerns that both girls might have run away, but law enforcement suspected foul play. On August 13, 2002, Weaver's stepson reported that Weaver had attempted to rape his girlfriend, which led to an investigation. Police arrested Weaver, and during the investigation, they obtained a warrant to search his property.

The FBI began searching Weaver's home on August 24, 2002. They discovered Miranda's remains in a storage shed. The next day, they found Ashley's remains beneath a concrete slab in Weaver's backyard. Her body was stored inside a 55-gallon barrel. The girls' deaths were confirmed, and their remains were identified.

In October 2002, Weaver was charged with six counts of aggravated murder, among other offenses. He was held until his trial. On September 2, 2004, Weaver pleaded guilty and received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. His case received national attention, leading to discussions about handling similar cases in the future.