Wayne Nathan Nance was born on October 18, 1955, in Clinton, Montana. His parents were George Edwin Nance, a long-haul truck driver, and Charlene Mae Nance, who worked as a waitress. Wayne grew up living in a motor home outside of Milltown, Montana, which is located east of Missoula.

During his early years, Wayne was seen as an academically gifted student, but he was also described as eccentric by his teachers and classmates. While he showed intelligence in school, he had a reputation for being a juvenile delinquent. His friends from that time noted that he often boasted about dark interests, such as worshipping the devil. Some even claimed he used a hot coat hanger to brand himself with satanic symbols.

In his teenage years, Wayne talked about wanting to commit a murder before turning 19. Despite his troubled behavior, he graduated from Sentinel High School in 1974. After high school, he joined the United States Navy, where he served from 1974 to 1977. His time in the Navy ended with a general discharge due to misconduct, which included being found with stolen items and illegal drugs.

Wayne Nathan Nance is suspected of committing multiple murders in Montana. On April 11, 1974, he is believed to have raped and murdered a woman named Donna Lorraine Pounds in West Riverside. When Donna returned home at 3:30 p.m., she encountered Nance, who fired a warning shot in her bedroom using a .22 caliber rifle. He wore latex gloves and used a clothesline to restrain her. After assaulting her, Nance forced Donna to the basement and shot her five times in the back of the head.

In 1980, the body of a missing 15-year-old girl named Devonna Nelson was found. She had been stabbed in the chest, and Nance is a suspect in her death but has not been definitively linked. Another victim, 16-year-old Marcella Cheri Bachmann, was found in 1984. Her remains were discovered buried in a shallow grave, and she had been shot three times in the head. Evidence, including hair found in Nance's home, linked him to her murder.

On September 11, 1985, the skeleton of a woman named Janet Lee Lucas was found. She had been shot twice in the skull. Nance is the only suspect in her murder but has not been proven responsible.

Nance murdered a couple, Michael and Teresa Shook, on December 12, 1985. They were tied up in their home, and Nance stabbed both to death after a violent confrontation. He also attempted to set their house on fire, which could have harmed their four young children who were locked inside but ultimately survived.

On September 3, 1986, Nance attempted to kill Douglas and Kristen Wells. He assaulted Doug, tied up both Doug and Kristen, and forced Kristen into a bedroom. In a struggle, Doug managed to free himself and shot Nance, who later died from his injuries in the hospital. After his death, police found evidence linking Nance to his earlier suspected crimes.