Westley Allan Dodd was born on July 3, 1961, in Toppenish, Washington. He was the eldest of three children born to Jim and Carol Dodd. Dodd later claimed that he was not abused or neglected as a child. However, he also said that he never heard the words "I love you" from his family and could not remember ever saying them himself.

As a child, Dodd felt neglected. He believed his father favored his younger siblings, which left him feeling alone. He described witnessing violent fights between his parents, which may have affected him deeply. At school, Dodd struggled to make friends and was not welcomed into any social groups. By the age of 9, he discovered he was sexually attracted to other boys, which was a significant moment in his early development.

On his 15th birthday in 1976, Dodd's father attempted suicide after a fight with his mother. This event likely added to the instability in Dodd's life. He graduated from Richland High School in 1979 and began to lead a troubled life marked by criminal behavior.

Dodd's early actions hinted at his darker tendencies. He began exposing himself to children in his neighborhood when he was only 13.

On September 4, 1989, Westley Allan Dodd went to David Douglas Park in Vancouver, Washington, armed with a fish fillet knife and shoelaces. There, he spotted two brothers, 11-year-old Cole Neer and 10-year-old William Neer. Dodd lured them to a secluded area, forced them to undress, and tied them to a tree. After sexually abusing them, he stabbed both boys multiple times and then fled.

Cole died at the scene, while William succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Following these murders, Dodd created a scrapbook with newspaper clippings about the boys. On October 29, 1989, he abducted four-year-old Lee Iseli from a park in Portland, Oregon. Dodd convinced Lee to come with him, claiming he would take him home. Instead, he took Lee to his apartment in Vancouver.

Once there, Dodd tied Lee to his bed and molested him while photographing the abuse. He kept Lee overnight and continued to harm him. The next morning, Dodd killed Lee by strangling him with a rope, then hung his body in the closet as a trophy. Dodd disposed of Lee's body in some bushes near Vancouver Lake and burned the boy's clothing, keeping only his underwear as a souvenir.

Dodd's crimes were uncovered on November 13, 1989, when he attempted to kidnap six-year-old James Kirk II from a theater in Camas, Washington. During the struggle, theater staff became suspicious and followed him outside. After releasing James, Dodd fled to his car, which had broken down. William Ray Graves, the boyfriend of James' mother, held Dodd until police arrived.

In custody, Dodd confessed to the murders of the Neer brothers and Lee Iseli. Police found evidence in his home, including a homemade torture rack, photographs of Lee, and a diary detailing his crimes. Dodd was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and attempted kidnapping, to which he pleaded guilty.

During his trial, the prosecution presented damning evidence, including excerpts from Dodd's diary. He was convicted and sentenced to death. Dodd chose to be executed by hanging, claiming he wanted to prevent himself from reoffending.

On January 5, 1993, Dodd was executed by hanging at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. His execution marked the first legal hanging in the United States since 1965. Dodd's last words echoed a shift in some of his earlier beliefs, claiming there was hope and peace through faith in Jesus Christ. He was pronounced dead shortly after the execution began. His body was cremated afterward.