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Westley Allan Dodd (July 3, 1961 January 5, 1993) was an American convicted serial killer and sex offender. However, while statistics show Oregon as a generally peaceful place to live, serial killings occur with more frequency per capita in this state than almost anywhere else in the nation. Perhaps one of the key elements in dealing with the public fascination surrounding serial killers is to place more emphasis on their victims rather than focusing on the gruesome details of the crimes. These incidents happen across the United States, and Washington has its own share of serial killers. In 2015, FBI statistics reported that Alaska had 730.2 violent crimes per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 372.6 per 100,000. Join our email crew and get 10% off our PNW hoodies & shirts!We'll also include you in sporadic emails, travel guides, and updates about the area! Despite all the press attention garnered by serial killers the FBI reports that less than one percent of murders in the country are committed by so-called serial killers whove committed at least two killings on multiple occasions. During his trial in Clark County Superior Court, the prosecution read aloud excerpts of Dodd's diary and displayed photographs of Lee Iseli. Here, we explore the states that have produced the highest number of these criminals throughout history and explore any commonalities and contributing factors. A number of factors combined to result in this rate of homicide. By the age of 9, Dodd had discovered that he was sexually attracted to other boys. In order not to raise Dodd's suspicion and to stall for time, Graves pretended to be a passerby and offered to help him. American serial killer Israel Keyes is thought to have murdered at least 11 people before his 2012 arrest. Harkins was discovered only four days after his initial disappearance, while Cooper wasnt found until months later, about a mile away from her boyfriends body. To start with, he killed two girls, dragging them into the woods before having sexual intercourse with their corpses. Washington State Almost Released A Serial Killer Due To COVID-19 On a weekly basis, small screen dramas such as Criminal Minds focus on the gruesome acts committed by an array of murderous psychopaths. Ridgway managed to evade capture for almost twenty years after his first murder, and was eventually arrested in 2001. Current Active Serial Killers In 2023 - Dark Side of Humanity The US States With The Most Serial Killings - WorldAtlas So lets look at some gruesome serial killers that have terrorized Washington State over the years! Although Yates entered a plea deal to void the death penalty, after evidence of two more murders was uncovered, he was sentenced to death, but was later changed to life imprisonment after the death penalty was abolished in 2018 in the state of Washington. [6] On July 3, 1976Dodd's 15th birthdayhis father attempted suicide following an argument with his wife. There have been 98 serial murders since 1900, with 33 committed in the 1980s. Though, he described the murder of young women as his real profession. Johnson, who had been staying at a shelter, was seen driving Aughes vehicle the next day and was last seen when he walked off the job at the restaurant. Some experts point to environmental factors as a major influence. [23], On the day of the execution, many people gathered outside the prison, either supporting or protesting the execution. 2. Fromtrue crimeto horror fiction, as a nation, we obsess over these terrifying, fascinating figures. Its crazy to think that her father did all that. Despite confessing to police that he planned to molest the boys, he was released, with no charges filed. Reports say the victim was buried on park property. Its presumed that Bundy began killing in 1971 in his hometown of Seattle, and although his total number of victims is unknown, it is believed that he was responsible for the deaths of thirty women. The environmental factors in Alaska play some part in this, however many experts believe the lack of law enforcement services in isolated regions of the state also drive up this statistic. Check out our horror and true crime merchandise! While this number may seem high, it is nearly one-fifth the number that used to be active during the 1980s, when there were 254 active serial killers. Robert Lee Yates Jr. targeted sex workers in Spokane, shooting them in the head after he solicited their services. Serial killers who lived in Northwest | The Seattle Times Washington 2017 2020. In fact, Florida has the third highest number of total individual serial cases in the country, with 112 separate cases.Its not clear exactly why Florida is such an active state for serial murderers. King County Medical Examiner Donald Reay found that Dodd had died quickly, within two to three minutes, though not from a broken neck, which is the usual cause of death from hanging. Look to the Lord, and you will find peace. Washington female murderers | Murderpedia As is the case with most serial killers, Yatess total number of victims is unknown, but he confessed to having taken the life of 18 women between 1975 to 1998. The local police contacted the Portland Police task force investigating the kidnapping and murder of Lee Iseli. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Westley Dodd Serial Killer Executed In Washington - My Crime Library The Serial Killer Database which chronicles crimes committed between 1900 and 2014 reveals that Alaska leads the US in the most serial killings. The first time Dodd was arrested was at the age of fifteen, but he was released the next day because of his age. In fact, with 232 violent incidents reported per year for every 100,000 citizens, it is overall one of the least violent states in the country. These sorts of human monsters appear everywhere in our cultural fiction. Its hard to pinpoint exactly why people find serial killers so fascinating, but there is a strange allure in exploring the dark pathologies of the human mind. Jack Owen Spillman III (born August 30, 1969) [2] is an American serial killer from Spokane, Washington. [9] At the age of 15, Dodd was arrested for indecent exposure, but police released him with a recommendation of juvenile counseling. In the early autumn of 1989, Dodd decided that David Douglas Park in Vancouver, a large, heavily wooded park with several secluded trails, would be a good place to find potential victims. Falls made a date to meet up at Saul's house for sex. One was found with her hands and feet tied behind her. The total number of sex worker victims by serial killers surpasses 850 nationwide. Serial killers often target sex workers, both in Alaska and elsewhere in America. Aileen Wuornos gained notoriety after being found guilty of killing seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Known as one of the "most evil killers in history", Dodd's execution in January 1993 was the first legal hanging in the U.S. since 1965. He was given four consecutive life sentences. If this is true, he would be one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. In 1993, he got his wish and was hung. Follow. The killer turned out to be Robert Lee Yates, Jr., a brutal killer who is still alive today. Extended winter nights for much of the year have a profound psychological impact on many people, although the most frequent symptom of seasonal affective disorder is severe depression. Washington State is a relaxing place to live, with plenty of scenic natural parks and rugged mountain ranges. Which State has Produced the Most Serial Killers? Avoided. In 1989, he sexually assaulted and murdered three young boys in Vancouver, Washington. Keith Hunter Jesperson - Crimes. Family & Letters - Biography ONeall is currently serving a 135-year sentence in Oregon for the 1987 kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old Portland girl, which followed a 28-year sentence for the 1987 murder of a 21-year-old Pierce County woman, according to The Seattle Times archives. Gary Grant, like most serial killers, had a very troubled childhood. My dad was friends with yates possible first 2 victims. This Clark County Parks employee was convicted of raping and strangling a 19-year-old girl, then burying her on park property. Many questions have been raised about Warren Leslie Forests motives and background over the years, but some mysteries will never be solved. As a society, we have become both fascinated and repelled by the lives of serial killers and their brutality, cunning, and lack of remorse. Robert Lee Yates - Wikipedia [12], He would later confess to police that he had originally planned not to kill the boy, but eventually decided that it was necessary to keep him from telling anyone. Aughe was reportedly last seen leaving a friends house with Johnson at around 1 a.m. Aughes body has never been found. He mainly targeted women in his 20-year killing spree and is serving life in prison at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. He was placed on probation and ordered to seek psychiatric treatment. From 1989 to 2014, Louisiana averaged 13.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, more than double the national average of 6.6. Cameras everywhere, dog, knife, everything locked, dont walk alone, etc. Today, the total number of serial killings stands at 1,507 or 7.81 deaths per million inhabitants. This child was just four years old. That completes the list of all the serial killers in the United States who have been executed as of the time of this blog being posted. Dodd wrote detailed accounts of his murders in a diary that was found by police. [6] Dodd kept a low profile and mostly stayed in his apartment, writing down future plans for child abduction and also constructing a homemade torture rack for the next victim. activities of serial killers spiked in the 1980s, Charles Bowles, Detroits Worst Mayor Ever, Cold Case Cracked: Lieutenant Rita Shulers 40-Year Quest for Justice, Meet Three of Americas Forgotten Early Serial Killers. Westley Allan Dodd 6. In one case, the killer abducted young teenage girls hitchhiking in the Washington area. As he did, he would molest them. Serial Killers, Part 3: Ted Bundy's Campaign of Terror FBI Washington Washington state also rates high in serial killings. https://journeyz.co/wp-content/cache/breeze-minification/js/breeze_d6f2b5374d4034eccf68622444cf0976.js, The 30 Largest Concerts Ever Held in the World, 15 Best Travel Shows on Netflix Australia, The 18 Best Travel Watch Cases for a Rolex, The 30 Most Beautiful Treehouse Airbnbs in the United States, The 10 Best Fortnite Players in the World, 30 Best Small Towns to Visit in Illinois, and Their, The 30 Best Things to Do in Wichita Falls, Texas, The 18 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Oklahoma, 30 of the Best Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park, 28 Free, Inexpensive, and Fun Things to do in Clarksville,, The 100 Best Places to Travel in the World, The 27 Different Types of Cruise Ship Jobs, The 8 Most Famous Serial Killers from Washington. Serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer," brutally murdered eight women between 1990 and 1995. . This charming Northwest state isnt exactly a dangerous place to live, but these 7 monsters from this area have undeniably left a dark stain on our history: The barbaricactions by these villains will never be forgotten. The child began fighting and crying as Dodd was leaving the theatre through the lobby, carrying the boy in his arms. Dodd ordered broiled salmon and fried potatoes for his last meal. A former Clark County Parks employee, this war veteran was sentenced to life in prison for raping and strangling a 19-year-old girl. Over the years serial killers have become popular subject matter in the news media as well as being regularly depicted in a variety of pop culture and entertainment forums. Prostitutes and hitchhikers are the most vulnerable because of their frequent interactions with strangers. Their motivations vary, as well -- from anger and financial gain to sexual desire and ideologies. ONeall was later found guilty of auto theft in 1989 for stealing Aughes car. [24] There was much media attention; some TV news reports featured stories on the history of hanging, showing such things as the loud sound that the trap door can make, along with the silence that follows it, and the type of rope that was going to be used, and how to properly prepare it for optimum effect. Then, he killed them with a shot to the head. Did Government Officials Cover Up a Lethal Ohio School Poisoning? One of the most compelling sources of contemporary horror is the phenomenon of serial killers. The first person Stickles murdered went by the name of William B. Shanklin, and Stickles shot Shanklin dead with a rifle through his dining room window while he was in the middle of eating dinner in 1899. Copyright 2019 by Arcadia Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Even a figure as frightening, mysterious, and frankly bizarre as a serial killer has an origin story. In 2015, the Bellingham Police Department received a report from the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory on evidence found at Aughes home. Prosecutors say possible serial killer is suspect in Bellingham woman's This was just one of the many times that law enforcement failed the local community with multiple sexual offense reports that were left unanswered. He committed his final murder in October, 1919 before disappearing into the night. Like other states on this list, a number of notorious serial killers caught the attention of the nation. The name comes from the horrible death that was inflicted upon the women. Finally, the high numbers of tourists in many cases, desperate individuals down on their luck create a pool of ideal victims for anyone looking to commit a nefarious act. ), Best Day-Trips To The Oregon Coast From Portland (5 Options). In the episode titled "Malice", detective C. W. Jensen describes his involvement in bringing Dodd to justice and the effect it had on him personally. Dodd kept Lee overnight while he continued to sexually abuse him, all the while jotting down every detail in his diary. Here are the 10 states with the most total serial killer victims: California - 1,777 Texas - 984 Florida - 933 Illinois - 680 New York - 677 Ohio - 505 Pennsylvania - 462 Michigan - 425 Georgia - 409 Washington - 396 Serial Killers by State 2023 Serial Killer Victims Serial Killer Victims per 100,000 People Serial Killers by State 2023 Show Sources Most of his victims were young, vulnerable women, many of them being sex workers who Ridgway had hired. Though its believed he could have killed seven people. The Sheriffs were unable to solve the case, causing it to be closed without a conviction. The younger boy was playing alone on a slide, and Dodd succeeded in convincing the boy to come with him. Like Alaska, Nevada has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country according to FBI statistics. He exploited womens vulnerabilities and primal desire to nurture, and when opportunity arose, Bundy struck, blitz-attacking his victims when they were unsuspecting. Dodd planned his entire life around easy access to "targets", as he referred to children. . Some of these serial killers were caught early on before they could do severe damage to the community, but others managed to keep their identities under wraps for years, and they tormented the state until the day they were finally locked up. Two couples were killed in total, but another couple murdered in the same period are thought to be victims of the same perpetrator. Washington State is home to one of America's most notorious serial killers: "Ted" Theodore Bundy whose name has become synonymous with sadism, depravity, and horror. Then, he would drop their bodies into the river. However, Stickles was much sloppier during the burglary and ultimately left evidence that proved he was the killer. However, his most sickening crime is the murder of Lee Iseli. Bundy began his killing career in the early 1970s in Washington, mainly preying on young college women. My mother grew up in the same neighborhood as the green river killer, crazy to know that she was a teen when those murders were going on. Their preferred victims, motives for killing, modus operandi, and the locations all vary greatly. Reay stated that Dodd's death had likely not been very painful. He was pronounced dead by the prison doctor and his body was transported to Seattle for autopsy. Seven Questions for Keith Roysdon, author of The Westside Park Murders, Meet Cathy Pickens, author of True Crime Stories of Eastern North Carolina. Suspected serial killer charged in 1987 Bellingham murder | king5.com Whether we want to learn about the details of their crimes, delve into the bleak question of their psychological makeup, determine how so many go unnoticed and uncaught, or puzzle at the strange cases of killers who become ghoulish media spectacles, we cant get enough of them. Gary Leon Ridgway is state's most notorious serial killer and one of the most prolific in the country. Washington State is a beautiful, history-rich part of the United States, with a vast surface area and a population the size of a small European country. He also kept the boys underwear as a memento. Yates also confessed to two murders committed in Walla Walla in 1975 and a 1988 murder committed in Skagit County. Of course, for a serial murderer, the cover of darkness also provides a perfect opportunity to target a victim. Though, he has been linked to the death of over 100 people. He would convince them to get into his car. As of June 2020, there are no known active serial killers in the state, but there are still a few unsolved cases that may be attributed to them. [21], Dodd's execution came with some controversy over his choice of execution by hanging. Robertsons body was discovered in February 1986, showing a total of seventeen stab wounds along with a sock around her neck. Martin Lee Sanders Long-haul trucker, Spokane Convicted of raping and killing two teenagers in Spokane in 1983. To this day, Ted Bundy remains one of the nation's most deadly and notorious serial killers. The Green River Killer was just one vote away from being released back onto the streets of Washington as COVID-19 fears get ridiculous. How Many Serial Killers Are Active In The UK Now? Rather, she managed to gain complete psychological control over her victims. So, let's look at the number of serial killers by state, per capita, as of 2020. They also discovered Dodd's diary, in which he wrote in detail about the murders. Florida actually does seem to attract serial killers with a rate of 9.92 serial murders per million inhabitants. Westley Allan Dodd was born in Toppenish, Washington, on July 3, 1961, the oldest of Jim and Carol Dodd's three children. From 1975 to 1998, he is known to have murdered at least 11 women in Spokane. They were good friends. He buried her body under the window of his family home. Despite facing the death penalty, Forest was able to strike a plea deal for three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole due to his cooperation with authorities and the lack of physical evidence tying him directly to the murders. After more than forty years, detectives found more proof connecting him to other murders for which he is still awaiting trial. [28], Griffiths, Richard (producer and director). This killer targets heterosexual couples. [19], Dodd was executed at 12:05a.m. on January 5, 1993, at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. In 1987, Dodd tried to lure a young boy into a vacant building, but the boy refused to go with him and instead told the police. Despite the stereotypes perpetuated in movies, serial murderers do not have a great deal in common with each other. The tragic 2006 Capitol Hill massacre was committed by Huff, a 28-year-old in Seattle who was invited to a post-rave party, left quietly, then returned with a 12-gauge shotgun and a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, killing six people and wounding two. He abducted two brothers as they walked home from the playground. We live in the Pacific Northwest and love everything about it. BELLINGHAM, Wash. A 36-year-old missing person's case in Whatcom County is now a homicide, and prosecutors believe an accused serial killer who's been serving a prison sentence in Oregon . He also confessed to two murders committed in Walla Wallain 1975 and a 1988 murder committed in Skagit County. What defines serial murder varies, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it occurs when someone kills two or more people in separate events. Join the creepiest email list you've ever been on. Yates was originally sentenced to death, but it was later changed to life imprisonment after Washington abolished the death penalty in 2018. However, police believed that Forrest was responsible for several other unsolved murders throughout Washington State, including two which were originally thought to be the handiwork of Ted Bundy. Neither boy survived. Serial killer Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, murdered at least 49 women in Washington state before he was caught in 2001.