Westley Allan Dodd
| Westley Allan Dodd | |
|---|---|
Dodd testifying in court
|
|
| Born |
Westley Allan Dodd July 3, 1961 Toppenish, Washington |
| Died | January 5, 1993 (aged 31) Walla Walla, Washington |
| Cause of death | Hanging |
| Other names | The Vancouver Child Killer |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Conviction(s) |
|
| Killings | |
| Victims | 3 |
|
Span of killings
|
September 4, 1989–October 30, 1989 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Washington |
|
Date apprehended
|
November 13, 1989 |
| Imprisoned at | Washington State Penitentiary |
Westley Allan Dodd (July 3, 1961 – January 5, 1993) was an American serial killer and child molester. He has been called "one of the most evil killers in history". His execution on January 5, 1993, was the first legal hanging (at his own request) in the United States since 1965.
Westley Allan Dodd was born in Toppenish, Washington, on July 3, 1961, the oldest of Jim and Carol Dodd's three children. Dodd claimed he was never abused or neglected as a child. He claimed however that the words "I love you" were never said to him as he grew up, nor could he ever remember saying them.The Seattle Times reported that Dodd described in a diary written during his imprisonment that his father was physically and emotionally abusive, that he was often neglected in favour of his younger siblings and that he witnessed violent fights between his parents. On July 3, 1976 — Dodd's 15th birthday — his father attempted suicide following an argument with his wife.
At the age of 13, Dodd began exposing himself to children in his neighborhood. His father eventually told an Oregon newspaper that he was aware of the boy's behavior, but largely chose to look the other way, especially since he was otherwise "a well behaved child who never had problems with drugs, drinking, or smoking". By the time he entered high school, Dodd had progressed to molestation, beginning with his younger cousins and then neighborhood kids he offered to babysit and the children of a woman his father was dating. At the age of 15, Dodd was arrested for indecent exposure, but police let him go with a recommendation of juvenile counseling.
As the years passed, he would be arrested several more times, again with no serious action taken. After some neighborhood kids moved out of town, he began molesting children he didn't know. In August 1981, Dodd tried to abduct two little girls, but they reported him to the police. No action was taken. The following month, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to a submarine base in Bangor, Washington where he started abusing children who lived on the base. Once, Dodd offered some boys $50 to come with him to a motel room for a game of strip poker. This time, he was arrested. Despite confessing to police that he planned to molest the boys, he was released with no charges filed. Shortly afterwards, he was arrested again for exposing himself to a boy and discharged from the Navy. Dodd spent 19 days in jail and underwent court-ordered counseling. In May 1984, he was arrested for molesting a 10-year-old boy, but received only a suspended sentence.
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