Randall Woodfield

Overview

Randall Brent Woodfield, born December 26, 1950, is a notorious American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, robber, burglar, and former football player. His chilling reign of terror earned him the monikers "I-5 Killer" and "I-5 Bandit," as he committed a series of heinous crimes along the Interstate 5 corridor, which stretches through Washington, Oregon, and California. Although Woodfield was convicted of only one murder, he has been linked to a staggering 18 murders and is suspected of being involved in as many as 44 deaths.

Quick Facts

• Born: December 26, 1950 (age 74)
• Place of Birth: Salem, Oregon, U.S.
• Other Names: The I-5 Bandit, The I-5 Killer
• Convictions: Murder, attempted murder, second-degree robbery, sodomy, sexual assault
• Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment plus 99 years
• Details of Crimes: 1 confirmed victim, linked to 18 murders, suspected involvement in 44
• Span of Crimes: October 9, 1980 – February 15, 1981
• Country: United States
• States: Oregon, California
• Date Apprehended: March 7, 1981
• Imprisoned at: Oregon State Penitentiary

Early Life

Childhood

Woodfield was born into an upper-middle-class family in Salem, Oregon. He was the third child in a family that was well-respected in their community. His mother was a homemaker, and his father worked as an executive at Pacific Northwest Bell. Woodfield had two older sisters, one of whom became a doctor and the other an attorney. They grew up in Otter Rock, a small coastal town just north of Newport, where Woodfield was a popular student and a star athlete at Newport High School.

However, beneath this seemingly stable childhood lay troubling signs. Woodfield began exhibiting sexually deviant behaviors during his teenage years, including an alarming incident of indecent exposure while in high school. This behavior led to his arrest after he exposed himself to a group of teenage girls on the Yaquina Bay Bridge. His football coaches intervened, helping to conceal the incident to protect his athletic future, but Woodfield's parents insisted he attend therapy afterward.

College Years and Football Career

After graduating high school, Woodfield attended Treasure Valley Community College before transferring to Portland State University in 1970, where he continued his football career as a wide receiver for the Portland State Vikings. He was actively involved in Campus Crusade for Christ, an evangelical student organization, and lived in an apartment near the university.

Despite his outwardly successful college life, Woodfield's criminal tendencies persisted. He faced multiple arrests for petty crimes, including vandalism and public indecency, by the early 1970s. He ultimately dropped out of college just three semesters shy of earning his degree and was selected in the 1974 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. However, he was cut during training camp after a series of troubling incidents, including his ongoing issues with indecent exposure.

After his football career floundered, Woodfield returned to Portland, seemingly disgraced and disillusioned.

First Crime Spree

In early 1975, Woodfield's criminal activities escalated dramatically. He embarked on a spree of robberies and sexual assaults against women in Portland, all committed at knifepoint. Law enforcement recognized the pattern and employed female police officers as decoys to catch him.

On March 3, 1975, Woodfield was arrested after being caught with marked money from one of the undercover operations. During interrogation, he confessed to the crimes, attributing his actions to poor sexual impulse control exacerbated by steroid use. He ultimately pled guilty to reduced charges of second-degree robbery and received a ten-year prison sentence, but was paroled after serving only four years.

Murders and Subsequent Crimes

First Murders

The turning point in Woodfield's criminal career came on October 9, 1980, when he raped and murdered Cherie Lynn Ayers, a former classmate, in her Portland apartment. Her body was discovered two days later, bearing the marks of a brutal attack with multiple stab wounds. Woodfield had a troubling connection to Ayers; they had exchanged letters during his incarceration.

Just a month later, on November 27, he murdered Darcey Renee Fix and her friend Douglas Keith Altig in a gruesome execution-style shooting in Fix's home. Both victims were shot dead, and Woodfield was again questioned due to his acquaintance with Fix, but law enforcement lacked definitive evidence to charge him.

I-5 Bandit Robberies

After these murders, Woodfield's crime spree intensified. He began to rob various establishments along the I-5 corridor, donning disguises such as fake beards to evade capture. On December 9, 1980, he held up a Vancouver gas station at gunpoint and went on to commit a series of robberies in Oregon and Washington, often targeting women working in restaurants and convenience stores.

The authorities dubbed him the "I-5 Bandit" after a string of robberies that culminated in a terrifying pattern of violence, including sexual assaults.

Later Murders

The body count continued to rise as Woodfield became increasingly brazen. On February 3, 1981, he murdered Donna Eckard and her 14-year-old daughter, Janell, in their home in Mountain Gate, California, before fleeing to commit additional crimes. His violent spree culminated in the murder of 18-year-old Julie Reitz on February 15, 1981. After a brief encounter at her home, he raped her and shot her in the head, leaving behind clues that would eventually lead investigators to him.

Arrest and Trials

As the investigation progressed, law enforcement turned their attention to Woodfield, especially after a string of robberies and assaults continued to occur in the wake of the murders. By March 5, 1981, police had enough circumstantial evidence to bring him in for questioning. A search of his apartment revealed incriminating evidence, including a spent shell casing and tape matching that found on victims.

On March 7, Woodfield was arrested. His trial began in the summer of 1981, where he faced charges for the murder of Shari Hull and the attempted murder of her co-worker, Beth Wilmot. Wilmot's testimony was crucial to securing a conviction, and after just three and a half hours of deliberation, Woodfield was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison plus 90 years.

In a subsequent trial, he faced charges related to one of his earlier assaults and was again convicted, adding 35 years to his already lengthy sentence. Despite the evidence linking him to numerous other murders, the state opted not to pursue further charges due to the financial burden of multiple trials.

Post-Conviction

Woodfield is currently imprisoned at the Oregon State Penitentiary. In 1983, he suffered injuries during a prison riot. He has also attempted to sue Ann Rule, the author of The I-5 Killer, for libel, a suit that was dismissed in 1988 due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

As of 1990, investigations revealed that Woodfield could be connected to as many as 44 murders, confirmed through DNA testing linking him to additional crimes committed during his active years.

Throughout his incarceration, Woodfield has been married three times and divorced twice. He has corresponded with journalists and even had some of his letters published in a collection titled The Serial Killer Letters.

Modus Operandi and Victim Profile

Woodfield primarily targeted young, thin, white women, often those working in convenience stores and restaurants along the I-5 corridor. His methods were notably violent and sexually motivated, with most victims being shot or assaulted.

Detectives have described Woodfield's rapid escalation in violent crime as alarming. Unlike many serial killers who exhibit cooling-off periods, Woodfield’s murderous instincts intensified, leading to a horrific pattern of frequent attacks.

Victims

While Woodfield has never confessed to any of his suspected crimes, he has been linked to numerous murders through DNA evidence. The confirmed victims of his violent spree include:

1980

• October 9: Cherie Lynn Ayers (29) - Bludgeoned and stabbed in her Portland home.
• November 27: Darcey Renee Fix (22) and Douglas Keith Altig (24) - Both shot to death in Fix's North Portland home.

1981

• February 15: Julie Ann Reitz (18) - Raped and shot in her Beaverton home.

Additionally, investigators have identified at least 25 other potential murders associated with Woodfield, with estimates suggesting he may have been involved in as many as 44 unsolved cases.

In Popular Culture

Woodfield's crimes have not only shocked the public but also inspired media portrayals; in 2011, he was the subject of a Lifetime television film titled Hunt for the I-5 Killer, based on Ann Rule's book.

Sources

• Wikipedia Article on Randall Woodfield