The Sinister Tale of Westley Allan Dodd: The Vancouver Child Killer

Introduction to Darkness

Westley Allan Dodd was no ordinary criminal. Born on July 3, 1961, in Toppenish, Washington, Dodd would earn the grim moniker "The Vancouver Child Killer." His heinous acts in 1989, which included the sexual assault and murder of three young boys in Vancouver, Washington, sent shockwaves through the community and the nation. Dodd's reign of terror came to an end later that same year when he was caught attempting to kidnap a six-year-old boy from a movie theater in Camas, Washington.

A Troubled Beginning

Dodd grew up as the oldest of three children in a seemingly typical family in Richland, Washington. However, his childhood was far from idyllic. Although he claimed to have never been abused, he stated that affection was sparse in his household. The words "I love you" were foreign, never exchanged between him and his family. His environment was one of emotional and physical neglect, exacerbated by violent parental disputes.

From a young age, Dodd felt isolated, a loner at school, and by age nine, he discovered a disturbing attraction to boys. His father's suicide attempt on Dodd's fifteenth birthday only deepened the scars of his formative years.

Descent into Crime

Dodd's criminal behavior began at age 13 when he started exposing himself to neighborhood children. His father, aware of this conduct, dismissed it as a phase, believing Dodd was otherwise well-behaved. This dismissive attitude allowed Dodd to escalate his offenses. He progressed to molesting younger cousins and neighborhood children he offered to babysit.

His first brush with the law came at 15 when he was arrested for indecent exposure. The police, however, released him with a recommendation for juvenile counseling—an opportunity for intervention that went unseized.

Dodd's criminal activities continued unabated into adulthood. In 1981, he attempted to abduct two girls but faced no consequences when they reported him. He joined the Navy, where his predatory behavior continued, leading to a dishonorable discharge after multiple incidents of molestation and indecent exposure.

His life was meticulously organized around gaining access to potential victims. He chose living arrangements and employment that placed him near children, a calculated move that allowed his abuse to continue largely unchecked.

The Murders

Dodd's fantasies grew increasingly violent, culminating in a series of murders that would horrify the nation. On September 4, 1989, armed with a fish fillet knife and shoelaces, he lured brothers Cole and William Neer to a secluded area in David Douglas Park, Vancouver. There, he tied them to a tree, molested them, and then brutally stabbed them. Cole died at the scene, while William succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.

The violence escalated on October 29, 1989, when Dodd abducted four-year-old Lee Iseli from a Portland playground. Dodd took Lee to his apartment, where he subjected the boy to a night of abuse, meticulously documenting each horrific detail in his diary. The following morning, Dodd strangled Lee, photographed his lifeless body, and discarded it near Vancouver Lake.

Capture and Confession

Dodd's capture on November 13, 1989, was serendipitous. He attempted to abduct six-year-old James Kirk II from a theater restroom in Camas. His brazen attempt was thwarted by quick-thinking theater employees and by William "Ray" Graves, who detained Dodd until police arrived.

Under interrogation by Portland detectives, Dodd confessed over three days to the murders of the Neer brothers and Lee Iseli. A search of his apartment uncovered chilling evidence, including a homemade torture rack, newspaper clippings, and his detailed murder diary.

The Trial and Execution

Dodd's trial in Clark County Superior Court was a grim affair. He pled guilty and took the stand during the sentencing phase, insisting on a death sentence. His chilling honesty about his intentions to kill again if given the chance left little room for doubt about his dangerousness.

Washington State law offered Dodd a choice between lethal injection and hanging for his execution. Reflecting on his crimes, Dodd chose hanging, the method he had used to kill Lee Iseli. On January 5, 1993, Dodd was executed at Washington State Penitentiary, marking the first legal hanging in the U.S. since 1965.

Legacy and Controversy

Dodd's execution was not without controversy. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the method of execution, but the Washington Supreme Court upheld the hanging, largely because it was Dodd's choice. His case prompted Washington State to authorize the indefinite civil commitment of convicts deemed sexually violent predators, a legislative step aimed at preventing future tragedies.

Dodd's story remains a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary life, a tale of missed opportunities for intervention and the devastating consequences that can ensue.

Sources

Learn more about Westley Allan Dodd on Wikipedia.