Westley Allan Dodd was an American serial killer who committed his heinous crimes in the late 1980s. He was known for his sadistic and brutal nature, as well as his habit of keeping a detailed diary of his crimes. This diary was instrumental in his eventual capture and conviction.

The diary of Westley Allan Dodd, 28, focused on his passion — the kidnapping, molestation, torture, and murder of children. He jotted down fantasies about different ways to hurt boys in his diary of death.

Far from remaining for his eyes only, Dodd’s words would go public and eventually help send him to the gallows.
Dodd stored his diary in a briefcase that he kept hidden under his bed, along with a photo album marked as "Family Memories." Shockingly, this album contained pictures of boys whom Dodd had sexually assaulted, including one of the three victims he had murdered.

Dodd was born in 1961 in Toppenish, Washington. He had a troubled childhood, with a father who was abusive and an alcoholic. Dodd was also sexually abused by a neighbor when he was a child. These experiences likely contributed to his later criminal behavior.

Dodd committed his first sexual assault in 1981 when he was 19 years old. He was caught and sentenced to prison, but he was released after serving just four years. This would prove to be a grave mistake, as Dodd went on to commit a string of horrific crimes in the years that followed.

In 1989, Dodd kidnapped and murdered three young boys in the Vancouver, Washington area. He lured the boys away from public places, sexually assaulted them, and then strangled them to death. After each murder, Dodd wrote a detailed account of what he had done in his diary.

Dodd's diary was discovered by police during their investigation into the murders. It contained disturbing descriptions of his crimes, as well as his twisted fantasies and desires. Dodd had been keeping this diary since 1987, and it provided a chilling glimpse into the mind of a serial killer.

The diary also provided valuable evidence in Dodd's trial. It was clear from the diary that Dodd had planned and premeditated each of his murders, and that he had acted with a clear mind and purpose. The diary also helped to establish Dodd's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Dodd was eventually convicted of his crimes and sentenced to death. He spent several years on death row, during which time he became an advocate for his own execution. He argued that he deserved to die for what he had done and that he had no desire to continue living.

Dodd was executed by hanging on January 5, 1993. He was the first person to be executed by hanging in the United States since 1965. His execution was controversial, with some arguing that hanging was a cruel and unusual punishment. However, many others felt that Dodd had received the justice he deserved.

Dodd's known victims were three young boys. Their names were Cole Neer, age 11, William Hamm Jr., age 10, and Lee Iseli, age 4.

Dodd lured each of the boys away from public places, such as parks and movie theaters. He would typically offer them money or the promise of a new toy or video game. Once he had gained their trust, he would take them to a secluded area, where he would sexually assault them and then strangle them to death.

Cole Neer was Dodd's first victim. Dodd kidnapped him from a movie theater in Vancouver, Washington on September 4, 1989. He took Cole to a secluded spot along the Lewis River, where he sexually assaulted him and then strangled him to death.

On September 13, 1989, Dodd abducted his second victim, William Hamm Jr., from a park. He took William to a nearby campground, where he sexually assaulted him and then strangled him to death.

On November 19, 1989, Dodd abducted his third and last victim, Lee Iseli, from a skate park in Vancouver. Dodd transported Lee to an isolated, wooded area where he subjected him to sexual assault before ruthlessly choking him to death.

The case of Westley Allan Dodd is a chilling reminder of the depravity that exists in some individuals. His diary serves as a warning of the danger posed by those who are capable of such evil. Dodd's victims will never be forgotten.

Arthur Gary Bishop and Westley Allan Dodd had many things in common. They were both psychopathic pedophiles and child molesters who eventually turned to killing their victims. Both were executed for their crimes at their own request. Most importantly, both desperately wanted to know one thing before they died: How did I become a serial killer?  This book is an attempt to answer that question.
 

The Mind of the Devil: The Cases of Arthur Gary Bishop and Westley Allan Dodd