Westley Allan Dodd (July 3, 1961 – January 5, 1993) was an American convicted serial killer and sex offender infamous for sexually assaulting and murdering three young boys in Vancouver, Washington, in 1989. He was arrested after a failed attempt to abduct a six-year-old boy at a movie theater. Dodd left a detailed diary of his murders, leading to his arrest and subsequent pleading guilty to charges of murder, resulting in the death penalty. Refusing an automatic appeal, he was executed by hanging on January 5, 1993, marking the first legal hanging in the United States since 1965.Dodd's troubled upbringing included claims of emotional and physical abuse by his father, which he documented in a diary during his imprisonment. He also struggled with social isolation and discovered his sexual attraction to boys at a young age. His criminal history included a series of disturbing sexual offenses and molestations, with Dodd repeatedly evading severe punishment due to lenient legal measures. His victims, approximately fifty in total, were mostly boys under the age of 12. Dodd's escalating violent sexual fantasies ultimately led to his heinous acts of murder.Despite the tragic and disturbing nature of his crimes, Westley Allan Dodd's case serves as a chilling reminder of the complexities of criminal behavior and the importance of addressing mental health and criminal justice reform.