Todd Manning is the illegitimate son of Victor Lord and his longtime mistress, Irene Clayton. Newborn Todd was adopted by Peter and Barbara Manning, Irene's brother and sister-in-law. Barbara left her family when Todd was nine, leaving her son to be raised by the abusive Peter. After graduating high school, Todd enrolled in Llanview University, where he was the star football player. He joined a fraternity, where one of the brothers was Kevin Buchanan.

Todd had a one night stand with Marty Saybrooke, but she rejected him the next day. Todd still pursued her, but Marty did not give in to his advances. When Marty got drunk at a party, Todd, along with some other fraternity members, raped her. Marty eventually reported the rape and Todd was arrested. Placed on trial, Todd hired Nora Gannon to defend him. Nora believed in Todd's innocence and nearly won the case-until another woman, Carol Swift, revealed that Todd had raped her as well. Disgusted, Nora caused a mistrial.

A furious Todd declared revenge on Marty. He cornered Marty and Luna Moody in an alley and threatened to rape both of them. Luna fought back and scarred Todd's face. Powell, Todd's fraternity brother, witnessed the incident and told the police. In addition, Marty managed to trick Todd into confessing to the rape, which she tape recorded. Todd was sent to jail, determined to get revenge on Marty, Nora and Powell.

In prison, Todd met Rebecca Lewis, an evangelist who often visited the prisoners. Todd decided to use Rebecca to escape from prison and gain revenge on his enemies. As the two talked more and more, Todd found himself falling in love with Rebecca. Todd soon escaped from prison and convinced Rebecca to hide him out. Todd stalked Nora, who had gone blind, and threatened to rape her. Nora managed to hit him over the head and call the police, but Todd escaped before police officer Bo Buchanan could arrive. Todd sought emotional solace with Rebecca, who could only see the good in him. Marty, along with her boyfriend Suede, found where Todd was hiding. Todd confronted and taunted Marty and got into a fight with Suede, which resulted in Suede being thrown against a wall and suffering a fatal head injury. A desperate Todd kidnapped Rebecca. Despite having feelings for him, Rebecca got word to the authorities where she was. After a struggle with Bo and Powell, Todd was shot, fell into a river and presumed dead.

Todd was, in fact, alive and hiding out at Llanfair, where he befriended Sarah and CJ, the young children of Tina Lord and Cord Roberts. Determined to win Rebecca back, Todd was disgusted to find that she had started dating Powell. Todd visited Rebecca, who rejected him and told the police he was still alive. While avoiding the authorities, Todd began stalking Rebecca but was eventually caught. On the way to Statesville prison, the prison van was involved in a car accident. Todd saw that the other car carried Marty, CJ and Jessica Buchanan. Todd pulled them from the wreckage, saving their lives.

Todd was thrown in prison, where he contemplated suicide. With the help of therapy, Todd began to realize the extent of his crimes and felt true remorse for them. Meanwhile, CJ and Sarah began campaigning for Todd's release. The campaign got the attention of the governor, who felt that Todd's rescue of Marty, CJ, and Jessica was an act of heroism, and issued him a full pardon. Todd still had feelings for Rebecca, who was now engaged to Powell. Their frequent run-ins revealed that Rebecca cared for Todd, but she was determined to honor her commitment to Powell.

Late one night, while nursing his broken heart at Rodi's, Todd met the beautiful (and similarly heart-broken) Blair Daimler....