Ali Mahmood Awad Irsan was born on December 27, 1957, in Jordan. He grew up in a family where his father served in the Jordanian Army. This military background influenced his early life and upbringing. In 1979, using a student visa, Ali moved to the United States to continue his education. He settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he studied at Kirkwood Community College.

While studying, Ali met Robin Dahl, a 17-year-old girl who was working on her General Educational Development (GED). They got married around 1980. The couple eventually moved to the Houston area in Texas by 1984 and had four children together. Their first child was born in 1981. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1994.

After his first marriage, Ali traveled back to Jordan when he was 35 years old. During this visit, he entered into an arranged marriage with a girl named Shmou Ali Alrawabdeh. She was quite young, around 15 or 16 years old. Shmou moved to the United States around 1995. They had eight children while living in the U.S., totaling Ali's known children to twelve from both marriages.

In addition to his family life, Ali pursued education in the medical field. He claimed to have studied in a medical laboratory program in Jordan and also obtained a diploma in auto mechanics from Houston Community College.

Throughout this time, Ali identified as a devout Muslim and raised his family according to his beliefs. He lived on a three-acre property in a rural area of eastern Montgomery County, Texas. He faced challenges as he attempted to balance his cultural beliefs with the new environment in America.

On January 15, 2012, Gelareh Bagherzadeh was killed while in her father's car outside her parents' home in Houston. The murderer used a .38 caliber handgun and shot her through the passenger window. Police discovered her body later that night. Allegations surfaced that Ali Irsan, along with family members, were involved in her death.

On November 12, 2012, Coty Beavers was murdered at his apartment in Harris County. He was shot multiple times after returning to his home. At the time, his wife, Nesreen, was also present but had just left for work. Witnesses reported that the assailant entered the apartment while it was unlocked. Nesreen found Beavers' body later that afternoon.

The investigations linked both murders, suggesting a motive tied to familial honor. Nesreen had converted to Christianity and married Coty, leading to conflicts within the family. In 2015, Irsan was arrested and faced multiple charges, including capital murder for both killings. He was later convicted and sentenced to death in 2018.