Alice Jessie Mitchell was born on November 26, 1872, in Memphis, Tennessee, to George and Isabella Mitchell. Growing up, Alice was different from many girls her age. While other girls played with dolls, Alice enjoyed swinging in her yard and playing sports like baseball and football. She had four siblings: two older brothers, Robert and Frank, and two older sisters, Mattie and Addie. Among them, she was closest to her brother Frank. The two of them liked to play with marbles and practice shooting with a rifle. Alice also had a strong interest in horses and often helped care for her father’s horse.

Alice's mother tried to teach her sewing and needlework, but Alice did not enjoy these activities. As she grew older, she showed little interest in boys, unlike most girls. In fact, she sometimes acted rudely toward young men. This behavior set her apart from her peers.

Alice attended the Higbee School for Young Ladies, where she met Frederica "Freda" Ward. Their friendship was very open, with the two girls hugging, kissing, and holding hands. During this time, close friendships between women were common and often referred to as "chumming." However, Alice and Freda's connection was deeper than typical friendships. Alice felt a strong obsession with Freda.

Freda's family moved to Golddust, Tennessee, which made it harder for Alice and Freda to see each other. When they did get together, they spent weeks with each other and shared a bed. Freda, however, was interested in other young men in addition to Alice. Their friendship continued until Freda's sister, Ada Volkmar, told Freda to stop contacting Alice.

Feeling heartbroken over the separation, Alice fell into a deep depression. She rarely spent time with her family, stayed awake late at night, and ate very little. She often looked at Freda's photograph and reread their letters. In her confusion, Alice even began signing her name as "Freda Ward" without realizing it.

To solve the heartache, Alice came up with a plan. She intended to dress as a man, marry Freda, and move to St. Louis with her as husband and wife. Freda agreed to this idea, but when Ada discovered their letters, she warned both families. This led to Alice and Freda being kept apart, which pushed Alice further into her depression. She became withdrawn and obsessed with her memories of Freda.

Freda Ward was with her older sister Jo Ward and their friend Christina Purnell in Memphis when Alice Mitchell attacked Freda. They were on their way to the river to take a steamboat to Golddust. Alice followed them in a wagon driven by her friend Lillie Johnson. When she saw Freda standing on thawing ice, Alice approached her. She took a razor from her pocket, which she had bought for a personal reason, and slashed Freda across her face.

Jo tried to defend her sister by hitting Alice with an umbrella, but this did not stop the attack. In her anger, Alice cut Jo's collarbone. Freda, who was bleeding and confused, was ultimately killed by Alice when she received a deep slice to her throat. Afterward, Alice returned to the wagon and told Lillie what she had done. Alice mentioned that she wanted to kill herself, but Lillie suggested that she should go home and confess. They both went to Alice's home, where they informed her mother.

Later, both Alice and Lillie were arrested. Lillie was suspected of being aware of Alice's plans and not intervening, but she was released on bond. Alice remained in jail. In the summer, she was tried and found "presently insane," which meant she was considered insane prior to the murder. Alice explained that she killed Freda because if they could not marry, there was no reason for either of them to live. She believed no one should marry Freda if she could not.

All charges against Lillie were dropped, and Alice was sent to Western State Hospital for the Insane in Bolivar, Tennessee. She died there in 1898. Alice's case received a lot of sensational attention in the media, and it sparked discussions about women's relationships and lesbianism at the time. The trial presented Alice as insane, and it was not held in a criminal court but in a court that looked into questions of insanity.