Born on February 1, 1871, in Delrey, Illinois, Alice Lois Lindsay Wynekoop was the daughter of Benjamin "Frank" Lindsay and Catharine Frances "Frannie" Wiswell Lindsay. Despite health challenges in her youth, she pursued education fervently, eventually graduating with honors from Northwestern University Women's Medical School in 1895. She became a respected physician, professor, and advocate for child hygiene, often lecturing on topics of public health and women's rights. In 1900, she married Frank Eldridge Wynekoop, and together they had several children, including an adopted daughter, Mary Louise. Dr. Wynekoop was deeply involved in civic activities, championing causes related to child welfare and women's suffrage.​

On November 21, 1933, Dr. Wynekoop reported discovering the body of her daughter-in-law, Rheta Gretchen Gardener Wynekoop, in the basement of her Chicago home. Rheta had been chloroformed and then shot in the head. Initial investigations revealed that Dr. Wynekoop had recently taken out a life insurance policy on Rheta, naming herself as the beneficiary. Under intense interrogation, Dr. Wynekoop confessed to the murder, citing her desire to free her son, Earle, from an unhappy marriage. However, she later recanted her confession, claiming it was made under duress.

Her first trial in January 1934 ended in a mistrial due to her deteriorating health. The second trial commenced in February 1934, during which the prosecution presented evidence of the insurance policy and her confession. On March 19, 1934, Dr. Wynekoop was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison at the Oakdale Reformatory for Women in Dwight, Illinois. She served nearly 14 years before being released on parole for good behavior on December 29, 1947. Dr. Wynekoop spent her remaining years in a rest home in Chicago, passing away on July 4, 1955, at the age of 84.​