Andre Lee Thomas was born on March 17, 1983, in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Rochelle and Danny Thomas. He had five brothers and mostly grew up in Sherman, Texas. His mother raised the children on her own. She struggled with alcoholism and depression, and had a history of being sexually abused. Their home often lacked basic necessities like running water, heat, and electricity. Unfortunately, issues with substance abuse and violence were common in other parts of Thomas's family as well. His uncle had been fatally shot by his grandmother's husband a decade before he was born.

Despite these challenges, Thomas did well in his early years. He attended a Baptist church and was described as smart and respectful by a former Sunday school teacher. He demonstrated a strong curiosity, enjoying hobbies like sketching futuristic cars and taking apart old cars to learn about them. He was even part of a gifted and talented program at school.

However, around the age of ten, Thomas began to show signs of significant behavior changes. He claimed to hear angels and demons arguing in his head. At times, he said he believed he was Raiden, a character from the video game Mortal Kombat. His behavior became more troubled. He started drinking alcohol and using marijuana, likely as a way to cope with the voices he was hearing.

By age 12, Thomas was placed on probation for behavioral issues. At 13, he attempted suicide twice by cutting his wrists. He got into trouble with the law several times, including an arrest for stealing a car around the age of 15. During a stay in juvenile detention, he experienced suicidal thoughts and was put on suicide watch. However, after his release, he did not receive the ongoing mental health care he needed.

In 1999, Thomas was in a relationship with Laura Boren. They had a child, Andre Jr., in August of that year. After becoming a father, Thomas dropped out of school in ninth grade. He earned a high school equivalency diploma and worked multiple jobs to support his family. He married Boren on his 18th birthday in 2001, but their marriage was short-lived. They lived briefly with Thomas's mother before being forced to move out. Initially, Thomas and Boren separated about four months after their wedding.

After the divorce, Thomas's mental health declined further. He began to have more intense delusions and suicidal thoughts. He believed strange things, like thinking that his estranged wife was Jezebel and that his son was the Antichrist. He encountered issues keeping steady jobs and struggled to manage his own living situation.

In the spring of 2004, Thomas continued to battle problems with alcohol and began misusing cold medication. On March 5, 2004, a friend took him to a mental health clinic. Thomas expressed that he would harm himself if he couldn't speak to someone. The staff recommended he go to the emergency room, but he left without doing so.

A few weeks later, Thomas stabbed himself in the chest and visited the hospital, saying he wanted to "cross over into heaven." After doctors determined his injury was not life-threatening, they tried to arrange for his psychiatric treatment. However, Thomas left the hospital before that could happen and returned home.

On March 27, 2004, Andre Thomas went to Laura Boren's third-floor apartment. He kicked the door open. Boren was home with her two young children while her boyfriend was at work. Thomas stabbed Boren and cut open her chest, believing he was removing her heart. He then went to the bedroom where the children were and fatally stabbed both. He cut their hearts out as well.

After killing them, Thomas stabbed himself three times in the chest, expecting to die. When he realized he was not dying, he took the organs from the victims and put them in his pockets. He walked back to his house, where he placed the organs in a bag and threw it in the trash. Thomas then called his wife's parents, asking for help. He mentioned feeling like he was in hell and needed urgent assistance.

Later, Thomas turned himself in at the Sherman Police Department. He told officers he believed that God wanted him to kill the victims. He stated he used separate knives for each victim out of fear that demons could survive if their blood mixed. Following this, he was taken to a hospital for chest surgery.

While in jail, only five days after the murders, he pulled out his right eye with his hands. Psychologists diagnosed him with schizophrenia. His trial began on February 15, 2005, where he was tried for the death of Boren's daughter. During the trial, jurors expressed bias against interracial couples, which became a significant issue.

Thomas's behavior during the trial was unusual; he appeared almost catatonic and often snacked on Skittles during graphic testimonies. The state argued that Thomas's mental illness was worsened by drug use. Despite attempts by his attorneys to claim he was insane, he was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

After his sentencing, Thomas was sent to the Polunsky Unit in Texas, where he continued to hear voices. In July 2008, he attempted suicide by cutting into his neck. Later that year, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld his conviction.

On December 9, 2008, Thomas removed his left eye and ate it, claiming it would prevent the government from reading his thoughts. He was taken to a hospital and then moved to a facility for inmates with mental health issues.

In March 2023, his execution was delayed to allow his lawyers more time to prepare for a competency hearing. Throughout his time in prison, Andre Thomas's case raised many questions about mental health in the criminal justice system, especially concerning the treatment of mentally ill defendants.