Andre Vernell Jones was born on July 22, 1956, in East St. Louis, Illinois. His criminal activities began at a young age, with his first known offense being purse-snatching at 12 years old. Over the years, his criminal record expanded to include theft, shoplifting, armed robberies, and attempted murder. At the time of the 1979 murders, Jones was on parole, having served 4 years and three months of a 4 to 12-year sentence for armed robbery. ​

In November 1978, Jones committed a double homicide, murdering Michael Wallace, 67, and Dora Wallace, 55, in their home. He decapitated Michael and stabbed Dora to death before setting their house on fire. Jones confessed to these murders after his arrest but was never tried for them.

On April 30, 1979, Jones, along with accomplice Freddie Tiller Jr., embarked on a deadly spree in East St. Louis. Their first victim was Richard Stoltz, a 63-year-old World War II veteran who was stacking bricks when Tiller, after obtaining a gun from Jones, attempted to rob him. When Stoltz tried to surrender, Tiller shot him in the left eye, killing him instantly, and then took Stoltz's wallet, keys, and watch. 

Later that day, they targeted a dry cleaning store where Jones entered first and shot the proprietor, 23-year-old Samuel Nersesian, in the head, shooting him again after he fell. They then emptied the cash register. As they were leaving the store, 22-year-old mailwoman Debra Brown entered. Despite Tiller's alleged plea not to harm her, Jones ambushed Brown, pushing her into the kitchen and shooting her twice, resulting in her death. ​

Jones and Tiller were apprehended on May 4, 1979. Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of murder on August 23, 1979, and was sentenced to death. However, on January 11, 2003, Illinois Governor George Ryan commuted all death sentences in the state, including Jones's, to life imprisonment without parole.