Anthony Joe LaRette Jr. was born on October 1, 1951, in the United States. Very little has been disclosed publicly about his childhood or early life, but records show a criminal trajectory beginning in the early 1970s. He was convicted of rape in 1974 in Lawrence, Kansas. Under the alias Mike Watson, LaRette was convicted of a murder that occured in St. Charles, Missouri in 1980.

Anthony Joe LaRette Jr., whose life took a dark path, began a series of brutal crimes in August 1976. Posing as "Mike Watson," he checked into motels in Marathon, Florida, setting the stage for his chilling acts. His first known crime there was the murder of 26-year-old Jeanette "Mickey" Wade, who he brutally attacked in her kitchen after she returned from work. He stabbed her multiple times, cut her throat, and then fled the scene.

Just days later, LaRette continued his violent spree in St. Petersburg, Florida. There, he targeted 52-year-old Betty H. Brunton, who worked at the Memorial Park Cemetery. Following her home under the guise of normalcy, he broke in and fatally stabbed her, leaving the knife in her stomach—a shocking scene later discovered by her concerned coworkers.

In December 1977, in Kansas City, Missouri, LaRette struck again. This time, his victim was 24-year-old Beverly Wortmann, a reporter and photographer. He followed her home, forced his way into her apartment, and stabbed her 19 times before slashing her throat, leaving her dead.

The following year, tragedy struck again in St. Petersburg. Sixty-year-old Helen Alderson Hall was found bludgeoned to death in her home by her son. With no signs of forced entry and her car missing, the mystery deepened, leaving the authorities puzzled.

LaRette's relentless onslaught continued across several states. In Manhattan, Kansas, 26-year-old Tracey Gladys Miller was found dead on her stairway by a colleague worried about her absence. She had been brutally stabbed, and despite extensive police efforts, including a secret witness program, no immediate leads emerged.

On July 25, 1980, LaRette committed one of his most heinous acts in St. Charles, Missouri. He attacked 18-year-old Mary Fleming as she returned from grocery shopping. After following her into her apartment, he attempted to assault her, then stabbed her and fled as she sought help, only to succumb to her injuries.

LaRette's capture followed a trail of clues and investigations that linked him to multiple murders, leading to his arrest and a series of court cases. His crimes spanned across multiple states, leaving a trail of devastation. In the face of his eventual execution, LaRette confessed to numerous murders and rapes, but through the diligent efforts of law enforcement, many of LaRette's cases were finally closed.