Tony Ray Amati was born on June 28, 1976, in Carbondale, Illinois. In 1992, he moved with his family to Las Vegas, Nevada. Amati graduated from Clark High School with honors in 1994, showcasing his intelligence and determination.

During high school, Tony took a job as a telemarketer, demonstrating his early entry into the workforce. Despite his promising academic performance, he began to exhibit troubling behavior. A doctor later testified that Amati was highly intelligent but showed signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder, suggesting early psychological issues.

Tony Ray Amati, along with his accomplices Troy Sampson and Edward James, began a series of violent crimes in 1996. They first robbed a gun store, stealing $30,000 and 75 firearms. Their crime spree escalated to murder when they killed Michael Matta on May 27, 1996, in Las Vegas. 

Two months later, on July 28, John Garcia (48) was shot and killed just one block from the Matta crime scene. Witnesses again described two men running from the location. Though Amati denied involvement in both killings, the stolen weapons used in those murders were later traced back to his home.

In August 1996, the trio encountered Keith Dyer (22) walking with coworker Stacie Dooley near the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dyer was shot 13 times, while Dooley was struck in the leg but survived.

At the scene, Amati accidentally cut his hand, leaving behind blood evidence that directly tied him to the shooting. Meanwhile, Sampson and James were arrested after unknowingly selling stolen guns to an undercover officer. Their trailer was searched, and the guns matched those used in all three murders. Amati, however, fled the state, becoming a fugitive for nearly two years.

Amati was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in February 1998. He was arrested in Atlanta on March 1, 1998, after an extensive manhunt. His accomplices, Sampson and James, were apprehended earlier and provided evidence against Amati.

During his trial in 1999, Amati denied his guilt, claiming that Sampson and James were primarily responsible for the murders. Despite his defense, he was convicted of killing Keith Dyer. The jury recommended life in prison with the possibility of parole, which he began serving in Nevada.

Amati's accomplices received lighter sentences, with Sampson later committing another crime in 2000. Amati remains in prison, eligible for parole in 2038.