Anthony Ray Briley was born on February 17, 1958, in Richmond, Virginia. He grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood with his family, which included two older brothers, Linwood and James. Their parents, James Dyral Briley Sr. and Bertha, raised the boys in a home where they faced various challenges. As a child, Anthony was known to collect exotic pets, along with his brothers. They had animals like tarantulas, piranhas, and boa constrictors.

When Anthony was a teenager, his family dynamics changed significantly. His parents separated, and his mother moved away while his father remained in the home. James Sr. was reportedly the only person that the brothers respected. His bedroom door was often locked at night, suggesting some tension or issues in the household.

In 1979, Anthony Ray Briley, along with his brothers Linwood and J.B., began a violent spree that would change the city of Richmond, Virginia. Their first attack happened on March 12, when Linwood knocked on the door of William and Virginia Bucher. He pretended to have car trouble and asked to use their phone. Once inside, Linwood forced the couple at gunpoint, and Anthony joined him. They tied up the Buchers and ransacked the house, pouring kerosene in each room before lighting it on fire. The couple managed to escape, but their cat did not survive.

On March 21, the brothers attacked Michael W. McDuffie in his home, shooting and robbing him. Just ten days later, Linwood shot Edric Alvin Clark over a drug dispute. On April 9, they followed 76-year-old Mary Gowen home, where they beat, robbed, and fatally shot her.

The violence continued as they killed 17-year-old Christopher Philips on July 4. The gang suspected him of trying to steal a car and overwhelmed him before Linwood killed him by dropping a cinderblock on his head. The brothers then abducted disc jockey John Harvey "Johnny G." Gallaher on September 14, putting him in the trunk of his own car. They took him to a remote area where they shot him in the head and dumped his body in a river.

Mary Wilfong, a 62-year-old private nurse, was targeted on September 30. She was beaten to death with a baseball bat as the brothers robbed her apartment. Just days later, they murdered 75-year-old Blanche Page and her boarder, 59-year-old Charles Garner, in another brutal attack.

The final set of murders occurred on October 19, when the brothers entered the home of Harvey Wilkerson, who was a friend. They overpowered him and his eight-month-pregnant wife, Judy Barton, and her 5-year-old son. While Anthony held them captive, Linwood assaulted Judy. Afterward, Meekins shot Wilkerson, and J.B. shot Judy and her son.

The police were in the area and saw the brothers fleeing, leading to their capture soon after. During the investigation, accomplice Duncan Eric Meekins made a deal with the authorities to testify against the Briley brothers. This led to their arrest and eventual trial.

Anthony Briley was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, three of which were for the murders of the Wilkerson family. He received a life sentence plus 119 years, with the possibility of parole. However, as of now, all his parole applications have been denied, and he remains incarcerated.