Antonio Rodriguez was born on October 28, 1988, in the United States. Little is publicly documented about his childhood or upbringing, but by the time he was in his early twenties, he was homeless and struggling with drug-related offenses. Prior to the murders, he had already been convicted on a felony drug charge and was released from the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on August 29, 2010, just weeks before he began his killing spree.

As a convicted felon, Rodriguez was legally required to submit his DNA to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which he did on October 25, 2010. However, due to a massive backlog of more than 5,000 unprocessed samples in the Philadelphia Police Department, the system failed to match his DNA in time to prevent the subsequent murders.

On November 3, 2010, the half-naked body of 21-year-old Elaine Goldberg was discovered in a parking lot in Philadelphia. Just ten days later, a second victim, 35-year-old Nicole Piacentini, was found under similar circumstances less than a mile away. Initially, police did not think the two murders were linked. However, DNA tests from both crime scenes later matched to the same perpetrator. Following this revelation, several local women reported being assaulted by a stranger.

On December 15, 2010, the body of a third victim, 27-year-old Casey Mahoney, was found in a wooded area near railroad tracks in Kensington. Like the previous victims, Mahoney had struggled with substance use disorder. Rumors of a serial killer spread through the community, increasing pressure on police to find the assailant.

Two days after Mahoney's body was found, Philadelphia police released CCTV footage of a suspect. The footage showed a young black male, who identified himself as "Anthony," walking with a distinct gait. An anonymous tip led police to 22-year-old Antonio Rodriguez, who had been released from jail just months before. He was arrested on January 17, 2011, in an abandoned house.

During questioning, Rodriguez confessed to the murders. He claimed he met the victims to use their services but ended up choking and beating them until they died. He also admitted to sexually assaulting their bodies after death. The delay in processing his DNA led to criticism, as some believed that if it had been done more quickly, Rodriguez could have been caught before Mahoney's murder.

Rodriguez faced charges for three counts of murder and was held without bond. Prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty due to his mental health history. His trial included discussions about the admissibility of his confessions, but he was ultimately found guilty on all counts. He received three consecutive life sentences and was moved to the State Correctional Institution – Rockview for his imprisonment.