Audrey Marie Hilley was born as Audrey Marie Frazier in Anniston, Alabama, on June 4, 1933. Her parents were Huey Frazier and Lucille Meads. She grew up in the Blue Mountain neighborhood of Anniston. Audrey married Frank Hilley on May 8, 1951. The couple had two children, a son named Mike and a daughter named Carol.

Throughout their marriage, Audrey and Frank faced financial difficulties. Despite Frank having a well-paying job and Audrey working as a secretary, they did not save much money. This caused stress in their relationship. Audrey had a habit of spending excessively, which added to their debt. Frank was unaware of Audrey's choices to engage in inappropriate relationships with her bosses to gain money and job benefits.

In the early years of their family life, Frank began to experience health issues. Mike, their son, also started to get sick, but his symptoms went away when he left home to attend a seminary. In 1975, Frank discovered Audrey in bed with her boss after coming home early due to his illness. This incident caused more problems in their marriage.

In 1975, Frank Hilley fell seriously ill after discovering that his wife, Audrey Marie Hilley, was in bed with her boss. He sought medical help but was diagnosed with infectious hepatitis. His health deteriorated, leading to his death on May 25, 1975. An autopsy revealed signs of arsenic poisoning, but the cause of death was officially recorded as hepatitis.

Three years later, Marie took out a $50,000 life insurance policy on their daughter, Carol. Soon after, Carol began experiencing severe nausea and other alarming symptoms. After a year of medical visits, she was hospitalized with reports suggesting malnutrition and possible poisoning. Marie administered injections to Carol, which worsened her condition. A neurological examination suggested the possibility of heavy metal poisoning, leading to further investigation.

By October 3, 1979, tests on Carol's hair showed extremely high levels of arsenic. Investigators then exhumed Frank's body and found similar high levels of arsenic. Marie was arrested for the attempted murder of Carol and was already in custody for unrelated charges of check kiting.

While Marie was out on bail, she used an assumed name and went missing, prompting a large manhunt that lasted over three years. Eventually, under the alias "Robbi Hannon," she married a man named John Greenleaf Homan III and created a fictional life. After being discovered, she confessed to the authorities about her real identity and was extradited back to Alabama in January 1983.

In June 1983, she was convicted of murder and attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison. She served time at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women, where she was considered a model inmate and received several day passes. However, in February 1987, she took a three-day pass to visit her husband and disappeared.

Four days later, she was found disoriented and suffering from exposure in the woods. After being transported to a hospital, she suffered a heart attack and did not survive. Her death was officially attributed to hypothermia and exposure to the elements.