Charles Louman Meach III was born on October 1, 1947, in Traverse City, Michigan. He had a challenging early life because his mother suffered from schizophrenia. This condition affected their family dynamics. When he was sixteen years old, Charles decided to leave home and travel.

In 1973, Charles Louman Meach III arrived in Anchorage, Alaska. There, he violently attacked Robert Johnson, a 22-year-old grocery clerk, and killed him in Earthquake Park. Meach was charged with murder but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was then sent to Atascadero State Hospital in California for treatment. By 1980, doctors believed he was healthy again and returned him to Alaska under the supervision of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. In 1981, he took on various jobs and attended the University of Alaska.

On May 3, 1982, Meach purchased a .38-caliber revolver from a street vendor. That day, he traveled to Russian Jack Springs Park, where he confronted four teenagers who were planning to go to the movies. He shot two boys, aged 19, and two girls, aged 16 and 17, during a robbery at their campsite. After the incident, Meach confessed to the shootings when confronted by authorities. He was charged with multiple counts of murder.

During his trial, Meach again pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. However, he was convicted and received a sentence of 396 years in prison without the possibility of parole. This was the longest sentence ever given in Alaska at that time.

Following Meach's crimes, the Alaska Legislature changed the laws regarding the sentencing of mentally ill offenders. They created a new verdict called "guilty, but mentally ill." This change allowed those convicted to serve time in a mental institution before being transferred to prison. However, this new law did not apply to Meach's case. The state also made it harder for defendants to prove insanity in court.

Charles Meach died of natural causes on December 9, 2004, while in custody at the Cook Inlet jail.