Chelsea Lea Richardson was born on March 26, 1984. She grew up in Tarrant County, Texas, where she lived in a working-class neighborhood. Chelsea's background was different from that of her boyfriend, Andrew Wamsley, who came from a wealthier family.

In early 2003, Andrew and Chelsea began dating. They became serious, and by October of that year, they were conspiring together to harm Andrew's parents. At that time, Chelsea was also sharing an apartment with a friend named Susana Toledano.

On December 11, 2003, Rick and Suzanna Wamsley were murdered in their home in Mansfield, Texas. Their son, Andrew Wamsley, was involved in a plan to kill them along with his girlfriend, Chelsea Richardson, and their friend, Susana Toledano. The motive for the murders was to inherit the Wamsley family estate, valued at $1.65 million.

On the night of the crime, Susana Toledano was the one who carried out the attacks. She shot and stabbed both Rick and Suzanna. The conspirators had also intended to kill Andrew's older sister, Sarah, but she was not home at the time.

Following the murders, Susana Toledano pleaded guilty to her role and became a witness against Chelsea and Andrew during their trials. In May 2005, Chelsea Richardson's trial began. Witnesses, including prison inmates, testified that she admitted to her part in the crimes. Toledano testified that Chelsea encouraged her to kill the Wamsleys.

After the jury deliberated for about three hours, Chelsea was found guilty of capital murder. The jury then sentenced her to death by lethal injection, making her the first woman sentenced to death in Tarrant County, Texas. In March 2006, Andrew Wamsley was also convicted of capital murder but received a life sentence instead of the death penalty.

In a separate case, Hilario Cardenas, who provided the weapon used in the murders, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder. He was given a 50-year sentence.

Chelsea's death sentence was later commuted to life in prison in December 2011. She will serve her life sentence, while Andrew Wamsley will be eligible for parole in 2044.