Craig Godineaux was a New York resident with a criminal background and a history of mental health issues, including claims of being developmentally disabled. Not much is publicly available about his childhood or early life, but before the murders, he was known to have been involved in petty crime and associated with John Taylor, the mastermind of the Wendy's massacre.

Godineaux did not work at Wendy’s but became Taylor’s accomplice in a deadly plan to rob the restaurant's safe. 

On the evening of May 24, 2000, Craig Godineaux and former Wendy’s employee John Taylor entered the Wendy’s fast-food restaurant in Flushing, Queens, just after closing. Taylor used his familiarity with the staff and building to gain access and ease suspicion.

The two men forced seven employees into the walk-in freezer, where they bound, gagged, and shot each one in the head execution-style. Five victims died, and two survived, one of whom later gave vital information to police.

After the massacre, the duo stole around $2,400 and fled. They were arrested two days later, on May 26, 2000. Authorities found the murder weapon and stolen cash. During interrogation, Godineaux confessed and took a plea deal, avoiding the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.