Dana James Ewell was born on January 28, 1971, in Sunnyside, California. He was the younger of two children in the Ewell family. His father, Dale Alan Ewell, was a veteran of the United States Air Force and later became a successful businessman. He owned a company called Western Piper Sales, Inc., which sold small airplanes. His mother, Glee Ethel Ewell, was active in philanthropy and public service. She had even worked as a Spanish translator for the CIA in the 1950s.

Dana had one sister named Tiffany Ann, who was born in 1967. She was a graduate student when she died at a young age. The Ewell family was financially well off, with an estimated wealth of around $7 to $8 million. Despite their wealth, Dana's parents lived a modest lifestyle and did not flaunt their money.

Dana Ewell graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School in 1989. After high school, he went on to attend Santa Clara University, where he earned a degree in finance. During this time, he presented himself as a wealthy entrepreneur, even though he had no real business experience. A local newspaper and the university's yearbook reported on him as a "self-made millionaire," but this was not true.

Dana’s parents had made substantial investments in the stock market and owned local farmland. However, they became concerned about Dana's behavior, leading them to change their estate plan after learning about his dishonesty. It was thought that Dale planned to cut off financial support for Dana after he finished college. At the time of the major events in his life, Dana was pursuing a career in investment banking.

On April 19, 1992, Dale, Glee, and Tiffany Ewell were murdered in their home in Fresno, California. They were shot at close range. Glee Ewell was shot four times, while Dale and Tiffany Ewell were each shot once. At the time of the murders, Dana Ewell, their son and brother, was away for the Easter weekend with his girlfriend. The bodies were discovered two days later when Dana told family friends that he could not reach his parents.

The police investigated the crime scene for four days. Detectives suspected the killer may have been hiding in the house, waiting for the family to return. The murders seemed very planned. The shooter was careful enough to pick up the shell casings after the gunshots. A box of 9mm ammunition, purchased by Dale Ewell years earlier, was found in the house. Bullets taken from the victims showed signs that a homemade silencer had been used.

Detectives believed the crime scene was staged to look like a burglary. They later examined the Ewell family's background for possible motives. During their investigation, they learned about troubled business dealings involving Dale Ewell, but these motives were ruled out.

As the investigation continued, all eyes turned to Dana Ewell. His alibi for the night was that he was with his girlfriend in San Francisco, about 200 miles away. However, family members noticed that Dana seemed overly focused on the details of his parents' will after their deaths. Dana’s inheritance was complicated. Most of his family’s wealth was held in a trust that he could not access until he turned 30. He would not receive access to the full amount until age 35. However, he was the beneficiary of over $300,000 in life insurance payments.

Dana's college friend, Joel Patrick Radovcich, dropped out of school soon after the murders. He also became a suspect. Police learned that Dana was obsessed with money and that Radovcich had interests in guns and explosives. Days after the murders, Dana was taken through the crime scene by a detective, whose experience made him suspicious of Dana’s odd behavior. Dana and Radovcich moved into the Ewell home shortly after the murders. They were noted for making many expensive cash purchases.

Police kept close watch on Dana and Radovcich for months. In one case, a detective overheard Radovcich talking about how the police lacked hard evidence against them. Forensic analysis later revealed that a high-end 9mm specialty rifle was used in the murders. A friend of Radovcich admitted to buying the rifle but denied knowing it would be used in a crime. He became an accessory after concealing evidence.

On March 2, 1995, Dana Ewell and Radovcich were arrested. They faced a trial that lasted more than eight months. Prosecutors argued that Dana was motivated by greed and promised a share of the wealth to Radovcich. They were represented by different attorneys. Jurors took 11 days to deliberate before finding both men guilty of three counts of first-degree murder.

The jury considered the murder's aggravating factors. They declared a mistrial during the sentencing phase. Ultimately, on July 20, 1998, both men received life sentences without the possibility of parole. Dana Ewell is currently held at California State Prison in Corcoran, housed in protective custody.