Danny Lee Hill was born on January 6, 1967, in Ohio, United States. 

On September 10, 1985, in Warren, Ohio, 12-year-old Raymond Fife went missing after leaving his house on a bicycle. His family began searching for him when he did not arrive at a friend's house. Four hours later, Raymond's father found his naked body in a wooded area behind a supermarket. The boy had suffered multiple injuries from a severe assault and had burn wounds on his face. Raymond was taken to the hospital but died two days later due to his injuries.

An autopsy revealed that Raymond died from asphyxiation and multiple trauma. He had been strangled, suffered a brain hemorrhage, and showed signs of severe physical abuse. His injuries included burns, bite marks, and trauma to his rectal area, suggesting a violent sexual assault.

On the same day Raymond died, Danny Lee Hill, an 18-year-old, visited the Warren Police Station to ask about a reward for information regarding the murder. Hill made suspicious statements that indicated he knew more about the crime than he claimed. A few days later, he confessed to being present during the attack on Raymond and implicated another individual, Timothy Combs. Both men were arrested as accomplices in the murder.

Danny Lee Hill and Timothy Combs were charged with serious offenses, including kidnapping, rape, and aggravated murder. During the trial, Hill pointed to Combs as the main attacker but admitted to being present during the ordeal. Evidence presented in court linked Hill more closely to the crime than he initially acknowledged, including bite marks that matched his dental impression.

After an 11-day trial, Danny Lee Hill was found guilty of multiple charges, including aggravated murder. He was sentenced to death on March 5, 1986. Hill appealed his conviction numerous times over the years, but his death sentence was reinstated after several reversals and challenges.

Timothy Combs was tried separately and found guilty of the same charges. However, because he was a minor at the time of the crime, he was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole.

Danny Lee Hill's legal battles continued, with numerous appeals stretching over decades. As of now, his execution date is set for July 22, 2026, pending further legal evaluations regarding his mental competency.