Desmond Keith Carter was born on October 15, 1967, in Rhode Island. When he was just three years old, his mother moved away. After that, he lived with his maternal grandmother. Later in his childhood, Desmond moved to North Carolina to live with his paternal grandmother.

Desmond Keith Carter committed a murder on March 9, 1992. On that day, he was under the influence of alcohol, crack cocaine, and tranquilizers. He killed his 71-year-old neighbor, Helen Purdy, by stabbing her 13 times with a butcher knife. After the attack, he robbed her of $15 to buy more cocaine.

Carter was arrested and charged with first degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. In July 1993, he was sentenced to death for the murder. He also received a 40-year sentence for the robbery.

On the night before his execution, Carter chose not to have a special meal. Instead, he purchased two cheeseburgers, a steak sub, and two Cokes from the prison canteen for $4.20. He was executed by lethal injection on December 10, 2002.

Before the injection put him to sleep, Carter mouthed "I love you, pop" to his father. He also expressed regret in a statement recorded by the prison warden. He apologized to the victim’s family and his own family for the pain he had caused throughout his life.