Dominique Jerome Green was born on May 14, 1974, in Houston, Texas. He endured a tumultuous childhood marked by poverty, abuse, and instability. Raised by a single mother who struggled with mental illness and substance abuse, Green faced neglect and violence from an early age. At seven, he was sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest, an event that profoundly impacted his life. By his teenage years, Green had dropped out of school and turned to drug dealing, primarily to support his younger siblings. He became involved with a gang and participated in various criminal activities, including armed robberies. 

On October 18, 1992, during a robbery outside a Houston convenience store, 41-year-old Andrew Lastrapes Jr. was shot and killed. Green, then 18, was arrested four days later in connection with the crime. While he admitted to participating in the robbery, he consistently denied being the shooter. Despite the lack of physical evidence linking him to the shooting and the absence of eyewitnesses, Green was convicted of first-degree murder in August 1993. His conviction was largely based on the testimonies of his co-defendants, who received plea deals in exchange for their statements.

Green's trial was fraught with issues. He was represented by a court-appointed attorney with a history of inadequate defense in capital cases. The prosecution's expert witness, Dr. Walter Quijano, testified that Green's race increased his likelihood of future dangerousness—a claim later deemed racially biased. Furthermore, the jury was all-white except for one Asian-American member, raising concerns about racial impartiality.

During his 12 years on death row at the Ellis Unit in Huntsville, Texas, Green underwent a significant transformation. He became a mentor to fellow inmates, wrote poetry, and created artwork reflecting his experiences and inner growth. His writings were published in various outlets, garnering attention from activists and public figures, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who visited Green and advocated for clemency.

Despite appeals and public outcry, including pleas from the victim's family for clemency, Green was executed by lethal injection on October 26, 2004. His final words expressed gratitude and a sense of peace, emphasizing his transformation and the relationships he had built.