Edward Ernest Hartman was born on August 25, 1964. 

In 1993, Edward Ernest Hartman was convicted of murdering Herman Smith Sr. The crime took place during a time when Hartman was reportedly suffering from severe alcoholism. After the murder, Hartman confessed to the police about what he had done. He faced trial, where his defense team presented several mitigating factors, including his struggle with alcohol and a history of childhood abuse.

Despite presenting these factors, the jury found Hartman guilty. They determined that the reasons for his actions did not outweigh the seriousness of the crime, which involved stealing Smith's car and money after the murder. Hartman's lawyers sought clemency on the grounds that his sexuality was used against him during the trial, but these arguments were rejected by the courts and by North Carolina's Governor at the time, Mike Easley.

After being sentenced to death, Hartman spent time on death row. He was executed by lethal injection in 2003 at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina.