Edward Lee Harper Jr. was born on February 17, 1949, in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Adopted as an infant by Edward Lee Harper Sr. and Alice Harper, he grew up in Louisville. As an adult, Harper worked as a machinist but was laid off three months prior to the murders. He had been married twice and had one son.
Facing financial difficulties, Harper devised a plan to murder his adoptive parents to collect an $86,541 life insurance policy on his father.

On February 19, 1982, Harper purchased a .38-caliber handgun and ammunition. That evening, he visited a bar before returning home. Late at night, he entered his parents' bedroom and shot both of them while they slept. He then attempted to stage the scene to resemble a burglary and disposed of the murder weapon and other evidence in a nearby river and ditch.

Initially, Harper claimed his father owned the murder weapon. However, investigators discovered he had purchased the gun on the day of the murders. The seller, Vernon Priddy, identified Harper, leading to his arrest. Harper eventually confessed to the killings.

In October 1982, Harper was convicted of two counts of capital murder and sentenced to death. He later waived his appeals and volunteered for execution. On May 25, 1999, Harper was executed by lethal injection at the Kentucky State Penitentiary.