Edwin Bernard Kaprat III was born on September 21, 1964, in New York City, New York. He was the second child of Edwin "Skip" Kaprat Jr., who worked as a refrigeration mechanic, and his wife, Ruth, who was a real estate agent. The family moved to the Great Meadows area of Independence Township, New Jersey, when he was still young. Neighbors viewed the family as upstanding citizens in their community.

Kaprat was known to be intelligent and had a strong love for reading books. However, he also had a violent side. He was a bully who would often attack kids who were weaker and smaller than him. His teachers tried to help him by giving him plush toys for him to hit instead of his classmates. He started drinking alcohol when he was just 12 years old. This early drinking led to problems, and he found himself in juvenile treatment centers and court multiple times.

After he turned 16, Kaprat left Hackettstown High School and chose to marry his pregnant girlfriend, Nora Niederhaus, in November 1982. They had two sons together, but Kaprat continued to struggle with alcohol and marijuana use. His family was going through tough times too, as his parents divorced, and his sister faced issues in her marriage.

Despite his bad temper and bullying behavior, Kaprat was liked by his family and relatives. He had a particular interest in the Middle Ages and enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons. In October 1990, Kaprat and his wife moved to Spring Hill, Florida, hoping to start a fresh life with their children.

On February 22, 1991, the body of Lee Anthony Bugay III was discovered in a mangrove near the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa, Florida. He was reported missing the day before. His death was ruled a homicide as he had suffered severe head injuries. His vehicle was located nearby. Investigators found plaster casts of footprints and tire tracks to try to identify the killer.

Later that same day, authorities learned that someone had used Bugay's credit card to purchase gasoline. The man was identified as Edwin Kaprat III, who had returned to New Jersey. In early March 1991, Kaprat expressed his intention to turn himself in and was extradited back to Florida, charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and forgery. His trial revealed that his confession was questionable, leading to a conviction for forgery and dealing in stolen property. He received house arrest, which he later violated, resulting in another arrest.

Kaprat was released from prison and began working as a machinist. However, in August 1993, a series of violent incidents occurred in Hernando County. On August 7, an elderly woman named Sophia Garrity died in a house fire ruled accidental. Days later, 84-year-old William Whitney and his wife were found severely beaten in their home after a neighbor reported hearing screams. They could not identify the attacker, and investigators faced challenges due to a lack of evidence.

Another fire resulted in the death of 70-year-old Ruth Goldsmith on August 19, which was also deemed accidental. In early September, the situation escalated when 79-year-old Lydia Riddell was found dead in her home; she had been sexually assaulted, and her death was ruled a homicide. Only a few weeks later, 87-year-old Lorraine Dawe was discovered beaten to death in her mobile home, with signs of sexual assault. Her home had been set on fire but did not burn completely.

The string of violent crimes led to widespread concern in the community. Residents started to take precautions to protect themselves. Following Dawe's murder, an anonymous tip suggested that police investigate Kaprat, whose fingerprints matched those found at the crime scene. He was put under surveillance, during which he made statements that raised further suspicions.

On October 8, 1993, authorities arrested Kaprat. He confessed to the murders and provided details about Dawe's death. Kaprat faced numerous charges, including four counts of murder. The trial began in 1995, where he was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Riddell. A short time later, he received a second death sentence for Dawe's murder.

On April 19, 1995, while on death row, Kaprat was killed by two fellow inmates. The details surrounding his death led to the closure of several open cases against him, and he was the last individual linked to the crimes that terrified Hernando County.