Erin Michelle Caffey was born on July 27, 1991. She grew up in a family that valued strong Christian beliefs. Her mother, Penny Caffey, was 37 years old, and she had two brothers, Mathew and Tyler, who were 13 and 8, respectively. The family lived in a modest home in Alba, Texas. They were known in their community for their musical talent, often performing at church gatherings. Penny played piano, while Erin sang and her brothers played various instruments.

Erin had a somewhat sheltered upbringing. She was home-schooled for much of her childhood after her family moved to Alba from Celeste, Texas. Her parents wanted a closer connection to their church community, where they served as youth ministers. Although Erin was initially enrolled in public school, concerns about an incident involving another girl led her parents to withdraw her and her brothers from the school system.

As a teenager, Erin started working as a carhop at a local Sonic drive-in. She was seen as pretty and charming, with a lovely singing voice. Erin was allowed more freedom when she turned sixteen, receiving her driver’s license and starting to socialize outside her home. She soon caught the attention of a boy named Charlie Wilkinson, who had returned home from military training. They began dating despite her parents' disapproval.

Caffey's relationship with Charlie became a source of conflict at home. Her parents did not approve of his influence on her life and limited her time with him. Erin rebelled against these restrictions, which led to increasing tension in the household. Over time, she would express anger towards her parents for wanting to end her relationship with Charlie.

Erin’s home life shifted after a family tragedy when her grandfather passed away in late February 2008. Shortly after this loss, her parents confronted her about her relationship with Charlie again and demanded she break up with him. This event marked a turning point for Erin as she felt trapped in her situation.

In the days leading up to the tragic events of March 1, 2008, Erin began to voice her frustrations about her parents more openly. There were several hints that her feelings of rebellion towards her parents' rules began to take a darker turn.

On March 1, 2008, a tragedy occurred in the Caffey home in Alba, Texas. Two young men, Charlie Wilkinson and Charles Waid, along with Bobbi Gale Johnson, attacked the family. That night, they shot Terry Caffey multiple times. During this attack, Penny Caffey and her two sons, Matthew and Tyler, were killed. Penny suffered fatal injuries from both gunshots and a stabbing. Matthew was shot, and Tyler was stabbed after hiding in a closet.

As the attack unfolded, Terry managed to crawl away from the burning house, which was set on fire during the assault. He reached a neighbor’s house after dragging himself 300 yards through the woods, covered in blood and severely injured.

After the horrific events, Erin Caffey, Terry's 16-year-old daughter, was found hiding in a trailer belonging to one of the attackers. Initially, she was not seen as a suspect. However, once others were questioned, it became clear that she was involved in planning the murders. Waid revealed that Erin had organized the attack because she was unhappy with her parents' disapproval of her boyfriend, Charlie Wilkinson. All four suspects faced charges of capital murder.

In the aftermath, Erin was arrested and charged. She later accepted a plea deal, which resulted in two life sentences and an additional 25 years. Her co-defendants, Wilkinson and Waid, were also sentenced to life in prison without parole. Johnson received a 40-year sentence but would be eligible for parole in 20 years. Terry Caffey, while mourning the loss of his family, chose to forgive his daughter and those responsible for the tragedy.