Frances Elaine Newton was born as Frances Elaine McLemore on April 12, 1965, in Harris County, Texas. She was raised in a modest environment, but not much is known about her childhood and family background. Growing up in Houston, Texas, she navigated her formative years like many children.

As a young adult, Frances faced some challenges. In December 1985, she was convicted of forgery and received a sentence of three years of probation. This incident would mark her first encounter with the legal system. While details about her early life are limited, these events indicate some struggle during her transition into adulthood.

In her early twenties, Frances married Adrian Newton. The couple faced difficulties in their marriage, including issues related to Adrian’s substance abuse. Despite these challenges, Frances became a mother to two children, a son named Alton and a daughter named Farrah. The family dynamics were complex, and the household faced various strains. Frances's actions and choices during this period would later be scrutinized in the context of her life and history.

On April 7, 1987, Frances Newton was involved in the shooting deaths of her husband, Adrian Newton, her son, Alton, and her daughter, Farrah. All three were killed with a .25 caliber pistol that belonged to a man Frances had been seeing. Frances claimed that a drug dealer was responsible for the murders. However, the police found evidence suggesting that her husband was, in fact, a drug dealer who was in debt.

About one month prior to the murders, Frances had taken out life insurance policies worth $50,000 each on her husband and her children. She named herself as the beneficiary. Prosecutors argued that this insurance was evidence of a motive for the killing. Frances admitted to forging her husband's signature to set up the policies without his knowledge.

After the murders, Frances reportedly placed a paper bag containing the murder weapon in a relative's home. On October 25, 1988, she was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. Frances spent almost 17 years on death row before her execution by lethal injection on September 14, 2005.

In the time leading up to her execution, there were attempts to halt the process. The Texas Governor granted a reprieve two hours before her first execution date to allow for testing of forensic evidence. Conflicting reports emerged about whether another gun had been found at the crime scene. Several individuals expressed concerns about the evidence presented during her trial. Even after numerous appeals for a stay of execution, all were denied.

Frances Newton's execution went ahead as planned on September 14, 2005. She was the third woman to be executed in Texas since the resumption of capital punishment in 1982. She made no final statement and declined a last meal request. Her case has sparked discussions about her potential innocence and the fairness of her trial.