Francis Donald Nemechek, born on June 29, 1950, was the second of three children to parents George and Nathalie. His early years remain largely undocumented, but it is known that he grew up in Trego County and was active in high school football. After graduating, Nemechek attended Goodland Area Vocational-Technical School, where he was noted for his academic excellence. Following his education, he secured a position as a traveling service mechanic.

Nemechek married and had a son, but the marriage eventually ended in divorce, a subject that reportedly provoked intense anger in him. Post-divorce, his father assisted him in getting a job as a truck driver, and Nemechek lived with his father until his arrest. In 1974, he admitted to charges of disorderly conduct.

On December 13, 1974, Nemechek was driving his pickup truck along Interstate 70 near Ogallah when he spotted a red Toyota carrying 19-year-old Diane Lovette, 21-year-old Cheryl Young, and Cheryl’s 3-year-old son, Guy William Young, all from Fort Madison, Iowa. Nemechek shot out one of the Toyota’s tires, causing it to veer off the road. He then abducted the trio, taking them to a farmhouse in Graham County owned by Joseph Faulkner, where he killed Lovette and Young but left Guy unharmed. Sadly, Guy succumbed to hypothermia due to the freezing temperatures. Cheryl Young's abandoned vehicle was discovered the same day, and a month later, trappers found Guy’s body. The bodies of Cheryl Young and Diane Lovette were later found in the farmhouse.

On January 1, 1976, Nemechek tried to shoot a vehicle on Interstate 70 near Ogallah. Walter Wright from Colorado, along with his four passengers, escaped unharmed and reported the incident. Nemechek was arrested two weeks later, identified by witnesses, and held on a $20,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set for September.

On June 30, Nemechek abducted Carla Baker, a 20-year-old University of Kansas student in Hays. He forced her into his truck, drove to a secluded area, and raped, beat, and killed her, leaving her body in a wheat field. Carla’s bike was found by her father the next day, who then reported her missing. Her body was discovered on September 21.

On August 21, Nemechek abducted 16-year-old Paula Fabrizius, an Ellis High School student. He took her to a secluded area near Castle Rock, raped, and killed her, then mutilated her body. It was found the next day by motorcyclists.

On August 24, Nemechek was arrested at work for Paula Fabrizius's murder, identified as the last person seen with her and linked by fingerprints. Investigations connected Nemechek to multiple murders, leading to his arrest on a $250,000 bail. A gag order was issued, and evidence, including a blood-soaked carpet and photos, was found in his camper. In October 1976, he was charged with five murders.

Despite rumors, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation confirmed Nemechek was not responsible for other crimes, including the rape and murder of Linda Leebrick. Nemechek confessed to the five murders but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In the trial, his lawyers admitted his guilt but argued he was unaware of his actions. The jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 15 years.

In 1978, Nemechek’s appeal based on claims of insanity was rejected by the Kansas Supreme Court. He became eligible for parole in 1991 but was denied. Subsequent parole attempts in 1997 and 2007 were also denied, the latter due to a petition with nearly 15,000 signatures. In 2012, Nemechek was featured in the book "Beyond Cold Blood" as one of Kansas' most infamous criminals. He was denied parole again in 2017. Nemechek’s next possible parole date is set for July 26, 2027, when he will be 77 years old.