Francis Heaulme was born on February 25, 1959, in Metz, France. He grew up in a troubled home. His father, Marcel Heaulme, was an industrial electrician who often abused Francis and his mother, Nicole. Francis suffered greatly from this mistreatment, which included being called derogatory names. His father would lock him in a cellar as a punishment. The environment was chaotic, and his mother was the only person he felt close to. He had a younger sister named Christine, with whom he shared a good relationship.

Francis had a difficult time in school and did not do well academically. As a child, he displayed troubling behaviors, such as self-harm and animal cruelty. At the age of 20, he developed a passion for cycling, which became an outlet for him. In 1982, his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and she died on October 16, 1984. His mother's death deeply affected him. He was unable to cope with the loss and attempted suicide several times afterward.

After his mother passed away, his family life fell apart. His father found a new partner, and his sister left the family. Francis began to wander around France, hitchhiking and traveling by train without tickets. He often stayed in shelters, psychiatric institutions, or detox centers, where he sought help for his drinking problem. He worked sporadically as a mason or metal worker, but most of his earnings went toward alcohol.

Francis Heaulme is a serial killer connected to multiple murders in France. He is suspected of having committed many crimes in 87 departments. One notable case is the murder of 8-year-old Jorris Viville in Port-Grimaud. It is clear that Heaulme had help because the boy's body was moved over 20 kilometers by car. During his trial, Heaulme pointed to several suspects as accomplices but later claimed he did not want to take the blame alone. Ultimately, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Another case involves the murder of 44-year-old Aline Peres in Brest. This crime happened in broad daylight on a public beach. Despite being surrounded by people, no one witnessed the event. This crime led to an investigation that eventually uncovered Heaulme's whereabouts and resulted in his arrest four years later in Bischwiller. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for this murder.

Heaulme was tried in connection with the murder of a retired legionnaire in Courthézon but was acquitted due to a lack of evidence proving he was at the crime scene, even after he confessed. In the case of 14-year-old Laurence Guillaume in Metz, Heaulme murdered her with the aid of her cousin, whom he had just met. Heaulme was sentenced to life in prison for this crime, while the accomplice received 18 years for his role.

In another incident, Heaulme was acquitted in the murder of Laurent Bureau, a military conscript. The court could not determine which of the two men involved had actually committed the murder. Heaulme was also connected to the 1986 murders of Cyril Beining and Alexander Beckrich, but he was not initially convicted as another man was wrongfully convicted. Later, he was sentenced to life in prison for these murders.

In total, Heaulme has received multiple sentences. In May 1997, he was sentenced to life in prison for various murders. In December 2004, he was given an additional thirty years for three other murders committed in the late 1980s. In May 2017, he was convicted again for the murders of Beining and Beckrich. Each time, Heaulme's confessions and criminal activities displayed a pattern of manipulation and deceit, complicating the investigations against him.