James Allen Paul was born on April 19, 1947, in Norfolk, Virginia.

James Allen Paul was an American spree killer who committed a series of murders during a short period in May 1984. His first known victim was Virginia Vickory. On May 15, 1984, her body was found in a field in Readington Township, New Jersey. She had been shot in the face at close range. The police quickly connected the murder to Paul, who was living at the same motel as Vickory.

After Vickory's murder, Paul fled to Connecticut. On May 17, 1984, 18-year-old Robin White went missing. Investigators believed that she might have accepted a ride from Paul. Her body was later discovered on May 20 along a road in Portland, Connecticut. She had also been shot to death with the same gun used to kill Vickory.

On May 22, another victim was found. George Call, a 45-year-old nurse, was discovered shot to death at a rest area along Interstate 91 in Springfield, Vermont. He had been shot in the face twice and his wallet was stolen.

Christensen authorities put out a warrant for Paul's arrest following Call's murder. He was considered armed and dangerous, prompting a nationwide alert. Investigators theorized that he might return to New Jersey to call a relative. They tracked him to a diner in Arlington, New Jersey, where he was arrested. Paul had been driving Vickory's car and possessed a .22 caliber handgun.

After his arrest, Paul was held without bail at Hunterdon County Jail and was formally charged with Vickory's murder. He was later also charged with the killings of White and Call but never went to trial for those murders. To avoid the death penalty, Paul pleaded guilty to Vickory's murder, as well as related charges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. Paul remained in custody at New Jersey State Prison until his death on March 3, 2000.