James Anthony Frederick was born on June 21, 1960, in the United States. He is also known by several other names, including David Anthony Fenton, Jay Frederick, David Allen Kirchner, and James Reichard.

On December 9, 1991, James Anthony Frederick was involved in the murder of 40-year-old Martin J. Gatto. Gatto's body was discovered at his apartment in Lantana. He had been stabbed multiple times with a knife. Neighbors did not report hearing any unusual sounds the night before. Gatto was known to be a hardworking individual who got along well with his coworkers, making the murder particularly shocking to those who knew him.

The next murders occurred on August 22, 1992, when Rita Ann Bado, 45, and her 20-year-old daughter, Lisa Ann, were found dead in their apartment. They lived in the Runaway Bay apartment complex in Lantana. Rita's brother and sister-in-law discovered the bodies when they went to check on the family after Rita didn't show up for work. Both women were found bound and showed signs of sexual assault. They had been shot with a small-caliber weapon. Investigators noted that most valuables were left untouched, suggesting the killer was likely someone familiar with them. Lisa's car was missing but was later found abandoned outside a warehouse.

For years, this case remained unsolved until authorities identified Frederick as a suspect in 2001. He had a long criminal history and was in prison for armed robbery at the time. Detectives learned he was in Palm Beach County around the time of the Bado murders. They traveled to Wisconsin to interview him, but he did not provide helpful information. Eventually, DNA evidence collected from the crime scene linked him to the murders. In May 2003, his DNA matched evidence from the scene, leading to charges of murder, burglary, and other serious crimes. Despite his claims of innocence, Frederick was convicted and sentenced to two life terms for the Bado murders.

In October 2006, DNA evidence also linked Frederick to the murder of Martin Gatto. He was extradited back to Florida but did not go on trial for that crime, as he was already serving life sentences. As of September 2022, Frederick remains in prison.