James Dupree Henry was born on January 17, 1950, in Orlando, Florida. His early life was marked by instability; he was shuffled among various family members and only met his biological mother after his conviction. At 15, Henry was sent to a reformatory for stabbing a man he claimed was attempting to rob him. In 1970, he was arrested for shooting and critically wounding another man, again asserting self-defense. During his incarceration, Henry was involved in violent incidents, including an attack on a jail supervisor and a prison fight in 1973 that resulted in the loss of sight in his left eye. He was released from prison later that year.

On March 23, 1974, Henry broke into the home of his 81-year-old neighbor, Zellie L. Riley, a respected civil rights leader in Orlando. Intending to rob him, Henry bound and gagged Riley, slashed his throat with a razor, and beat him with his fists and a gun. He stole $64 and some credit cards. Riley was found dead the next day, having suffocated on the gag.

Fingerprints at the scene led police to Henry. On March 28, 1974, when Detective Ronald E. Ferguson attempted to arrest him, Henry shot and critically wounded the officer before being apprehended.

In June 1974, Henry was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His case underwent numerous appeals, including arguments about his mental health and claims of racial bias in sentencing. Despite interventions from civil rights leaders and even the victim's son, who opposed the execution, Henry was executed in Florida's electric chair on September 20, 1984. His final words were, "My final words are, I am innocent."