James Dyral Briley Jr. was born on June 6, 1956, in Richmond, Virginia. He grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood of the city. He was raised by his parents, James Dyral Briley Sr. and Bertha. James had three siblings: two older brothers, Linwood and Edward, and a younger brother, Anthony. His oldest brother, Edward, left home in his early teens to live with relatives in North Carolina and did not take part in his younger siblings' later crimes.

As children, James and his brothers were considered helpful by their neighbors. They would assist with tasks like repairing cars and mowing lawns. The brothers also had a keen interest in exotic pets, including tarantulas, piranhas, and boa constrictors. Their childhood took a turn when their parents, Bertha and James Sr., ended their relationship. Bertha moved away, and James Sr. became the primary figure in their lives.

James Dyral Briley Sr. was reportedly the only person the brothers respected. He kept his bedroom door padlocked from the inside at night.

On January 28, 1971, Linwood Briley, at the age of 16, committed his first murder by shooting Orline Christian, a 57-year-old neighbor, from his bedroom window. The crime was nearly left undiscovered until her family noticed a small mark on her body during the viewing. A detective determined that the bullet had come from the Briley residence, leading to the discovery of the murder weapon. Linwood claimed the shooting was accidental and was sent to a reform school for one year.

In 1979, the Briley brothers, Linwood, James Dyral "J.B." Briley Jr., and their younger brother Anthony, along with an accomplice, Duncan Eric Meekins, began a series of murders. Their first attack occurred on March 12 when Linwood gained entry to the home of William and Virginia Bucher by claiming car trouble. They tied up the couple, robbed the house, and set it on fire. The Buchers managed to escape and were the only survivors of this spree.

On March 21, they assaulted and killed a vending machine serviceman named Michael McDuffie. Ten days later, Linwood killed Edric Clark over a drug dispute. On April 9, they attacked 76-year-old Mary Gowen, following her home and robbing, beating, and shooting her.

The brothers found 17-year-old Christopher Philips on July 4, suspected him of stealing a car, and killed him by dropping a cinder block on his head. On September 14, they kidnapped disc jockey John Gallaher, took him to Mayo Island, and shot him dead, disposing of his body in the river.

Later that month, Mary Wilfong, a private nurse, was followed home and killed with a baseball bat. On October 5, they killed Blanche Page, 75, and her boarder, Charles Garner, 59. They bludgeoned Page and stabbed Garner with multiple weapons.

The last murders occurred on October 19 when they killed Harvey Wilkerson, his pregnant girlfriend Judy, and her young son. After overpowering and gagging the adults, they shot them. The murders led to their capture after police noticed them fleeing the scene.

During interrogation, Meekins agreed to testify against the brothers, which led to their arrest. Linwood and J.B. were sentenced to death for their roles in the murders, while Anthony received a life sentence. The brothers were sent to death row at Mecklenburg Correctional Center.

On May 31, 1984, Linwood and J.B. attempted to escape from death row with four other inmates. They held guards hostage but were quickly recaptured. After failing to avoid execution through appeals, Linwood was executed on October 12, 1984, and J.B. on April 18, 1985. Both were executed by electrocution in Virginia.