James Emery Paster was born on January 30, 1945, in Hamilton County, Ohio.

James Emery Paster committed several murders between 1980 and 1981 alongside Stephen McCoy and Gary LeBlanc.

In October 1980, Paster was hired to kill Robert Edward Howard. Howard's ex-wife and her new husband offered Paster $1,000 and a motorcycle for the job. On October 25, Paster, McCoy, and LeBlanc slashed the tires of Howard's truck outside a Houston nightclub. When Howard returned to his vehicle, Paster shot him in the back of the head and then fled the scene.

In November 1980, the same group abducted Diana Trevino Oliver. They forced her into their vehicle and took her to a field, where she was raped. Afterward, McCoy fatally stabbed her.

On December 31, 1980, they encountered 18-year-old Cynthia Darlene Johnson, who was stranded by the roadside. The men took her to a warehouse, where she was raped. LeBlanc attempted to strangle her but failed. Paster then strangled her to death early on January 1, 1981. To ensure she was dead, he drove a nail up her nose.

In 1982, Paster was sentenced to three life sentences in Alabama for unrelated crimes. He was indicted for Howard's murder in June 1983 while serving his time. Paster confessed to the crime during an interview with the police, which was tape-recorded. He was found guilty of capital murder on September 21, 1983, and sentenced to death the next day.

McCoy was serving a sentence for burglary when he was also indicted. He was found guilty of capital murder and rape in 1984 and received the death penalty for the murder of Cynthia Johnson.

LeBlanc was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison after testifying against Paster and McCoy. Howard's ex-wife and her new husband were convicted as well and received life sentences for their involvement.

Paster attempted to escape from prison in April 1989 but was caught. On May 24, 1989, McCoy was executed by lethal injection in Texas for his crimes. His execution was considered botched, causing distress among witnesses.

Paster was executed on September 20, 1989, by lethal injection for the murder of Robert Howard. Before his execution, he confessed to two more murders but was never tried for them.