James Erin McKinney was born on June 4, 1967. McKinney faced many hardships during his formative years. His childhood included instability and trauma, which affected his mental health. A psychologist later diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder. This diagnosis was noted during his legal proceedings, where the sentencing judge remarked that McKinney's early life was “beyond the comprehension of most people.”

James Erin McKinney and his half-brother, Charles Michael Hedlund, committed two burglaries that led to two deaths. They were prosecuted in the State of Arizona. McKinney was found guilty of two counts of First Degree Murder.

During the sentencing phase, a psychologist testified that McKinney had post-traumatic stress disorder. The judge noted that McKinney's childhood experiences were extremely difficult to understand. However, Arizona law did not allow the judge to use this information in sentencing, as it was not directly related to the crimes committed. As a result, McKinney was sentenced to death.

In 2018, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld his death sentence. This decision was later appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The appeal concerned whether a judge or a jury should re-evaluate the sentence. In February 2020, the Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that the state appellate court should reweigh the aggravating and mitigating factors.

As of April 2021, both McKinney and Hedlund were among 20 inmates on death row in Arizona who had exhausted all their appeals.