James Homer Elledge was born on December 9, 1942, in the United States. His early life was marked by instability and criminal behavior. In 1964, he committed a robbery at a Western Union office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during which he kidnapped a female attendant. He was sentenced to prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After his release, Elledge moved to Seattle, Washington.

In 1974, Elledge murdered motel manager Bertha Lush by beating her to death with a ball-peen hammer during an argument over his bill. He was convicted and imprisoned for this crime. Remarkably, he was paroled three times, with his final release occurring in August 1995.

On April 18, 1998, while on parole, Elledge invited Eloise Jane Fitzner and her friend, referred to as "S.C.," to the Lighthouse Methodist Church in Lynnwood, Washington, where he worked as a custodian. He lured them into a Bible-study room, pulled a knife, and bound their wrists and ankles. Elledge accused Fitzner of interfering in his past relationship by writing a letter to his girlfriend. He then strangled Fitzner and, uncertain if she was dead, fatally stabbed her in the neck.

After hiding Fitzner's body, Elledge abducted S.C., drove her to his home, sexually assaulted her, and released her the following day. S.C. immediately reported the incident to the police. Elledge was arrested two days later and confessed to the crimes.

On May 27, 1998, Elledge pleaded guilty to aggravated first-degree murder. He refused to allow his attorney to present any defense during the penalty phase and waived all rights to appeal. He expressed to the jury that the "wicked part" of him needed to die.

Elledge was executed by lethal injection at the Washington State Penitentiary on August 28, 2001. He declined to make a final statement and was pronounced dead at 12:52 a.m.