Jonathan Preston Haynes was born on March 10, 1958, in the United States. He grew up in a family that valued liberal beliefs. His father, Edward Haynes, was a banker, and his mother, Custis Haynes, shared similar views. They supported the civil rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s. This environment exposed Jonathan to ideas about equality and acceptance.

As a child, Jonathan did not have many friends. He preferred spending time with books rather than playing with other kids. He found solace in reading. During high school, he secretly read "Mein Kampf," a book written by Adolf Hitler. This choice came during a time when his father noted that Jonathan was experiencing "troubles." 

In 1994, Jonathan Preston Haynes was found guilty of murdering a plastic surgeon and a hairdresser in Wilmette, Illinois. These murders were racially motivated. Haynes believed he was defending what he called "Aryan beauty." During his trial, he represented himself. He argued that the plastic surgeon was altering people's appearances in a way that angered him.

The plastic surgeon and the hairdresser were killed because Haynes thought they were promoting "fake" Aryan features. He felt they were giving clients a look that did not represent true Aryan ideals. His actions and beliefs were driven by his extreme views on race and beauty.

After he was found guilty, Haynes was sentenced to death. However, in 2003, the governor of Illinois, George Ryan, commuted all death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As a result, Haynes's death sentence was changed to life in prison.