Joseph-Thomas Recco was born on May 10, 1934, in Propriano, Corsica, France.

In 1960, Joseph-Thomas Recco was fishing with dynamite in Propriano, Corsica, when he was spotted by a marine guard named Casabianca, who was also his godfather. Afraid of being caught poaching, Recco panicked and shot his godfather, then brutally beat him to ensure he was dead. After the murder, Recco returned to the boat, refusing to explain the blood on his hands to his younger brother, Pierre.

The police discovered the body later and found green debris near it, suggesting it came from a rifle. As rumors spread about Recco's involvement, he was eventually questioned by the police due to his relationship with the victim. Initially, Recco denied any connection. However, later, Pierre testified that he had heard the cries of their godfather. Under pressure, Recco confessed to the crime but later retracted his statement.

In December 1962, Recco was tried and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. After serving 15 years, he was released in 1977.

In December 1979, Recco was linked to a triple murder at the Mammouth shop in Béziers. During this incident, three young cashiers were executed in the shop's counting room, and a large sum of money was stolen. The investigation faced challenges as there were no witnesses. The victims had been shot in the back of the neck, and the police were unable to identify the perpetrator.

A few weeks later, in January 1980, another triple murder occurred in Carqueiranne, where an 11-year-old girl and her father were killed. The girl heard her father arguing with a man, later identified as Recco. Upon investigation, the police found a family connection between Recco and the victims.

Recco was arrested but initially denied all accusations. He later admitted he killed the girl's father during a dispute over a gun purchase. He panicked and killed the girl to eliminate a witness. However, he later denied those statements too.

During investigations, the authorities connected the two triple murders linked to similar methods and weapons. Witnesses described seeing Recco at the Mammouth shop on the day of the cashiers' murder. Despite the evidence, Recco continued to deny his involvement.

In June 1983, his trial started. Throughout the process, Recco maintained his innocence. Mental health evaluations identified him as sane, suggesting that his impulsive nature contributed to his violent acts. Ultimately, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Recco remains in prison today, where he is one of France's oldest inmates.