Juan Chavez was born in 1965 in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Shortly after his birth, he and his half-brother were left in the care of their grandmother. Reports suggest that Chavez endured physical abuse during his upbringing, leading him and his half-brother to run away from home. Eventually, Chavez crossed into the United States, settling in California.

In Los Angeles, Chavez worked in low-skilled labor jobs due to his lack of formal education. Despite his challenging circumstances, he married and had two children. However, he also accumulated multiple arrests for petty crimes during this period.​

Between 1986 and 1990, Juan Chavez targeted and murdered at least six gay men in Los Angeles County, California. His first known victim was 46-year-old Alfred Rowswell, whom he met at a known pickup spot for male "street hustlers." After accompanying Rowswell to his apartment, Chavez held him at knifepoint, tied him up, and strangled him. He then stole belongings and Rowswell's car, which was later found in Utah with Chavez's fingerprint on the driver-side window.​

In September 1989, Chavez murdered 57-year-old fashion designer Ruben Panis in his home, stealing two of his cars. Later that month, he killed 48-year-old Donald Kleeman in a similar manner. In October, Chavez murdered 46-year-old Michael Cates after being invited to his home. In November, he killed 52-year-old elementary school teacher Leo Hildebrand. His final known victim was 60-year-old Lynn Penn, whom he strangled in July 1990. A cigarette butt containing Chavez's DNA was later found at Penn's apartment.​

Chavez was arrested in 1992 for unrelated kidnapping and robbery charges and sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1994, investigators matched the fingerprint from Rowswell's car to Chavez, leading to his confession. He admitted to killing the men because he wanted to "stop" homosexuals, whom he blamed for spreading HIV/AIDS.​

In March 1999, Chavez pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to five consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. On September 9, 1999, he committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell at Folsom State Prison.​