Larry Allen Hayes was born on November 23, 1948, in West Plains, Missouri. He grew up in Howell County, which is in the southern part of the state. Larry attended Southwest Missouri State University for a year and a half after finishing high school.

In the 1970s, Larry's life took a difficult turn. He was convicted of a drug-related crime and sentenced to seven years in the Missouri State Penitentiary for possession of barbiturates. After serving nine months, he was paroled in 1976. His conviction was later overturned two years after his release.

On July 15, 1999, in Woodloch, Texas, Larry Allen Hayes shot his wife, Mary Evelyn Hayes, in their home. Mary was 46 years old. Hayes shot her seven times, with two shots at close range and three shots to her head. His mother and daughter were present in the house during the shooting. After the murder, Hayes kissed his mother and left the house in his wife's truck.

Hayes then drove to a convenience store in Grangerland. He entered the store and approached the clerk, 18-year-old Rosalyn Ann Robinson. He pointed a gun at her and ordered her to come outside. This incident was captured on the store's security camera. As they were about to leave, a customer drove up and distracted Hayes. Rosalyn seized this chance to escape. However, Hayes shot her twice: first as she tried to flee and then fatally in the head at close range. This murder was also recorded on video. A customer called the police after witnessing the incident.

Later that day, Hayes was seen at a truck stop in Goodrich by two police officers. When he refused to surrender and aimed his gun at them, the officers shot him. He was hit in the back and chest but survived the shooting.

Following the events, Hayes was charged with capital murder. On May 10, 2000, a jury found him guilty in under ninety minutes. He was sentenced to death on May 17, 2000. On July 6, 2000, he opted to waive all appeals and allow his execution to proceed.

Larry Allen Hayes was executed by lethal injection on September 10, 2003, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas. His execution was notable for being the first time a white person was executed in Texas for the murder of a black victim in modern history.