Lester Leroy Bower Jr. was born on November 20, 1947, in Arlington, Texas. He grew up in a typical American family. Lester was a bright student and went on to attend college. After finishing his education, he became a chemical salesman. He worked in this field for many years and built a stable life for himself.

On October 8, 1983, four men were found dead in a Texas airplane hangar. Their names were Bob Tate, Jerry Brown, Philip Good, and Ronald Mayes. All four men had been shot in the head at close range. Ronald Mayes had been a police officer, and Philip Good was a sheriff's deputy. After the bodies were discovered, authorities investigated the case. They later arrested Lester Leroy Bower Jr. when parts of the victims' aircraft were discovered at his home.

During Bower's trial, prosecutors claimed he killed Tate to steal an aircraft he had intended to buy. They argued that he killed the other three men when they unexpectedly appeared at the hangar. Investigators found pieces of the plane in Bower’s home. They also discovered Fiocchi ammunition that matched the type used in the murders. The prosecution suggested this ammunition was rare and linked Bower to the crime.

Initially, Bower lied about being at the hangar, claiming he had never visited it. He later admitted he had been there but insisted he left the men alive when he took the disassembled plane. However, he could not provide any receipt for the sale. On April 28, 1984, Bower was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death.

After his conviction, there were new claims that the prosecution had not shared important information. This included a tip suggesting the murders were connected to drug trafficking, due to the area's drug activity and Tate's past with cocaine sales. In 1989, a woman named Pearl contacted Bower's lawyers and claimed the real killers were her ex-boyfriend and three of his friends. Defense lawyers argued that the Fiocchi ammunition was not uncommon and was sold for small game hunting and practice. Additionally, one of the victim's wives supported the idea that her husband was involved in the murders.

Many appeals were filed, raising questions about the fairness of Bower's trial. Critics pointed out that there was no physical evidence connecting him to the crime, such as fingerprints, and no eyewitnesses. Despite these doubts, Bower's conviction stood.

Bower was executed by lethal injection on June 3, 2015, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas. He was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m., shortly after the United States Supreme Court denied his final appeal. In his last statement, Bower thanked his family and friends for their support, expressing his love for them.