Melvin L. Knight was born on October 27, 1989. He had a father who struggled with drug addiction and was imprisoned during much of Knight's childhood. When Knight was five years old, he experienced a serious accident. He fell out of a moving vehicle, which led to a head injury. 

In February 2010, Melvin L. Knight became involved in a crime that changed many lives. He, along with several others, met a woman named Jennifer Daugherty at a homeless shelter. They invited Jennifer to their apartment in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Over the course of several days, they subjected her to severe physical and emotional abuse.

The group stole items from Jennifer, including money and personal belongings. They used various objects to hurt her, involving actions that included pouring substances over her and hitting her with items. Jennifer was held against her will in the apartment and was treated in a way that shocked many people who later learned of the events.

Eventually, the group decided to kill Jennifer. They tied her up with Christmas lights and forced her to write a fake suicide note. In a brutal act, Knight was handed a knife, which he used to stab her multiple times. After killing her, they hid her body in a garbage can and left it in a parking lot.

This tragic event led to the arrest and trial of Knight and his accomplices. Each faced serious charges including murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. The actions taken against Jennifer received widespread media attention and community outrage, leading to legal consequences for all involved.