Melvin Wayne White was born on January 25, 1950, in Howard County, Texas, United States. 

On the night of August 4, 1997, Melvin Wayne White kidnapped 9-year-old Jennifer Lee Gravell. Gravell had gone to White's home in Ozona, Texas, looking for someone to take a ride with her. White took her in his truck to a rest area outside of the city. There, he sexually assaulted her, binding her hands with electrical tape and gagging her with a sock when she tried to resist. After the assault, White fled with Gravell as another car arrived at the rest area.

He then took her to another location, where he killed her by striking her head with a tire iron. White disposed of her body behind a water tank in a field outside of town. Witnesses later reported seeing a young girl in White's truck, which led to his arrest.

After his arrest, White quickly confessed to the crime and directed police to Gravell's body. Investigators found evidence at his home, including items belonging to Gravell. He was indicted for capital murder on August 15, 1997, and his trial began two years later. In June 1999, he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

White was held at the Allan B. Polunsky Unit, Texas's death row for men. His sentence was upheld on appeal, and multiple requests for clemency and habeas corpus were denied. During his trial, it was revealed that White had a history of sexual abuse and alcoholism.

On November 3, 2005, Melvin White was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit in Texas. His final statement expressed sorrow for the pain he caused Gravell's family. He was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m. and is buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery.