Michael Wayne Hunter, born in 1958, served four years in the U.S. Navy before returning to civilian life in Northern California. By 1981, he was living in Pacifica, married to Teresa "Terri" Hunter, with their marriage ending in divorce by 1989.

Preceding the killings, Hunter struggled with anger and resentment towards his father, Jay, and stepmother, Ruth. In November 1981, he confided in a friend, Thomas Henkemeyer, about detailed plans to kill them. Hunter laid out potential alibis—like hiking in Yosemite or traveling to San Diego—and expressed grievances over his stepmother’s handling of his late mother’s estate. He believed he had been cheated out of his inheritance and felt betrayed after he broke into the family home and was reported by Ruth.

On the night of December 28, a neighbor in Pacifica heard a loud bang near the Hunters' home, followed by four additional shots. The next morning, December 29, police found Jay Hunter shot multiple times—four shotgun wounds—and Ruth Hunter with two fatal shotgun blasts to the head. Expended shells on the floor confirmed at least eight shots were fired. Investigators matched broken glass from the home to fragments found on Hunter’s gloves and socks.

That same evening, a separate nearby incident occurred: a man in a motorcycle helmet assaulted a dog-walker, pointing a shotgun and firing. The description matched Hunter’s approximate stature—heightening suspicions of his involvement.

In the days following the homicide, Hunter contacted Henkemeyer in Minnesota, admitted to the killings, and spoke of plans to flee using false identification. He shaved his beard and dropped a motorcycle jacket for disguise. Hunter traveled to San Diego, meeting with Jefferson Schar to obtain a forged birth certificate. On January 3, 1982, he met Jeffrey Luther at the U.S.–Mexico border and confessed the crime in detail—saying he “pumped four slugs” into his father after being taunted. Later in Mexico, Luther, cooperating with police, lured him back to San Ysidro, where he was arrested.

Hunter was jailed in San Mateo County and extradited to stand trial in California. His cellmate testified that Hunter admitted hiring someone to kill him post-arrest, indicating further intent. In May 1984, a jury found Hunter guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. He received a death sentence following the verdict.

Hunter's death sentence withstood direct appeal until February 2002, when he was granted a retrial. The new jury resentenced him to life without the possibility of parole due to evolving legal standards and concerns over the original sentencing process.