Nehemiah Griego was born on March 20, 1997, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was the seventh of ten children in a devout Christian family. His father, Greg Griego, was a former gang member who became a pastor and served as a chaplain for the Albuquerque Fire Department. His mother, Sarah Griego, was actively involved in prison ministry. Nehemiah was described as a gifted athlete and musician, actively participating in church youth programs. He also aspired to join the military like his father and would often wear his father's army fatigues.

Despite the family's outward appearance, Nehemiah exhibited signs of emotional distress and isolation. Reports indicate that he had been experiencing suicidal and homicidal thoughts prior to the incident. He was also reportedly fascinated with violence and had access to firearms, which were kept in the family home.

On January 19, 2013, 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego carried out a meticulously planned attack on his family in their South Valley home. In the early morning hours, he retrieved a .22-caliber rifle from his parents' closet and shot his mother, Sarah, twice in the face as she slept. His 9-year-old brother, Zephaniah, awakened by the noise, was then shot in the head after Nehemiah showed him their mother's body. He proceeded to the bedroom of his two younger sisters, 5-year-old Jael and 2-year-old Angelina, and shot each of them in the head.

After killing his mother and siblings, Nehemiah waited for his father to return home from work. Around 5 a.m., Greg Griego arrived, and Nehemiah ambushed him with an AR-15-style rifle, shooting him multiple times.

Following the murders, Nehemiah drove to his family's church, Calvary Chapel, with the intention of continuing his killing spree at a populated location. However, he confessed to a pastor and a retired detective, who then contacted authorities. Nehemiah was arrested on January 20, 2013, and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death.

In October 2015, Nehemiah pleaded guilty to the charges. Initially, a judge ruled that he was amenable to treatment as a juvenile, which would have made him eligible for release at age 21. However, this decision was appealed, and in August 2019, Judge Alisa Hart determined that Nehemiah was not amenable to treatment and should be sentenced as an adult. On November 1, 2019, he was sentenced to three concurrent life sentences plus 7 years, with eligibility for parole after 30 years. Nehemiah Griego is currently incarcerated at the Lea County Correctional Facility in New Mexico.