Odell Barnes Jr. was born on March 22, 1968, in Wichita County, Texas. He was raised in a working-class African American family in Wichita Falls. Known to friends and family as quiet but sometimes troubled, Barnes had prior arrests and brushes with the law, including burglar.

On November 29, 1989, a murder took place in Wichita Falls, Texas. Helen Bass, a 42-year-old woman, was attacked in her home. Odell Barnes Jr. broke into Bass's house while she was at work. When she returned, he robbed, beat, stabbed, and shot her. There were reports that she may have also been raped.

The case against Barnes was built on forensic evidence and witness accounts that placed him at the scene. His fingerprints were found on a lamp, which was used to beat Bass. Traces of his semen were also discovered at the scene, and DNA analysis confirmed that blood found on his clothing belonged to Bass. Several witnesses said they saw Barnes in Bass's yard shortly before she got home from work. When Barnes was arrested, he had a .32 caliber pistol that belonged to Bass.

Barnes had a record for two robberies prior to this incident. He could not afford proper legal representation, so local attorneys were appointed to defend him. Their resources were limited, and no thorough investigation was done. The jury took only three hours to convict him, and he was sentenced to death.

During the appeals process, Barnes received new attorneys who uncovered problems with the original case. They found issues in the forensic evidence, overlooked details, and inconsistencies in witness testimonies. Barnes maintained during the trial that he did not have any sexual contact with Bass, but later DNA testing showed the semen found on her was his. He claimed they had a relationship before the murder, but he did not share this with the jury at the advice of his original lawyers.

Barnes's case attracted international attention, especially from human rights groups and anti-death penalty advocates. He was executed by lethal injection on March 1, 2000. His last meal request was not traditional food; he asked for "Justice, Equality, World Peace." In his final statement, he expressed love for his family and supporters, and he thanked them for their belief in his innocence, despite the court's ruling.