Omaima Aree Nelson was born in 1968 in Cairo, Egypt, into a large family. At the age of six, she underwent female genital mutilation, a practice that led to lifelong physical and psychological trauma. In her teenage years, she entered into a relationship with an American oil worker, whom she married and subsequently moved with to the United States in 1986. The marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce. Following the divorce, Omaima settled in Southern California, taking on various jobs including roles as a nanny and model. She was known to engage in relationships with older men, often with the intent of financial gain. 

In October 1991, Omaima met William E. "Bill" Nelson, a 56-year-old pilot, in a bar in Huntington Beach, California. Their relationship progressed rapidly, leading to a marriage within days. Omaima later alleged that during their brief union, Bill subjected her to physical and sexual abuse, including non-consensual bondage. On November 28, 1991, Thanksgiving Day, Omaima claimed that Bill sexually assaulted her in their Costa Mesa apartment. In response, she attacked him with a lamp, stabbed him with scissors, and bludgeoned him with a clothes iron, resulting in his death. ​

Following the killing, Omaima dismembered Bill's body. She cooked his head and boiled his hands to remove fingerprints, disposed of body parts in the garbage disposal, and allegedly consumed some remains, including cooking his ribs with barbecue sauce. She then attempted to enlist the help of ex-boyfriends to dispose of the body parts, offering money in exchange. One of these individuals alerted the authorities, leading to her arrest on December 2, 1991. 

During her trial, Omaima's defense argued that she suffered from battered woman syndrome and acted in self-defense. The prosecution contended that the murder was premeditated, highlighting the extent of the dismemberment and her attempts to conceal the crime. On January 12, 1993, Omaima was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 27 years to life in prison. She has been denied parole multiple times, with the board citing her lack of remorse and the gruesome nature of her crime. ​