Randall Greenawalt was born on February 24, 1949, in Hannibal, Missouri. He grew up in a small town. Details about his family life are not widely shared. However, it is known that he had a brother named James Greenawalt. The brothers had a complicated relationship.

In early January 1974, Randy Greenawalt traveled to Miami, Florida, to meet a couple from Colorado. On January 12, the body of 42-year-old Henry A. Weber was found in a rest area in Arkansas. Four days later, on January 15, police arrested Randy and his brother James in Arizona. They were connected to the murder of 33-year-old Stanley Edward Sandage, another truck driver found shot in his truck with money stolen from him.

The police discovered a .32-caliber pistol in their vehicle, the murder weapon used for Sandage’s killing. Randy pleaded guilty to this murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He testified against James, who also received a life sentence. After serving some time, Randy was extradited to Arkansas about the Weber murder, but that case did not proceed. He remained in prison in Arizona.

On July 30, 1978, Randy escaped from prison with Gary Gene Tison and his three sons. Gary’s sons entered the prison disguised as visitors and forced the guards to comply. Randy helped cut alarm lines, and the group escaped in a stolen car. They ended up stranded near Quartzsite, Arizona, where they kidnapped Marine Sgt. John Lyons and his family. They shot the family members in the desert. Their bodies were later discovered.

The escapees continued to steal cars and traveled toward southwestern Colorado. They encountered newlyweds James and Margene Judge and killed them as well. The gang managed to travel to Casa Grande, Arizona, where they hid with a relative. On August 11, while trying to flee police, their car was involved in a shootout during which one of their companions was killed. The surviving members, including Randy, surrendered to authorities.

After their capture, Randy faced numerous charges, including four counts of capital murder. He was convicted in February 1979 and sentenced to death. The other two brothers initially charged had their sentences changed to life in prison after testifying against Randy.

Randy spent nearly twenty years on death row in Arizona. He made several attempts to have his sentence changed but was unsuccessful. On January 23, 1997, he was executed by lethal injection. His last meal included two cheeseburgers and fries. His final statement expressed concern for others rather than himself.