Richard Michael Cartwright was born on February 11, 1974, in Chicago, Illinois. 

On August 1, 1996, Richard Michael Cartwright, along with two accomplices, planned to rob a man they thought would be an easy target. They intended to pose as male prostitutes. That day, they met 37-year-old Nick Moraida, who drove in a small black sports car. The three men invited Moraida to go drinking with them at a remote park by the water.

Once they reached the secluded area, Cartwright pulled out a gun. He ordered Moraida to put his hands on a cement wall. At the same time, another accomplice held a knife to Moraida's neck. The situation escalated when Moraida did not comply and attempted to run away. During the confrontation, one of the men attempted to stab Moraida but failed to inflict a fatal wound. In that moment of chaos, Cartwright shot Moraida in the back with a .38 caliber pistol.

After the incident, Cartwright's accomplices testified against him in exchange for lighter sentences. One received 20 years in prison, and the other got 50 years. Cartwright was later convicted of capital murder. He never denied being part of the robbery, but he maintained that he did not shoot Moraida.

On May 19, 2005, Richard Cartwright was executed by lethal injection in Texas. Before his execution, he requested a last meal that included fried chicken, a cheeseburger, onion rings, french fries, bacon, sausage, cheesecake, and cinnamon rolls. He also gave a final statement, thanking his supporters and apologizing to the victim's family for the pain he had caused. He was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m.