Robbie James Lyons was born on July 10, 1972. He grew up in North Carolina.

On September 25, 1993, Robbie James Lyons committed the murder of Stephen Wilson Stafford in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The incident reportedly occurred during an attempted robbery at Stafford's small store. Lyons acted quickly, deciding to rob the store impulsively because he had no money. Derick Hall, who was alleged to be an accomplice, claimed he was present during the robbery. Hall later turned himself in to the police the following day. He mentioned that he heard Lyons shoot five times at Stafford before Lyons fled the scene.

A witness named Victoria Lytle, who had just left the store, also reported hearing gunshots. She saw Lyons exit the store with a gun in his hand shortly after the shots were fired. These testimonies contributed to the case against Lyons.

After his arrest, Lyons went to trial. On May 6, 1994, he was convicted of murder. During the trial, concerns were raised about Lyons's legal representation. His defense attorneys did not present any evidence in his favor. Furthermore, his main attorney was a real estate lawyer who had met Lyons only once before the trial.

A psychologist testified during the trial, stating that Lyons had bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder. He also had a long history of substance abuse. Testimony from Lyons's mother, which was not shown during the trial, indicated that he endured a troubled upbringing marked by abuse.

In the time leading up to his execution, Lyons was involved in a violent incident at the prison where he had assaulted a guard. He was placed in solitary confinement as a result. The U.S. Supreme Court declined a last-minute plea to review his case, leading to an execution date set for December 5, 2003. This event marked the seventh execution in North Carolina that year.

Before his execution, the governor of North Carolina, Mike Easley, reviewed requests for clemency but ultimately decided not to intervene. On the night of his execution, Lyons requested a last meal of pizza and lasagna that followed Islamic dietary laws, along with a Pepsi.

At 2:17 a.m. on December 5, 2003, Lyons was pronounced dead in the Central Prison in Raleigh. His execution was noted as the 885th in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 and the 30th in North Carolina. Lyons spent nearly nine and a half years on death row before his execution.