Ronald Keith Allridge was born on September 27, 1960, in West Germany. His father was in the military and stationed there at the time. Ronald had a younger brother named James, who was born two years later, on November 14, 1962. In 1969, the family moved back to the United States and settled in Fort Worth, Texas. They lived in a house on Annglen Drive, where Ronald and James shared an attic bedroom.

Ronald was described as a shy and quiet boy by his gym teacher at O.D. Wyatt High School. In contrast, James was more outgoing and had many friends at school.

In March 1976, Ronald Keith Allridge stole several watches and three guns from a department store. He began to show off one of the guns at school and said he was ready to shoot someone. On April 12, 1976, Ronald brought a gun to his high school. In front of a group of students, he fatally shot 15-year-old Lorenzo Kneeland. Another student, James Christian, was also shot but survived. Ronald was later arrested while walking with the gun. A psychologist diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia, and he pled guilty in 1977, receiving a 10-year sentence.

After serving time, Ronald was released in 1983. He got a job at a restaurant in Fort Worth but was fired in late 1984 for being late to work. Following this, Ronald and his brother, James, began a series of armed robberies. On January 14, 1985, Ronald robbed a pizza shop and shot an employee, Buddy Joe Webster Jr., killing him. Ronald stated he went home and acted as if nothing had happened.

On February 3, 1985, the Allridge brothers targeted a convenience store where James knew the clerk, Brian Clendennen. After gaining entry, James shot Clendennen twice in the back of the head. Clendennen was found injured but died the next day. On March 25, 1985, Ronald and James, along with two other brothers, committed a violent robbery at a Whataburger. During this robbery, Ronald shot 19-year-old Carla McMillen Otto in the chest, killing her.

Both Ronald and James were arrested soon after. Ronald later confessed to multiple armed robberies and to killing Buddy Webster. They stood trial for capital murder. Ronald's defense claimed that Otto's murder was unintentional, but he was still convicted and sentenced to death. Ronald filed several appeals while on death row. He was executed by lethal injection on June 8, 1995, and declined a last meal.

James, who was also sentenced to death, had a different trial where his defense argued for a lesser sentence, claiming he was influenced by Ronald. Ultimately, James was executed by lethal injection on August 26, 2004.