Thomas Clyde Bowling Jr. was born on January 18, 1953, in Kentucky. Little is publicly documented about his early life, education, or upbringing, though court records and later appeals painted a picture of a troubled man. Bowling reportedly struggled with cognitive and psychological issues, and his defense team argued that he suffered from what was then legally termed “mental retardation” or intellectual disability.

Bowling lived in rural Kentucky for much of his life, relying on family support. While he had no prominent history of violent crime before 1990, his background included instability, sporadic employment, and difficulties maintaining consistent work or personal relationships.

On April 9, 1990, Thomas Clyde Bowling Jr. was involved in the murders of Tina and Eddie Earley. The couple was shot dead after Bowling rammed their car outside a dry-cleaning business in Lexington, Kentucky. Their two-year-old son was also shot but survived the incident.

Bowling was arrested two days later, on April 11, in Tennessee. Police found his car and a .357 caliber handgun concealed at his family's home in Kentucky. The evidence against him was considered circumstantial by his legal team. They argued that there were other potential suspects for the crime.

Throughout the investigation, Bowling's attorneys claimed that critical evidence was lacking. An eyewitness could not identify him, and ballistics experts noted that the gun linked to Bowling could belong to one of many other people. They also stated that there was no direct evidence placing him at the crime scene. Furthermore, Bowling had no known motive to attack the Earleys.

Bowling's lawyers maintained that a local family had a motive to kill the Earleys due to a drug-related incident involving Eddie Earley. They suggested that this family may have used Bowling's vehicle and that Bowling himself was too intoxicated to recall the day's events.

Bowling's legal team pursued multiple appeals, arguing that he was not fit for the death penalty, citing his mental capabilities. They noted his IQ tested within the range for mental retardation. However, these appeals were unsuccessful, and Bowling remained on death row.

In 2004, Bowling took legal action against the Kentucky State Department of Corrections, challenging the constitutionality of lethal injection as a method of execution. This case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which eventually ruled against him in 2008.

Thomas Clyde Bowling Jr. died of cancer on March 21, 2015, at a prison nursing facility. He was 62 years old at the time of his death.