Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1982, Amero had a troubled upbringing. He reportedly received psychiatric treatment from the age of seven and spent time in juvenile detention centers. In the early 2000s, he traveled extensively through Latin America, eventually settling in Potosí, Bolivia, around 2004. Amero adopted multiple aliases, including "Lestat Claudius de Orleans y Montevideo," inspired by Anne Rice's fictional vampire character. He often portrayed himself as a loner and outcast, expressing disdain for the United States and claiming to be a "political refugee."

On March 22, 2006, two bombs exploded in low-budget hotels in La Paz, Bolivia, killing two people and injuring seven others. A third bombing was thwarted by police. Amero and his Uruguayan partner, Alda Ribeiro, were arrested shortly after the attacks. Authorities discovered that Ribeiro had been distributing promotional materials advertising the sale of explosives, featuring provocative images. Bolivian President Evo Morales condemned the attacks, suggesting they were politically motivated and accusing the U.S. of sending terrorists to Bolivia.

Following his conviction, Amero was sentenced to 30 years in a maximum-security prison near La Paz. During his incarceration, he exhibited erratic behavior, including an attempt to stab his lawyer and plans to set fire to prison officials and a visiting U.S. diplomat. On April 1, 2008, Amero died in a hospital after complaining of stomach pains. He was 26 years old.​