Wilford Lee Berry Jr. was born on September 2, 1962, in Houston, Texas. 

Wilford Lee Berry Jr. conspired to murder his employer, Charles Mitroff, on November 30, 1989. He and his co-worker, Anthony Lozar, planned the crime together. Berry provided Lozar with a gun and kept another gun for himself. When Mitroff returned to the bakery after making deliveries, Lozar shot him in the torso. As Mitroff fell to the ground, Berry approached and shot him in the head. After killing Mitroff, they buried his body in a shallow grave near a bridge and stole his delivery van.

Berry was later arrested in Kentucky while driving the stolen van. He was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. During his arrest, he confessed to the murder and even boasted about it to other inmates in jail. At different times, Berry offered two reasons for killing Mitroff. One reason was revenge for an incident where Mitroff nearly ran over Berry's sister. The other reason was that he claimed there was no special reason for the murder.

Following his confession and various pieces of circumstantial evidence, a jury convicted Berry of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary. He was sentenced to death.

After his conviction, Berry chose not to appeal his death sentence. This decision led to a competency hearing to assess his mental state. Two psychiatrists examined him and diagnosed him with a mixed personality disorder but deemed him competent to waive his rights. On July 22, 1997, the judge ruled that he was competent to forego further legal challenges.

While in prison, Berry was attacked during a riot on September 5, 1997. Other inmates targeted him because they believed his decision to volunteer for execution would hinder their own efforts to delay their sentences. Berry sustained serious injuries, including a broken jaw, broken ribs, and damage to his right hand.

Despite his injuries, attempts by his supporters to prove he was no longer competent for execution were rejected by the courts. On February 19, 1999, Wilford Berry Jr. was executed by lethal injection. His accomplice, Lozar, received a life sentence and was eligible for parole in 2036.