His being featured on the national television show America's Most Wanted led to his capture and conviction for the September 1993 murders of an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother in Casselberry, Seminole County, Florida.

His mother sought assistance from a mental health counselor; however, his violence and anger continued.

[6][7] On September 20, 1993, James returned home from a party to find Betty Dick's four grandchildren sleeping in the living room.

[9][10] James proceeded to Dick's bedroom, where he hit her in the head with a candlestick and repeatedly stabbed her with a knife.

[10] On September 28, 1993, America's Most Wanted (AMW) broadcast information related to the case, resulting in hundreds of viewer phone calls.

The next day, a viewer spotted James at the California state unemployment office in Bakersfield and contacted authorities.