The murders of Julie and Robin Kerry occurred on April 5, 1991, on the Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri.

Gray (September 29, 1967 – October 26, 2005) was convicted of aiding and abetting for being a part of the group of four men involved in the murders.

According to testimony offered on behalf of the prosecution, several minutes later the group of four men decided to rob the three, with Winfrey testifying that Gray said he "felt like hurting somebody."

Cummins was then robbed of his wallet, wristwatch, cash, and keys, and the three victims were forced down the manhole cover to the concrete pier.

Medical witnesses testified that Cummins and Julie Kerry survived the 48-foot (15 m) fall to the water below.

On returning after 30 minutes in the car, Clemons informed him that "Man, I just robbed that guy and threw him and the girls into the river."

They believed Julie had fallen off the bridge while resisting his sexual advances, Robin had jumped in to save her, and both had drowned.

Winfrey was the only white member of the convicted group, which has been raised as a criticism since he was the main prosecution witness.

Richardson was also given a death sentence, however, it was commuted to life in prison by the Supreme Court of Missouri on October 28, 2003.

Richardson had been the focus of strenuous efforts by death penalty opponents due to his alleged mental deficiencies and because of his age at the time of the murders, even though his own psychologist and his mother testified that he "know[s] the difference between right and wrong."

In 2005, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that executions of persons who committed their crimes as juveniles were unconstitutional.

Governor Matt Blunt denied Gray clemency on October 25, based on a recommendation by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.

Gray asked that no member of his family witness the execution, which he described as "murder," although a female cousin and a minister were present.