On October 19, 1979, 27-year-old Harvey Wayne Wilkerson was among three people murdered in their Richmond, Virginia, home. Also killed that night were his 23-year-old common-law wife Judy Diane Barton, who was eight months pregnant, and her five-year-old son Harvey Wayne Barton. The victims were attacked after a group of neighborhood acquaintances — Linwood Briley, James J.B. Briley, Anthony Briley, and Duncan Eric Meekins — forced entry. Wilkerson and Barton were bound and gagged; Barton was brutally assaulted and all three victims were shot. The bodies were discovered three days later.

Police identified the Briley brothers and Meekins as prime suspects. Meekins testified against the brothers as part of a plea deal and received a life sentence. James J.B. Briley and Linwood Briley were convicted of capital murder; both received death sentences and were executed in 1985 and 1984 respectively. Anthony Briley received a life sentence with the possibility of parole and remains incarcerated along with Meekins.