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 Andrew Richard Fine was born in Oxford, Mississippi on October 17, 1962. His father, Robert, worked as an automobile mechanic and his mother, Grace, was a homemaker. The Fines were a hard-working family, firmly situated in the working class.
As a child, Andy often watched his father work on cars and soon became something of a car expert himself. Early on in elementary school, Andy could identify the different models of cars and describe their engines. But he most enjoyed body work. He loved to watch his father smooth out the crumples in the long lines of the sixties automobiles. The long cars, with body panels that seemed to stretch for miles, ending in chrome intricacies, fascinated Andy. Once when Andy was young, he shouted with anticipation "Hope we can see a wreck!" as the family drove to Tupelo for a rare shopping trip. His parents were mortified and told Andy that wrecks were not something to get excited about. He apologized and said that he just wanted his dad to get some more body work to smooth out. The young boy didn't yet realize that people could get injured in road accidents; he just knew that he loved seeing his father straighten out the bumper and fender.
Outside of his father's garage, Andy was known throughout the elementary school for his quick temper and tendency to bully the other children. He did well enough in school to pass, although he never came anywhere near what his teachers would call excelling. At home, he even bullied his older half-brother, Carl. Carl tried to be good-natured about it and didn't always fight back, but their relationship sometimes suffered from Andy's anger and poor attitude.
Throughout high school, Andy continued his excellence in the garage and his torment of anyone who crossed his path. Students in the glee club and the band were some of his favorite targets. Very few of the teachers at the school liked Andy but, for the most part, he stayed out of trouble. His bullying was enough to attract their ire and he got into a handful of fights, but was never suspended or expelled.
Andy graduated from high school with a mediocre grade point average, a class that barely tolerated him, and a skill for working with his hands and fixing cars. With limited options, Andy enlisted in the Navy. He was stationed at the naval base in Groton, Connecticut, where he worked on engine repair for the supply trucks in the auto pool. On the night before he left, Andy's father gave him a wristwatch and told him how proud he was. Robert Fine was not blind to his son's temper and poor attitude, but he still loved him and was very proud of his skill with car repair. It meant a lot to Robert that Andy was following in his professional footsteps. Robert had never mentioned his dream to anyone, but he was making plans to bring Andy into his business when the naval stint was over.
Andy served his time in the Navy the same way he approached his schooling. He excelled with his work, but had trouble getting along with his fellow sailors. He often argued with his supervisors and fought with his co-workers. At this time, Andy's anger seemed to get worse. In high school, he'd had his share of fights, but those were often passed off as the chest-thumping of youth. The principal would make an entry in Andy's record, but no one was seriously worried about the young man. But during his time in the Navy, Andy's fighting became more and more violent. He spent some time in the brig and, when he wasn't officially locked up, he was often cleaning pots and pans as a disciplinary measure.
Andy's increase in violence seemed to coincide with the death of his father in 1981. Andy had always looked up to the hard-working man. He remembered the way the oil and grease under Robert's fingernails looked and the clank of the tools as Robert threw them down in the garage. Robert's heart attack and sudden death was devastating to Andy. He started drinking and fighting even more.
Andy's commanding officer made it clear that re-enlistment was not encouraged and after his time was up, Andy returned to Oxford. He began working odd jobs in various garages and auto shops throughout the town. Due to his attitude and temper, he rarely found a long-term job. The only thing long-term in Andy's life was his new wife, Cindy.
Upon returning to Oxford, Andy found that his half-brother Carl was dating Cindy Campbell. Cindy Campbell had always caught Andy's eye in high school and now he started talking to her on the nights that the Fine brothers would go out. Soon enough, Cindy had broken up with Carl and begun dating Andy. They married shortly after. There was some friction between the Fine brothers over this incident, but as usual, Carl swallowed his pride and tried to maintain a relationship with Andy.
Andy also began working at Laughlin Automotive & Body Shop. The job suited Andy's temperament. Laughlin Auto Body increased their profit margins by using stolen, knock-off, or used parts in their work. Due to this underhanded way of doing business, Laughlin attracted a garage full of rogues who tolerated Andy's anger and violence. Fights were an accepted way of life at Laughlin and the grease monkeys often took breaks during the day to watch some of their co-workers slug it out back in the gravel lot.
Chas Laughlin, owner of Laughlin Auto Body, uses a few of his most trusted employees to pick up the "special" parts the shop uses from the various suppliers in North Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, and pays those employees cash under the table. Andy, always alert for an opportunity to make a quick, easy and tax-free buck, noticed some of his co-workers seemed to have extra cash about once a week and kept his eyes open for an opportunity to get a piece of the action for himself.
On Monday, July 14, 2003, an Oxford-area farmer was arrested in possession of what was later identified as a human hand belonging to Andrew Fine. On Tuesday, July 15, Andrew Fine's body was discovered in a shallow grave alongside Reagle Farm Road on the outskirts of Oxford.
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