Achim Michaelis was born in Alpen, Germany on July 11, 1963. Before coming to the United States, Michaelis lived in Duisburg in western Germany. In March 2001, Michaelis entered the U.S. in Atlanta, Georgia and had been issued a temporary work permit, which indicates he expected to stay in the country for an extended period working for TINAG, Inc. in Atlanta.

Michaelis arrived in Oxford on Thursday, April 26, 2001 with two companions, Wenzel Hitzig and Arlene Melton. The trio checked into two rooms at the Ole Miss Motel on Thursday evening and had not checked out at the time of Michealis' death. The reason Michaelis and his friends were visiting Oxford is not known at this time, but further investigation is expected to uncover that information.

Among the items found on the body were an Ole Miss Motel room key, a German-issued passport, assorted credit cards, and a loaded handgun.