James "Jim" Donald Merlino was born on November 25, 1928, in Wallace, Idaho. Merlino has two children: Debbie Chase and Nick Merlino.

Merlino was hired by the Nye County Sheriff Department in June of 1972 to work as Deputy Sheriff in Mercury, Nevada. He retired in January of 1994.

Joyce Anne Parkhurst (née Reese) was born on October 24, 1935, in Long Beach, California. Joyce married James on January 30, 1955, and they had five children: Jim, Jeff, Jennifer, Jocelyn, and Jill.

Parkhurst attended one and a half years of college and one and a half years of nursing school.

Parkhurst was employed as a nurse for 14 years.

Henry Eloy Peluaga was born on November 21, 1927, in Eureka, Nevada. Henry married Lola on July 16, 1950, and they had three children: Henry, Steven, and Sherry.

Peluaga was enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Peluaga was a shifter walking boss miner in affiliation with the Nevada Test Site. Peluaga had previously been employed as a sheepherder, truck driver, cowboy, bartender, and race car driver.

Linda Marie Smith (née Mack) was born on March 12, 1940, in Inglewood, California. Linda married Theodore on October 1, 1960.

Smith obtained a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1979. She then obtained a master of business administration from Arizona State University in 1982.

Smith worked as the deputy manager and assistant manager for administration for the United States Department of Energy (USDOE) in affiliation with the Nevada Test Site.

Erik McBride Thompson was born in 1957in the United States.

Thomason was in the Peace Corps Micronesia from 1979-1981. Thompson earned a bachelor of arts degree (1979), a master of arts degree (1982), and a master of business administration degree (1984) from Stanford University.

Thompson frequently protested the Nevada Test Site and is a former board member for the Nevada Desert Experience.