Susan Nero was born in 1968 in New York. She grew up in a seemingly ordinary family and had a relatively stable childhood. She met her husband, Robert Nero, in the 1980s, and they married in 1990. The couple had two children together and appeared to have a happy marriage. However, behind closed doors, their relationship was troubled. Robert Nero was reportedly abusive, and Susan felt trapped in the marriage.

The evidence suggested that Susan Nero had planned the murder meticulously, using her charm and manipulation to recruit her accomplices. She had taken out a $250,000 life insurance policy on her husband just months before his death, which was set to benefit her and her children.

Moreover, Nero's planning and execution of the crime suggest a high level of organization and calculation. This level of planning is often associated with intelligent and calculating individuals who are able to control their emotions and behavior.