California man Darryl Lamar Collins sentenced to life without parole for killing Fatima Johnson after parole release
The state of California saw a tragic turn of events when a man named Darryl Lamar Collins, 55, was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing of his girlfriend, Fatima Johnson, a 53-year-old mother of six. The incident occurred on July 4, 2021, when Johnson was found dead in her apartment by her daughters. She had been bound with shoelaces and duct tape, gagged with underwear and duct tape, and had tape placed over her mouth and nose. Collins not only took her life but also stole her cell phone, jewelry, and car, which he later sold for drugs.
What makes this case even more disturbing is the fact that Collins had been released from prison just 364 days prior to the murder. He had previously served time for two separate murders in 1995 and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life. However, due to a youthful offender parole provision enacted in 2017, he was released after serving just 25 years, half of his sentence. This decision proved to be fatal, as Collins went on to commit another heinous crime.
In 1995, Collins carjacked Derrick Reese, 28, and fatally shot him while he was using a payphone. Eleven days later, he tried to rob a diner and ended up shooting cashier Thomas Weiss, 44, in the face. Collins was sentenced to 50 years to life imprisonment for these crimes but was released early under the new parole provision.
The California Parole Board has faced criticism for its decisions in recent weeks, especially after finding convicted serial child rapists suitable for early release. US Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., has called for a review of the board’s decisions and state early release laws, citing cases like Collins’ as examples of the dangers of releasing violent offenders back into society.
The tragic story of Fatima Johnson’s murder serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of early release laws and parole decisions. It highlights the need for a closer examination of such policies to ensure the safety of the public and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
