LA mom’s killer sentenced to life following early parole launch

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A California man who killed a Los Angeles mom of six lower than a yr after being paroled for a double homicide underneath a youthful offender legislation was sentenced to life in jail, authorities mentioned Friday.

Darryl Lamar Collins, 55, was handed down the sentence for the killing of his girlfriend, Fatima Johnson, a 53-year-old mom of six who was discovered lifeless by her daughters in her condo on July 4, 2021. She was discovered together with her wrists and ankles certain with shoelaces and duct tape and he or she was gagged with underwear, and duct tape was positioned over her mouth and nostril.

Collins stole Johnson's cellular phone, jewellery and her Lexus, prosecutors mentioned. Hours after the homicide, he pawned two of her necklaces and offered her car for medication.

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Darryl Lamar Collins, 55, was paroled early for 2 separate murders and was free for lower than a yr when he killed his girlfriend in Los Angeles. (Getty Photographs; California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

The killing occurred 364 days after he was launched from jail for 2 earlier murders.

"Darryl Collins took three harmless lives. Right this moment’s sentence isn’t nearly punishment, it’s additionally about safety from this sociopath to make sure he won't ever stroll free once more," Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman mentioned. "This case reveals precisely what can occur when somebody with a historical past of utmost violence is launched from jail early. We are able to solely hope that three households who've skilled unimaginable loss discover some measure of peace realizing he won't ever once more be again in our communities."

Collins had beforehand been convicted of two separate murders in 1995 and was sentenced to 2 consecutive phrases of 25 years to life.

Nonetheless, he was launched after serving 25 years — half of his sentence — underneath a youthful offender parole provision enacted by state lawmakers in 2017. The legislation raised the cutoff for youthful offender parole from age 23 to age 25.

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On the time of the 2 earlier murders, Collins was 24.

"Had the state legislature not modified the legislation in 2017, virtually 20 years after Collins’ sentencing, elevating the age cutoff from 23 to 25 for youthful offender parole, Collins would have been behind bars somewhat than on the road and capable of senselessly and brutally take one other harmless life," mentioned Hochman.

On Sept. 17, 1995, Collins carjacked Derrick Reese, 28, who was utilizing a payphone. After taking the car, Collins backed up and shot Reese not less than twice, killing him .

Eleven days later, Collins tried to rob a diner the place Thomas Weiss, 44, was working as a cashier. Collins held Weiss at gunpoint and fatally shot Weiss within the face.

On January 15, 1998, Collins was sentenced to 50 years to life imprisonment.

Gregory Vogelsang, 57, was granted parole by the California Parole Board, regardless of his historical past of kid intercourse offenses. Sacramento County District Legal professional Thien Ho spoke out towards the choice on Thursday. (Sacramentio County Sheriff's Workplace )

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The California Parole Board has come underneath heavy scrutiny in latest weeks after it discovered two convicted serial youngster rapists — David Funston and Gregory Vogelsang – appropriate for early launch, regardless of not less than one admitting that he nonetheless fantasizes about kids.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., cited Collins' legal historical past whereas calling for a evaluate of the board's selections and state early launch legal guidelines.