A man from California, who had only been out on parole for less than a year after serving time for multiple murders, has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a mother of six in Los Angeles. Authorities made the announcement on Friday.
Daryl Lamar Collins, aged 55, was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend, Fatima Johnson, who was 53. Her daughters found her deceased in her apartment on July 4, 2021.
The conditions of her death were particularly harrowing. She was discovered with her wrists and ankles bound using shoelaces and duct tape, gagged and partially dressed, with duct tape also placed over her mouth and nose.
Collins allegedly stole Johnson’s cell phone, jewelry, and her Lexus. Just hours after the murder, he pawned two of her necklaces and sold her car, reportedly for drugs.
This incident took place just 364 days following his release from prison. It’s like, I can’t believe how quickly it escalated back to violence.
“Daryl Collins took three innocent lives,” stated Nathan Hochman, the Los Angeles County District Attorney. “Today’s sentence isn’t merely about punishment; it’s about ensuring that this sociopath never walks free again.”
He continued, stressing that this case underscores the risks associated with releasing individuals who have violent pasts too soon. It’s a tragedy that the families affected have endured such unimaginable loss, and perhaps some comfort can be found in knowing he won’t return to their community.
Collins had previously been convicted of two separate murders back in 1995, receiving two consecutive 25-year sentences. But, thanks to the Youthful Offenders Act enacted in 2017, he was released after serving just half of that time. This law raised the age limit for young offender parole from 23 to 25, ultimately allowing Collins to go free at 24.
If the law hadn’t changed, it’s likely he would still be incarcerated. Hochman mentioned, “Had the state Legislature not modified the law nearly 20 years after Collins’ sentencing, he could have still been behind bars instead of out on the streets, cruelly taking innocent lives.”
Collins’ criminal history included a brutal carjacking on September 17, 1995, where he shot a man named Derrick Reese, killing him. Days later, he attempted to rob a diner where he fatally shot Thomas Weiss.
For these crimes, he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison in January 1998.
Recently, the California Parole Board has faced significant criticism after considering early releases for two convicted serial child rapists, despite one of them indicating they still fantasized about children.
U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley is calling for a review of these decisions and the state’s policies on early releases, pointing to Collins’ track record. “California’s reckless laws and out-of-control parole board are endangering lives,” he expressed in a message.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the parole board for further comment.
