A California man who killed a Los Angeles mother of six less than a year after being paroled for a double murder under a youthful offender law was sentenced to life in prison, authorities said Friday.
Darryl Lamar Collins, 55, was sentenced for the killing of his girlfriend, Fatima Johnson, a 53-year-old mother of six who was found dead by her daughters in her apartment July 4, 2021.
She was found with her wrists and ankles bound with shoelaces and duct tape, she was gagged with underwear and duct tape was placed over her mouth and nose.
Collins stole Johnson’s cell phone, jewelry and her Lexus, prosecutors said. Hours after the murder, he pawned two of her necklaces and sold her vehicle for drugs.
The killing happened 364 days after he was released from prison for two previous murders.
“Darryl Collins took three innocent lives. Today’s sentence isn’t just about punishment. It’s also about protection from this sociopath to ensure he will never walk free again,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
“This case shows exactly what can happen when someone with a history of extreme violence is released from prison early. We can only hope that three families who have experienced unimaginable loss find some measure of peace knowing he will never again be back in our communities.”
Collins had previously been convicted of two separate murders in 1995 and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life.
Hellbound and Down 