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John Norman CollinsAmerican serial killer.
Date of Birth: 17.06.1947
Country:  USA |
Content:
- John Norman Collins: American Serial Killer
- The Michigan Murders
- Collins' Criminal Activities
- The Karen Sue Beineman Murder
- Conviction and Later Life
John Norman Collins: American Serial Killer
John Norman Collins was an American serial killer who gained notoriety for his involvement in the Michigan Murders. The series of murders took place in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan, between 1967 and 1969, terrorizing the residents of Washtenaw County. While Collins was only convicted of one murder, there are claims that he was responsible for all the killings in the Michigan Murders.
The Michigan Murders
The first victim, Mary Fleszar, a student at Eastern Michigan University, was found dead on an abandoned farm in August 1967. Her body was severely mutilated, missing limbs, and had knife wounds. Two days after her remains were identified, a young man attempted to claim her body at the morgue, but the worker couldn't provide a clear description of him.
In July 1968, Joan Schell, a student from Plymouth, Michigan, was found dead in Ann Arbor with multiple stab wounds. She was last seen with John Norman Collins, a troubled student recently expelled from the Theta Chi fraternity. Collins lived across the street from her. Another victim, Jane Mixer, was discovered in Denton Cemetery in March 1969. She had been shot and strangled. The investigation initially linked her murder to the previous ones, but in 2005, Gary Leiterman was convicted for her murder.
Collins' Criminal Activities
Collins' violent tendencies and sexual deviancy were revealed during the investigation. He had a history of assaulting women, including his own sister, whom he beat so severely that she required hospitalization. Collins had a twisted obsession with inflicting harm and shedding blood.
The Karen Sue Beineman Murder
The turning point in the investigation came with the murder of Karen Sue Beineman. On the day of her disappearance, a store manager witnessed a man on a motorcycle, which Beineman had agreed to ride with. The manager observed this at Beineman's request, stating, "I must be the bravest or dumbest girl alive because I just agreed to go for a motorcycle ride with some guy." The manager's statement led the police to John Norman Collins. Hair belonging to Beineman was found on underwear discovered at Collins' uncle's house in Ypsilanti. Police also found bloodstains on a washing machine in the basement, matching Beineman's blood type. Collins had been living in his uncle's house at the time of Beineman's murder.
Conviction and Later Life
John Norman Collins was arrested after his uncle reported suspicious behavior and was subsequently charged with Karen Sue Beineman's brutal murder. On August 19, 1970, he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. In the early 1980s, Collins officially changed his surname to Chapman, his mother's maiden name. He repeatedly requested a transfer to a Canadian prison, but his pleas were denied. Some sources claim that he changed his name to be associated in the public consciousness with Mark David Chapman, who assassinated John Lennon. Collins remains incarcerated.
