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Darryl Collins Sentenced to Life Without Parole in 2021 South L.A. Murder

Prosecutors say the case underscores public-safety risks from California's expanded youthful-offender parole law.

Overview

  • Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Craig Veals imposed the life-without-parole sentence on Friday.
  • Collins, 55, was found guilty on Feb. 19 of first-degree special-circumstance murder for the killing of Fatima Johnson.
  • Johnson, a mother of six, was discovered in her Manchester Square home bound and gagged, with death by asphyxia, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
  • Investigators said Collins stole Johnson’s phone, jewelry, and Lexus, then quickly pawned two necklaces and sold the vehicle for drugs.
  • Collins had two prior 1995 murder convictions and was released in 2020 after a 2017 law raised the youthful-offender parole age to 25, with prosecutors noting Johnson was killed 364 days after his release and publicly criticizing the policy.