Soft-on-Crime California Law Frees Double Murderer — He Kills Again Within a Year
A violent California criminal who was granted early release under the state’s so-called “youthful offender” law is now headed back to prison for life — after taking yet another innocent life less than a year after walking free.
Darryl Lamar Collins, 55, has been sentenced to life behind bars for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, 53-year-old Fatima Johnson, a Los Angeles mother of six. Johnson’s daughters discovered her lifeless body in her apartment on July 4, 2021 — a horrific scene that should never have happened.
Prosecutors described a chilling crime. Johnson’s wrists and ankles were bound with shoelaces and duct tape. She was gagged with underwear, and tape was placed over her mouth and nose. After killing her, Collins stole her cellphone, jewelry, and her Lexus SUV. Within hours, he reportedly pawned two necklaces and sold the vehicle to buy drugs.
This savage murder occurred just 364 days after Collins was released from prison for two earlier killings.
“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.
Collins had previously been convicted of two separate murders in 1995. In September of that year, he carjacked 28-year-old Derrick Reese, who was using a payphone. After stealing Reese’s vehicle, Collins reversed direction and shot him at least twice, killing him. Just eleven days later, Collins attempted to rob a diner and shot 44-year-old cashier Thomas Weiss in the face, ending his life.
In 1998, Collins was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life — a total of 50 years to life in prison.
But in 2017, California lawmakers changed the rules. They expanded the state’s “youthful offender” parole provision, raising the eligibility age from 23 to 25. Collins, who was 24 at the time of the 1995 murders, became eligible for early release under the revised policy. After serving just 25 years — half of his original sentence — he was paroled.
Within one year, another innocent life was gone.
“Had the state legislature not changed the law in 2017… Collins would have been behind bars rather than on the street and able to senselessly and brutally take another innocent life,” Hochman said.
This case has reignited national outrage over California’s parole system and crime policies, which critics argue prioritize criminals over law-abiding citizens. Families across the Golden State are left asking a painful question: how many more lives must be lost before leaders reverse course?
The California Parole Board is already under intense scrutiny. In recent weeks, the board deemed two convicted serial child rapists suitable for early release — despite one reportedly admitting he still fantasizes about children. The pattern has many Americans alarmed.
Rep. Kevin Kiley of California has pointed directly to Collins’ case as a glaring example of systemic failure. He has called for a full review of the state’s early release laws and parole decisions.
“California's reckless laws and runaway Parole Board are getting our citizens killed,” Kiley said.
For three grieving families — the loved ones of Derrick Reese, Thomas Weiss, and Fatima Johnson — justice comes far too late. While Collins will now spend the rest of his life behind bars, the damage done by misguided policies cannot be undone.
Once again, the price of soft-on-crime governance has been paid in innocent blood. Law-abiding Americans deserve safety, accountability, and a justice system that puts victims first — not dangerous repeat offenders.
California’s leaders must answer for the devastating consequences of their decisions. Because when career killers are given second chances, it’s ordinary citizens who pay the ultimate price.
