Horrifying True Crime Stories by Danielle Tyning

Author:Danielle Tyning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder and mayhem, true crime books, Robert Keller, ann rule, disturbing true crime stories, books about real life murders, worst killers ever, worst crimes ever committed, true crime serial killer, true crime stories, cheap true crime books
Publisher: Danielle Tyning
Published: 2020-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

Horrifying True Crime Case #7: Donald Collins

Robbie Middleton, on his eighth birthday in 1998, was tied to a tree, doused in gasoline, and set on fire. Twelve years later, he eventually succumbed to his extensive injuries, but not before finally naming his attacker. It was a boy who had sexually assaulted him two weeks before setting him alight.

The most frustrating cases of horrific crime or murder are the ones where the victim never receives justice or they have to live a life of suffering without ever seeing their tormentor receive their just deserts. This case was undeniably frustrating for me to research, not only because the victim of this crime was only eight, but because he survived with devastating injuries (both mental and physical) for years. He eventually succumbed to his horrific injuries - burns to 99% of his body - 13 years after he was savagely attacked. This is the story of the murder of Robbie Middleton and the events that led to the eventual capture of his killer, Don Collins.

It was a sweltering hot day in Splendora, Texas on the 28th of June, 1998. It was also the birthday of little Robbie Middleton, who woke up excited about turning eight and was looking forward to buying new things with his birthday money.

He bought fireworks and planned on walking through the woods behind his house which connected the Crossno neighbourhood. This is where his friend lived and Robbie was going to set up a tent in his backyard (one of his birthday gifts) and have his friend camp out with him. His mother pitched the tent up for him that day, recalling that, “It was really, truly one of the happiest days of his life. He just really loved his birthdays.”

On this scorching afternoon, which should have been a day of laughter and celebration, Robbie was horrendously attacked in the woods as he walked to his friend’s home. He was bound by rope to a tree before being drenched in gasoline and set on fire. When the rope burned through, Robbie was free to fall from the tree. It was then he bravely managed to get his way home in a cloud of burning flames, collapsing in the street. His mother Colleen would be the one to discover her son, burnt, blistered and barely clinging to life.

Straight away, Robbie was dashed to the hospital. He’d suffered third-degree burns to 99% of his tiny frame. Only one part of his body had remained untouched - the soles of his feet. His parents were devastated to be told that he wouldn’t survive. But by some miracle, he did.

After the attack, Robbie named his attacker as 13-year-old Donald Collins. Donald was known as a local sexual predator, despite his young age. He lived near the Middleton family and Colleen had often warned young Robbie not to go near Donald. She told her son to run away if he was ever playing alone and saw the dangerous teenager nearby. Donald was arrested for the horrific attack and would go on to spend several months in juvenile detention.

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