Nearly 11 years after a conviction was secured, the horrific case of an eight-year-old boy tied to a tree and set alight on his birthday continues to shock. The killer, Don Collins, was finally found guilty of felony murder in 2015, largely due to a harrowing deathbed video from his victim, Robbie Middleton.
A Birthday Turned to Horror
On June 28, 1998, in Splendora, Texas, Robbie Middleton was celebrating his eighth birthday. Full of excitement, he left home to visit a friend. On his return journey, he encountered his 13-year-old neighbour, Don Collins. Collins, who had allegedly raped Robbie just two weeks earlier, was determined to stop the boy from talking.
In a brutal and premeditated attack, Collins tied Robbie to a tree, doused him in petrol, and set him on fire. The flames were so intense that they left what Robbie's mother later described as a "perfect outline" of her son's body seared into the bark.
A Decade of Suffering and a Deathbed Revelation
Miraculously, Robbie survived the initial attack, managing to stumble out of the woods towards home. He had sustained third-degree burns over 99% of his body, with only the soles of his feet untouched. Doctors gave him little hope, but he endured more than 150 surgeries over the next decade.
Despite unimaginable pain and severe disfigurement, Robbie's resilience and positive attitude astounded his family. Tragically, the extensive burns led to skin cancer, and he passed away in April 2011 at the age of 20. Just 17 days before his death, he recorded a crucial 27-minute video statement.
In the footage, the courageous young man identified Don Collins as his attacker and revealed the motive: Collins had sexually assaulted him and set him on fire to ensure his silence. This video became pivotal evidence, leading to Collins's arrest for felony murder.
Justice Delivered After Years of Waiting
At the time of Robbie's death, Collins was already in prison for sexually assaulting another eight-year-old boy. He had initially been arrested days after the 1998 fire but was released without charge. The emergence of the deathbed video changed everything.
In February 2015, Don Collins was sentenced to the maximum term of 40 years in prison. Outside the court, Robbie's mother, Colleen, spoke of her relief and her son's enduring spirit. She recalled always sensing something deeply unsettling about Collins, even as a child, describing his eyes as "blank" and "cold."
Prior to the criminal trial, Robbie's parents were awarded a symbolic $150 billion in a civil case against Collins. Colleen stated the staggering sum was a recognition that "they get it" – an acknowledgement of the profound and irreparable loss of their son.
