No parole: Life sentence confirmed for 1995 crossbow murder

A court has rejected a convicted murderer’s request to have his life sentence reconsidered, thereby securing his sentence Dana Collins, 63continues to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The decision, announced today by prosecutor Jaymi Sterling, follows Collins’ appeal earlier this year to reconsider his sentence for a 1995 murder.

The court affirmed the state’s position and agreed that there was no legal basis for reconsideration. Collins’ January 2024 motion was heard in October, with Assistant District Attorneys Fran Longwell and Lisa Ridge representing the state. The Honorable Brooke Murdock, who presided over the hearing, reiterated that Collins’ sentence would remain life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Criminal and conviction history

In 1995, Collins lured a man from his home in California, Maryland, and fatally shot him with a crossbow. He later dismembered the victim and disposed of the remains in a school dumpster. The crime shocked the community and led to Collins pleading guilty to first-degree murder in July 1996. The Honorable Marvin S. Kaminetz sentenced him to life in prison without parole.

However, Collins’ legal battle did not end there. After filing several post-conviction motions, the Court of Appeals (now the Maryland Court of Appeals) overturned his original conviction in 2002 and granted a retrial. At his 2003 trial, Collins pleaded not criminally responsible, but a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and criminally responsible for his actions. In February 2004 he was again sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Ongoing appeals and legal applications

Since his conviction in 2003, Collins has mounted extensive appeals, filing 15 motions, petitions and appeals. Every attempt to overturn his sentence ultimately failed. In his most recent motion, Collins argued for a reconsideration of his life sentence. However, the state insisted during the October hearing that Collins had exhausted all legal options. Prosecutors also stressed that there was no new evidence or legal grounds to warrant reconsideration.

The court sided with the state, marking the end of Collins’ latest challenge.

Prosecution team

Prosecutor Jaymi Sterling praised the work of Assistant District Attorneys Fran Longwell and Lisa Ridge in representing the state during the 2024 trial. Former prosecutor Richard Fritz successfully prosecuted the case during Collins’ 2003 trial. The decision was described as a victory for justice and public safety in St. Mary’s County.

Related