Texas man accused of murder for allegedly burning a boy in 1998, when he was 13
QMI Agency
First posted: Friday, March 07, 2014 11:44 AM EST | Updated: Friday, March 07, 2014 11:58 AM EST
A Texas man will stand trial for murder after he allegedly set another boy on fire in 1998.
When he was 13 years old, Don Willburn Collins allegedly doused Robert Middleton in gasoline and set him on fire, burning 99% of Middleton's body, The Courier of Montgomery County reported.
Middleton died in 2011 from skin cancer that health authorities say was caused by skin grafts he received after the alleged attack.
Middleton had named Collins, 28, as his attacker, but police said they didn't have enough evidence to prove it, The Associated Press reported.
Before he died, Middleton videotaped a deposition in which he also accused Collins of sexually assaulting him two weeks before the attack. Officers reopened the case after that allegation.
In a 2009 interview, Middleton told KHOU News he was eight when a neighbour boy attacked him.
"He grabbed me by my shoulder and threw gas in my face. After that I don't really remember anything," he said.
Texas man accused of murder for allegedly burning a boy in 1998, when he was 13 | World | News | Toronto Sun
QMI Agency
First posted: Friday, March 07, 2014 11:44 AM EST | Updated: Friday, March 07, 2014 11:58 AM EST
A Texas man will stand trial for murder after he allegedly set another boy on fire in 1998.
When he was 13 years old, Don Willburn Collins allegedly doused Robert Middleton in gasoline and set him on fire, burning 99% of Middleton's body, The Courier of Montgomery County reported.
Middleton died in 2011 from skin cancer that health authorities say was caused by skin grafts he received after the alleged attack.
Middleton had named Collins, 28, as his attacker, but police said they didn't have enough evidence to prove it, The Associated Press reported.
Before he died, Middleton videotaped a deposition in which he also accused Collins of sexually assaulting him two weeks before the attack. Officers reopened the case after that allegation.
In a 2009 interview, Middleton told KHOU News he was eight when a neighbour boy attacked him.
"He grabbed me by my shoulder and threw gas in my face. After that I don't really remember anything," he said.
Texas man accused of murder for allegedly burning a boy in 1998, when he was 13 | World | News | Toronto Sun