In 1998, Robbie Middleton turned eight.
He was having a birthday party with his family when he was led into to the woods by a 13-year-old boy – a monster as it turns out.
Robbie was doused in gasoline and set on fire.
His entire body was ravaged by the flames.
Somehow, Robbie made it home, and he was rushed to the hospital.
As you can imagine, he was severely disfigured by the incident.
Robbie endured over 150 surgeries and lived for several years after being attacked.
He became an inspiration to others. When Robbie was 20, his burns had changed into an aggressive form of skin cancer.
Before his death in 2011, Robbie would say that the past is past and that you should let things go.
But, he did name the person who attacked him in a deposition.
The boy responsible was Dan Collins.
Two weeks before Collins set Robbie on fire, he had raped him.
Police believe that Collins set Robbie on fire to keep him quiet about the rape.
Collins had been investigated in 1998, but the police couldn’t find a motive at the time.
Collins (at the age of 29) was put on trial for capital murder.
Since he was 13 at the time of the crime, the death penalty was removed.
Collins was sentenced to 40 years in jail.
That doesn’t’ seem fair.
He was free for years and only has to spend 40 years in jail?
He should have gotten life. Robbie’s life was worth at least that.
Robbie’s family was awarded $150 billion in a civil lawsuit against Dan Collins.
