John J. Collett
John George Collett (March 26, 1962 – October 29, 1991) was an American commodities salesman. He was best known as the fiancé of Kim Richards.
John J. Collett | |
|---|---|
| Born | John George Collett March 26, 1962 Burley, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 1991 (aged 29) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Homicide (gunshot wounds) |
| Burial place | Evergreen Cemetery, Springville, Utah |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Commodities salesman |
| Partner(s) | Kim Richards (engaged) |
Early life
John George Collett was born in Burley, Idaho on March 26, 1962.[1] He was the son of John George Collett Sr. and Jan Collett (née Holt).[2]
Career and criminal history
Collett had worked for a commodities firm. Collett became a central figure in a criminal scheme involving 8,000 elderly investors and nearly US$150 million (equivalent to $322 million in 2022) in losses. Sheldon M. Jaffe served as his attorney.[3]
Personal life
Collett had been engaged to actress Kim Richards for a few months prior to his death. The couple met when Collett was leaving an AA meeting and Richards was driving to a meeting. He had been sober for eight years when he met Richards.[4]
Death
Collett was murdered around 1:30pm[3] outside Brent's Deli in Northridge, Los Angeles on October 28, 1991. He was 29.[1] He was pronounced dead at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.[5] Collett was shot twice in the head at point-blank range by a hit man who had been paid US$30,000.[2] His body was identified by Kim Richards.[6] He was interred at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah.[7]
Marva DeCarlo Johnson, a computer technician from Pasadena, California, was arrested on suspicion of Collett's murder on November 1, 1991. Johnson was charged with one count of murder and was held at the Los Angeles County Jail.[5] Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder at his trial on March 31, 1993[8] and was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison on June 28.[9] The death penalty was considered.[10] In May 2015, it was announced that a parole suitability hearing had been scheduled for September 10, which was denied.[11]
Collett was speaking with his fiancée on the phone when the shooting occurred.[4] Richards spoke about Collett's murder on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.[2]
John J. Collett Media
Kim Richards (age 5); publicity photo for Nanny and the Professor (1970).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997: 28 OCT 1991 (aged 29) LOS ANGELES – John George Collett SS# 561317165
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Breuer, Howard (November 7, 2010). "INSIDE STORY: The Brutal Murder in Real Housewives Star Kim Richards's Past". People. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Berger, Leslie (November 10, 1991). "Man Slain Outside Deli Was Target of Fraud Suit : Scams: The state alleges up to 8,000 investors nationwide lost about $140 million in partnerships sold by the shooting victim and his associates". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oppenheimer, Jerry (2006). House of Hilton. Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307351951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Archives, L.A. Times (November 8, 1991). "Pasadena Man Is Charged in Slaying Outside Northridge Deli". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ Powers, Lindsay (November 8, 2010). "Fiance of 'Real Housewives' Star Gunned Down by Hit Man". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ Utah, U.S., Cemetery Inventory, 1847-2021: 28 OCT 1991 (aged 29) Springville Evergreen Cemetery, SPRINGVILLE, UTAH – John George Collett Sec. J Lot 53 Pos. 9
- ↑ Leovy, Jill (April 2, 1993). "NORTHRIDGE : Man Pleads Guilty to Slaying at Deli". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ Mrozek, Thom (June 29, 1993). "NORTHRIDGE : Man Gets 30 Years to Life in Slaying". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ Moran, Julio (February 6, 1992). "Death Penalty a Possibility in Killing at Deli". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ↑ Cronin, Lindsay (May 18, 2015). "John Collett Update: Kim Richards' Former Fiance's Murderer Eligible For Parole?". The Inquisitr. Retrieved December 1, 2023.