206 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
⚠️ Warning: Viewer Discretion Advised ⚠️ The following section contains detailed information about serial killers, their crimes, and case details. Some content may be disturbing or graphic, including descriptions of violence, criminal behavior, and sensitive subject matter.
Description
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John Norman Collins: The Michigan Murders

Introduction

John Norman Collins, also known as "The Co-Ed Killer" and "The Ypsilanti Ripper," was a serial killer responsible for a series of brutal murders in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area of Southeastern Michigan between 1967 and 1969. His crimes, known as the Michigan Murders, involved the abduction, rape, and murder of young women, with their bodies often mutilated after death.

Crimes and Victims

  • Mary Terese Fleszar - Last seen on July 9, 1967, near her Ypsilanti apartment. Her body was found on August 7, 1967, on an abandoned farm in Superior Township. She had been stabbed approximately 30 times, and her feet and one forearm were severed.
  • Joan Elspeth Schell - Last seen on June 30, 1968, hitchhiking near the Eastern Michigan University student union. Her body was found on July 5, 1968, in Ann Arbor. She had been stabbed multiple times, and her throat was slashed.
  • Jane Louise Mixer - Last seen on March 20, 1969, trying to get a ride home to Muskegon. Her body was found on March 21, 1969, in a Denton cemetery. She had been shot in the head.
  • Maralynn Skelton - Last seen on March 24, 1969, hitchhiking near Arborland Shopping Center in Ann Arbor. Her body was found on March 25, 1969, near Glazier Way and Earhart. She had been beaten and strangled.

Arrest and Conviction

John Norman Collins was arrested on July 30, 1969, one week after the final murder attributed to him. He was convicted of the murder of Karen Sue Beineman on August 19, 1970, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Although he was never tried for the remaining murders, investigators believe Collins to be responsible for all seven murders linked to the Michigan Murders. ...Read More
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (4)
  • Mary Terese Fleszar Age: (19), Date of Death: 1967-07-09
  •     ...View 3 additional victims
    Links to Additional Sources (12)
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    Killer's Details

    John Norman

    Collins

    June 17, 1947 (age 77) Windsor, Ontario, Canada

    6 ft 0 in (183 cm)

    Male

    White

    The Ypsilanti Ripper, The Co-Ed Killer, The Michigan Murderer, The Ypsilanti Killer

    Collins modus operandi involved abducting, sexually assaulting, and brutally murdering his victims. The crimes were marked by a disturbing pattern of violence and showed signs of sadistic tendencies. The brutality of the murders added to the terror that gripped the community during that period.

    Murder (First-degree)

    Life imprisonment

    1-7+

    July 9, 1967 - July 23, 1969

    Michigan (1 convicted; 5 alleged), California (1 alleged)

    July 30, 1969

    Marquette Branch Prison, G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility

    07/03/2025