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.
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