A THIRTEEN-YEAR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE: THE STORY OF ROBBIE MIDDLETON

On June 28, 1998, eight-year-old Robbie Middleton set out for a birthday camping trip in Montgomery County, Texas. Instead of a celebration, he was brutally attacked in a wooded area by 13-year-old Don Wilburn Collins. Fearing Robbie would report a prior sexual assault, Collins poured gasoline over the child and set him on fire. Despite suffering deep burns covering over 99 percent of his body, Robbie miraculously survived after being rushed to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, defying initial expectations that his injuries would prove fatal.

His survival marked the beginning of a grueling, multi-year ordeal involving hundreds of surgeries, skin grafts, and painful rehabilitative procedures. Meanwhile, the legal case stalled. Though Robbie identified his attacker early on, prosecutors dismissed the juvenile charges in 2000 due to evidentiary concerns and Texas juvenile law complications, turning the matter into a cold case.

In 2011, as Robbie’s health rapidly declined, attorneys recorded a vital 27-minute videotaped deposition detailing the attack. Shortly after, on April 29, 2011, Robbie passed away at age 20 from an aggressive skin cancer directly caused by his burn complications. His death allowed authorities to reopen the investigation as a homicide.

In 2014, Collins was certified to stand trial as an adult. Armed with Robbie’s recorded testimony and witness admissions, prosecutors secured a capital murder conviction in February 2015. Collins received a 40-year prison sentence—the maximum permitted for a crime committed at age 13. Robbie’s courage and preserved voice ultimately delivered justice nearly two decades later.