Robbie Middleton | A 13-Year Quest for Justice After a Horrific Fire Attack | Twisted Cases
On June 28, 1998, the life of 8-year-old Robbie Middleton from Splendora, Texas changed forever. What started as an ordinary summer day turned into one of the most tragic and cruel crimes imaginable. Robbie was tied to a tree, doused in gasoline, and set on fire—leaving 99% of his body covered in third-degree burns. This brutal act sparked a long, painful journey for Robbie and his family—a journey for survival, truth, and justice that would take 13 years to unfold.
Despite the unimaginable pain, Robbie survived the attack. He endured over 200 surgeries, years of rehabilitation, and constant suffering. His body was scarred, but his spirit was strong. Doctors were amazed he lived, and his family stood by his side through every operation, every sleepless night, and every moment of heartbreak. Robbie spent his remaining years in and out of hospitals, but he never stopped fighting.
At first, the identity of his attacker remained a mystery. The community was in shock—who could do something so horrific to a child? But Robbie later identified his attacker as 13-year-old Don Collins, a local teen who had allegedly assaulted Robbie before. However, due to Robbie’s young age, lack of physical evidence, and legal complications, no charges were filed at the time. Collins was sent to juvenile detention for unrelated charges, but not for the attack on Robbie.
For years, Robbie and his family carried both physical and emotional scars, while justice remained out of reach. Then, in 2011—just before his death at age 20—Robbie recorded a video deposition. In that emotional statement, he revealed that Don Collins was responsible for the attack. He explained how Collins had threatened him to stay quiet about a sexual assault, and when Robbie told his mother, Collins sought revenge by setting him on fire.
Robbie died shortly after from skin cancer caused by his burn injuries, but his final testimony changed everything.
A grand jury reopened the case. Collins—now an adult—was charged with capital murder. However, because he was a minor at the time of the crime, he could not face the death penalty. In 2014, he was found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison, the maximum allowed under juvenile prosecution rules.
Though justice was delayed, it was not denied. Robbie’s courage, even in his final days, helped bring the truth to light. His family found some peace knowing his voice was heard, and his suffering would not be forgotten.
Robbie Middleton’s story is a heartbreaking example of cruelty, but also of extraordinary bravery and love. It reveals flaws in the justice system, the strength of a family’s perseverance, and a young boy’s unbreakable will to fight—even when the world failed him.
