Death Sentence Upheld for Child Killer

The California Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death penalty for Robert William Collins, who was convicted of murdering his two young children and burying their bodies in Angeles National Forest. Collins, 45, received the sentence in 2022 after a Los Angeles County jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. The unanimous decision rejected all challenges to his conviction and penalty. ### Who Were the Victims and When Were They Killed? Collins' daughter, 2-year-old Miyah Collins, and son, 5-year-old Robert Collins III, were reported missing from their Lancaster home on December 20, 2019. Prosecutors said Collins killed the children earlier that day during a dispute with their mother, his estranged wife, then drove their bodies 50 miles to a remote spot in the 700,000-acre Angeles National Forest. A hiker discovered the shallow graves on December 23, 2019, three days after the children were reported missing. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department identified the remains through dental records and arrested Collins at the scene. He confessed to detectives, telling them he strangled Miyah with his hands and beat Robert III to death with a blunt object, according to court filings. ### What Evidence Led to Collins' Conviction? Jurors at the Los Angeles County Superior Court trial in 2022 heard testimony from forensic experts who matched soil from Collins' truck tires to the burial site. Cellphone records placed his phone near the forest at 4 a.m. on December 20. Collins' wife, Keisha Hammock, testified that he called her that night admitting he had "hurt the babies." Prosecutors presented photos Collins took of the graves after covering them with branches and dirt. A search of his home uncovered bloodstained clothing belonging to the children. Collins claimed self-defense, alleging the boy attacked him with a knife, but the jury rejected that account after two days of deliberations on April 12, 2022. The penalty phase ended with a death verdict on May 27, 2022. ### What Challenges Did Collins Raise on Appeal? Collins' automatic appeal to the California Supreme Court argued ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, and jury bias. His attorney, Deputy State Public Defender Jessica T. Garcia, claimed the trial judge erred by admitting Collins' confession, which was obtained without Miranda warnings. The state countered that Collins initiated the interview voluntarily. In a 112-page ruling authored by Justice Goodwin Liu, the court found no reversible errors. "The evidence of guilt was overwhelming," the opinion stated, upholding both the conviction and sentence. All seven justices agreed, with no dissents. The decision was filed May 30, 2026, more than four years after sentencing. ### Why Does California Still Have the Death Penalty? California voters approved Proposition 66 in 2016, speeding up death penalty appeals while maintaining capital punishment. Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019 but has not commuted Collins' sentence. As of 2026, 599 inmates remain on death row statewide, with no executions since 2006 due to legal challenges. Collins' case drew attention for its brutality; Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called it "one of the most horrific child murders" in memory during the 2022 sentencing. The ruling reinforces Proposition 66's framework, which mandates appeals conclude within five years where possible. ### Where Does the Case Go from Here? Collins' attorneys plan to file a federal habeas corpus petition in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California within one year. That process could take 5-10 years, according to the California Appellate Project, which represents death row inmates. If denied, appeals could reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Collins remains housed at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. ```