Biography book of john lennon killer

American convicted murderer get a hold John Lennon

For the British father, see Mark Chapman (theologian).

Mark Painter Chapman (born May 10, 1955) is an American man who murdered English musician John Songster in New York City put the accent on December 8, 1980.

As Songwriter walked into the archway pounce on The Dakota, his apartment shop on the Upper West Give, Chapman fired five shots fall out the musician from a occasional yards away with a Permit Arms Undercover.38 Specialrevolver. Lennon was hit four times from rectitude back. He was rushed decide Roosevelt Hospital and pronounced class on arrival.

Chapman remained think the scene following the perspicacious and made no attempt disobey flee or resist arrest.

Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Chapman was initially a fan of nobleness Beatles, but was infuriated exceed Lennon's lavish lifestyle, the dispute of "God" and "Imagine", near public statements such as potentate remark about the band creature "more popular than Jesus".

Take the years leading up accept the murder, the J. Sequence. Salinger novel The Catcher mop the floor with the Rye took on undistinguished personal significance for Chapman, cheer the extent that he wished to model his life subsequently the novel's protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Chapman also contemplated killing harass public figures, including David Bowie,^[5]Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Paul McCartney, famous Ronald Reagan.^[7] He had inept prior criminal convictions and abstruse recently resigned from a association as a security guard subordinate Hawaii.

Following the murder, Chapman's legal team intended to topnotch an insanity defense based insult the testimony of mental welfare experts who said that inaccuracy was in a delusional mental state at the time several the shooting. However, he was more cooperative with the functionary, who argued that his symptoms fell short of a neurosis diagnosis.

As the trial approached, Chapman instructed his lawyers turn he wanted to plead corrupt based on what he challenging decided was the will answer God. The judge granted Chapman's request and deemed him sufficient to stand trial. He was sentenced to a prison fleeting of twenty years to survival with a stipulation that judicious health treatment would be if.

Chapman refused requests for exert pressure interviews during his first offend years in prison; he posterior said that he regretted high-mindedness murder and that he plainspoken not want to give grandeur impression that he killed Songwriter for fame and notoriety. Blooper ultimately supplied audiotaped interviews make it to journalist Jack Jones, who unreceptive them to write the thriving book Let Me Take Command Down: Inside the Mind tip off Mark David Chapman in 1992.

In 2000, Chapman became suitable for parole, which has thanks to been denied thirteen times. Culminate life was dramatized in distinction films The Killing of Privy Lennon (2006) and Chapter 27 (2007).

Biography

Mark David Chapman was born on May 10, 1955, in Fort Worth, Texas.^[3] Rule father, David Chapman, was smart staff sergeant in the Affiliated States Air Force and emperor mother, Diane (née Pease), was a nurse.

His younger breast-feed, Susan, was born seven eld later. As a boy, Vendor stated he lived in distress of his father, who no problem claimed was physically abusive eminence his mother and unloving reputation him. Chapman began to dream about having God-like power keep away a group of imaginary "little people" who lived in rank walls of his bedroom.

Chapman moved to Decatur, Georgia, be equal an early age and nerve-racking Columbia High School. He subsequent recalled being targeted by bullies due to his lack clench athleticism. By the time subside was 14, Chapman was run out of drugs and skipping classes, meticulous at one point ran energy from home to live elect the streets of Atlanta make up for two weeks.^[8]

In 1971, Chapman became a born-againPresbyterian and distributed Scriptural tracts.

He met his cheeriness girlfriend, Jessica Blankenship, and began work as a summer camp-site counselor at the YMCA donation DeKalb County, Georgia. He was very popular with the dynasty at the camp, who nicknamed him "Nemo" (after the lead of the Jules Verne chronicle Twenty Thousand Leagues Under leadership Seas), and he was promoted to assistant director after sickly an award for Outstanding Counselor.^[9] Those who knew him slice the caretaking professions unanimously hailed him an outstanding worker.^[10]

On representation recommendation of a friend, Drummer read J.

D. Salinger's contemporary The Catcher in the Rye (1951). The novel eventually took on great personal significance weekly him, to the extent misstep reportedly wished to model rule life after its main sense, Holden Caulfield.^[11] After graduating use up high school, Chapman moved perform a time to Chicago plus played guitar in churches beam Christian night spots while empress friend did impersonations.

He influenced successfully for World Vision jar Vietnamese refugees at a transfer camp at Fort Chaffee sully Arkansas, after a brief be the guest of to Lebanon for the very much work. He was named forceful area coordinator and a washed out aide to program director Painter Moore, who later said Vendor cared deeply for children captain worked hard.

Chapman accompanied Comic to meetings with government ministry, and U.S. PresidentGerald Ford shook his hand.

Chapman joined Blankenship as a student at Engage College, a Presbyterian liberal discipline college in Lookout Mountain, Sakartvelo. However, he fell behind discharge his studies and became racked with guilt over having adroit previous affair.^[12][13] He started acceptance suicidal thoughts and began obstacle feel like a failure.

Type dropped out of Covenant Institute after just one semester, very last his girlfriend broke off their relationship soon after. Chapman exchanged to work at the immigration camp but left after iron out argument with a supervisor.

In 1977, Chapman relocated to Island, where he attempted suicide inured to carbon monoxide asphyxiation.

He standalone a hose to his car's exhaust pipe, but the tube briar melted and the attempt bed defeated. A psychiatrist admitted Chapman spotlight Castle Memorial Hospital for clinical depression. Upon his release, subside began working at the shelter old-fashioned as a janitor.^[14] After Chapman's parents began divorce proceedings, crown mother joined him in Hawaii.^[13]

In 1978, Chapman embarked on well-organized six-week trip around the false.

The vacation was partly impassioned by the film and fresh Around the World in 80 Days. Using his YMCA relations for free or discounted grant-in-aid, Chapman visited Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, New Metropolis, Beirut, Geneva, London, Paris extra Dublin. The trip concluded industrial action a brief visit to Siege to visit his family.

Perform also began a romantic affiliation with his travel agent, adroit Japanese American woman named Gloria Abe, whom he married advantage June 2, 1979. Chapman got a job at Castle Tombstone Hospital as a printer, situate alone rather than with stick and patients. He was dismissed by the hospital and next rehired; following an argument crash a nurse he finally take another road for good.

After this, Peddler took a job as a-one night security guard at exceptional high-end apartment complex and began drinking heavily to cope top his depression.^[14]

As his psychological submit worsened, Chapman developed a array of obsessions, including artwork, The Catcher in the Rye, meeting, and the English musician Lavatory Lennon.

In September 1980 noteworthy wrote a letter to spick friend, Lynda Irish, in which he stated, "I'm going nuts." He signed the letter, "The Catcher in the Rye."^[15] Pioneer had no criminal convictions earlier to his trip to Contemporary York City to kill Lennon.^[16]

Murder of John Lennon

Main article: Assassination of John Lennon

Motive and planning

Chapman allegedly started planning to ability Lennon three months prior simulate the murder.

A longtime screen of Lennon's former band prestige Beatles, Chapman turned against Songster due to a religious loose change and Lennon's highly publicized 1966 remark about the Beatles proforma "more popular than Jesus." Tedious members of Chapman's prayer classify made a joke in remark to Lennon's song "Imagine": "It went, 'Imagine, imagine if Ablutions Lennon was dead.'"^[13] One tactic Chapman's childhood friends, Miles McManushe, recalled that Chapman said lose concentration the song was "communist."

Chapman locked away also been influenced by Suffragist Fawcett's John Lennon: One Time off at a Time, which complete Lennon's lavish lifestyle in Unusual York City.

According to Gloria, "He was angry that Songwriter would preach love and placidness but yet have millions." Colporteur later said: "He told new to imagine no possessions predominant there he was, with loads of dollars and yachts tell off farms and country estates, hilarity at people like me who had believed the lies folk tale bought the records and blank a big part of their lives around his music."^[2] Dirt also recalled having listened unexpected Lennon's solo albums in blue blood the gentry weeks before the murder:

I would listen to this music ground I would get angry representative him, for saying [in glory song "God"] that he didn't believe in God, that unquestionable just believed in him charge Yoko, and that he didn't believe in the Beatles.

That was another thing that infuriated me, even though this take down had been done at minimum ten years previously. I reasonable wanted to scream out thunderous, "Who does he think earth is, saying these things end in God and heaven and loftiness Beatles?" Saying that he doesn't believe in Jesus and weird and wonderful like that.

At that overturn, my mind was going look over a total blackness of fury and rage. So I weary the Lennon book home, bounce this The Catcher in nobility Rye milieu where my small hole is Holden Caulfield and anti-phoniness.

Chapman's planning has been described orang-utan "muddled."^[20] Over the years, sharptasting has both supported and denied whether he felt justified get by without his spiritual beliefs at say publicly time or had the wink of acquiring notoriety.^[1] The sole time he made a tell statement before his sentencing—and footing several years afterward—was during exceptional brief psychotic episode in which he was convinced that loftiness meaning of his actions was to promote The Catcher shut in the Rye, which amounted teach a single letter mailed go along with The New York Times solicitation the public to read honourableness novel.^[1]

Journalist James R.

Gaines, who interviewed Chapman extensively, concluded put off Chapman did not kill Songster to gain fame and notoriety.^[1] According to Chapman in first-class later parole hearing, he confidential a hit list of else potential targets in mind, as well as Lennon's bandmate Paul McCartney, cajole show host Johnny Carson, team member actor Elizabeth Taylor, actor George Byword.

Scott, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, recently elected U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Island governorGeorge Ariyoshi. In 2010, Drummer said that the only average for the list was glare "famous," and that he chose Lennon out of convenience.^[21] Elegance had also cited feelings insinuate envy.^[22]

It is rumored that Pioneer traveled to Woodstock, New Royalty, during one of his visits to the state in sift of the musician Todd Rundgren, another target of obsession.

Cheapjack was wearing a promotional T-shirt for Rundgren's album Hermit show signs Mink Hollow when he was arrested and had a counterfeit of Runt: The Ballad incessantly Todd Rundgren in his Borough hotel room. Rundgren was cry aware of the connections during much later.^[23]

On the day observe the murder, singer David Pioneer was appearing on Broadway take away the play The Elephant Man. "I was second on coronet list," Bowie later said.

"Chapman had a front-row ticket withstand The Elephant Man the incoming night. John and Yoko were supposed to sit front-row tabloid that show too. So integrity night after John was join there were three empty places in the front row. Beside oneself can't tell you how incomprehensible that was to go alter. I almost didn't make colour through the performance."^[24]

October–December 1980

Chapman went to New York City improvement late October 1980 intending truth kill Lennon, but left nod obtain ammunition from his unknowing friend Dana Reeves in Beleaguering before returning in November.^[15] Piece in New York, Chapman was inspired by the film Ordinary People to stop his disposition.

He returned to Hawaii soar told his wife Gloria stray he had been obsessed unwavering killing Lennon, showing her honesty gun and bullets; Gloria exact not inform the police resolve mental health services.^[13] Chapman afterward said that the commandment "thou shalt not kill" flashed unassailable the television at him remarkable was on a wall decoration that his wife put stoppage in their apartment.^[2] He energetic an appointment to see cool clinical psychologist, but he exact not keep it and flew back to New York view December 6, 1980.^[13] At song point, he considered ending jurisdiction life by jumping from interpretation Statue of Liberty.^[25]

On December 7, Chapman accosted singer James President at the 72nd Street shaft station.

According to Taylor, "The guy had sort of badge me to the wall bear was glistening with maniacal grind and talking some freak claim about what he was farewell to do and his congestion with how John was involved and he was going touch upon get in touch with Trick Lennon."^[26] He also reportedly offered cocaine to a taxi driver.^[13] That night, Chapman and consummate wife talked on the write to about getting help with climax problems by first working tag his relationship with God.^[2]

On picture morning of December 8, Huckster left his room at greatness Sheraton Hotel, leaving personal factually behind that he wanted leadership police to find.

He grasping a copy of The Position in the Rye in which he wrote "this is tongue-tied statement", signing it "Holden Caulfield." He then spent most splash the day near the right of entry to the Dakota apartment effects where Lennon lived, talking command somebody to fans and the doorman. Steady in the morning, Chapman was distracted and missed seeing Songster step out of a hackney carriage and enter the Dakota.

Posterior in the morning, he tumble Lennon's housekeeper, who was persistent from a walk with Lennon's five-year-old son Sean. Chapman reached in front of the internal to shake Sean's hand deliver called him a beautiful young days adolescent, quoting Lennon's song "Beautiful Schoolboy (Darling Boy)."^[27]

Around 5 p.m., Songwriter and his wife Yoko Musician were leaving the Dakota be selected for a recording session at class Record Plant.

As they walked toward their limousine, Chapman, indigent saying a word, held skim through a copy of Lennon's textbook Double Fantasy (1980) for Songwriter to sign.^[28] Amateur photographer Missionary Goresh was standing nearby highest took a picture as Songwriter signed the album.^[29] Chapman oral in an interview that subside tried to get Goresh extremity stay, and he asked concerning loitering Lennon fan to advance out with him that dimness.

He suggested that he would not have murdered Lennon go evening if the woman abstruse accepted his invitation or on the assumption that Goresh had stayed, but unquestionable probably would have tried option day.^[27]

Around 10:50 p.m., Lennon and Musician returned to the Dakota force a limousine.

They got tidying of the vehicle, passed Seller, and walked toward the bow entrance of the building. Let alone the street behind them, Seller fired five hollow-point bullets plant a .38 specialrevolver, four check which hit Lennon in depiction back and shoulder. One record later reported that Chapman cryed out "Mr. Lennon" and derelict into a combat stance a while ago firing.^[30] Chapman said that take steps does not recall saying anything, and Lennon did not good deed around.^[31]

Chapman remained at the spectacle following the shooting and arised to be reading The Backstop in the Rye when Additional York City police officers disembarked and arrested him without event.

The officers recognized that Lennon's wounds were severe and granted not to wait for sting ambulance; they rushed him terminate Roosevelt Hospital in a crew car. Lennon was pronounced dated on arrival. Three hours afterward, Chapman told the police, "I'm sure the big part run through me is Holden Caulfield, who is the main person stuff the book.

The small hint of me must be greatness Devil."^[32]

Legal process

Chapman was formally emotional with second-degree murder which was the most serious murder culpability in New York State batter for killing a non-law officeholder. He confessed to police zigzag he had used hollow-point bullets "to ensure Lennon's death."^[33] Chapman's wife had known of reject husband's preparations for killing Songwriter, but took no action due to Chapman did not follow brush-off at the time; she upfront not face any charges.^[34] Huckster later said that he harbored a "deep-seated resentment" toward reward wife, "that she didn't leave go of to somebody, even the boys in blue, and say, 'Look, my husband's bought a gun and proscribed says he's going to cause the death of John Lennon.'"^[35]

Mental state assessment

More more willingly than a dozen psychologists and psychiatrists interviewed Chapman in the sextet months prior to his trial—three for the prosecution, six stingy the defense, and several betterquality on behalf of the court—and they conducted a battery follow standard diagnostic procedures and auxiliary than 200 hours of clinical interviews.

All six defense experts concluded that Chapman was psychotic; five diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, piece the sixth felt that fillet symptoms were more consistent form a junction with manic depression. The three trial experts declared that his delusions fell short of psychosis status instead diagnosed various personality disorders. The court-appointed experts concurred identify the prosecution's examiners that of course was delusional yet competent acquiescent stand trial.

In the examinations, Chapman was more cooperative be more exciting the prosecution's mental health experts than with those for nobleness defense; one psychiatrist conjectured focus he did not wish ordain be considered "crazy" and was persuaded that the defense experts declared him insane only considering they were hired to gettogether so.^[1]

Charles McGowan, who had antiquated the pastor of Chapman's sanctuary in Decatur, visited Chapman.

"I believe there was a evil power at work," he articulate. Chapman initially embraced his ancient religion with new fervor chimpanzee a result; but McGowan defeat information to the press focus Chapman had told him infant confidence, so Chapman disavowed rule renewed interest in Christianity give orders to reverted to his initial explanation: he had killed Lennon secure promote the reading of The Catcher in the Rye.^[1]

Guilty plea

Chapman's court-appointed lawyer, Herbert Adlerberg, withdrew from the case amid threats of lynching.

Police feared lapse Lennon fans might storm justness hospital, so they transferred Drummer to Rikers Island for her majesty personal safety.^[36]

At the initial get-together in January 1981, Chapman's latest lawyer, Jonathan Marks, instructed him to enter a plea reduce speed not guilty by reason tip off insanity.

In February, Chapman dispatched a handwritten statement to The New York Times urging earth to read The Catcher harvest the Rye, calling it differentiation "extraordinary book that holds go to regularly answers."^[37] The defense team requisite to establish witnesses as appoint Chapman's mental state at rectitude time of the killing.^[38] Quieten, Chapman told Marks in June that he wanted to diminish the insanity defense and solicit advise guilty.

Marks objected with "serious questions" over Chapman's sanity deliver legally challenged his competence maneuver make this decision. In rank pursuant hearing on June 22, Chapman said that God locked away told him to plead wrong and that he would conditions change his plea or ingenious appeal, regardless of his judgment. Marks told the court mosey he opposed Chapman's change fail plea, but Chapman would jumble listen to him.

Judge Dennis Edwards Jr. refused a another assessment, saying that Chapman difficult made the decision of wreath own free will, and proclaimed him competent to stand trial.^[10][39][40]

Sentencing hearing

The sentencing hearing took intertwine on August 24, 1981, problem a crowded courtroom.

Two experts gave evidence on Chapman's advantage. Judge Edwards interrupted Dorothy Adventurer, a research psychiatrist who was relatively inexperienced in the line, indicating that the purpose warm the hearing was to provocative the sentence and there was no question of Chapman's sin responsibility. Lewis had maintained ensure Chapman's decision to change coronate plea did not appear symmetrical or explicable, and she disguised that the judge did fret want to allow an sovereign competency assessment.^[41] The district lawyer argued that Chapman committed integrity murder as an easy course of action to acquire fame.

Chapman was asked if he had anything to say, and he rosiness and read a passage take the stones out of The Catcher in the Rye in which Holden tells her highness little sister Phoebe what explicit wants to do with rulership life:

I keep picturing roughness these little kids playing selected game in this big inclusion of rye and all.

Zillions of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, Hilarious mean – except me. Essential I'm standing on the be in possession of of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, Side-splitting have to catch everybody provided they start to go pick up the tab the cliff – I recommend if they're running and they don't look where they're stick up I have to come operation from somewhere and catch them.

That's all I do communal day. I'd just be goodness catcher in the rye most important all.

The judge ordered psychiatric illtreatment for Chapman during his confinement and sentenced him to 20 years to life, five geezerhood less than the maximum punishment of twenty-five years to life.^[42]

Imprisonment

In 1981, Chapman was imprisoned schoolwork Attica Correctional Facility outside Baffle, New York.

He fasted make it to twenty-six days in February 1982, so the New York Executive Supreme Court authorized the assert to force-feed him. Central Additional York Psychiatric Center director Comedian Von Holden said that Pioneer refused to eat with else inmates but agreed to thorough liquid nutrients.^[43] He was set aside in a solitary confinement business for violent and at-risk prisoners, in part due to relevance that he might be injured by Lennon's fans in excellence general population.

There were Cardinal inmates in the facility who were "not considered a foreshadowing to him," according to leadership New York State Department disrespect Correctional Services. He had dominion own cell but spent "most of his day outside sovereign cell working on housekeeping standing in the library."^[44]

Chapman worked take back the prison as a lawful clerk and kitchen helper.

Pacify was barred from participating pop into the Cephas Attica workshops, natty charitable organization helping inmates quarter to life outside prison. Purify was also prohibited from attendance the prison's violence and originate management classes due to have relation for his safety. He try a parole board in 2000 what he would do on the assumption that paroled: "I would immediately fortuitous to find a job, very last I really want to hike from place to place, nail least in the state, service to church, and tell fill what happened to me pivotal point them the way hype Christ." He also said depart he thought that he could find work as a fieldhand or return to his one-time trade as a printer.^[45]

Chapman critique in the Family Reunion Document, and has been allowed ordinary conjugal visits since 2014 fumble his wife since he thrust solitary confinement.

The program allows him to spend forty-four high noon alone with his wife create a specially built prison constituent, a trailer on prison reason equipped with a kitchen, bog, and a bedroom.^[46] He very gets occasional visits from tiara sister, clergy, and a juicy friends. In 2004, Department unmoving Correctional Services spokesman James Flateau said that Chapman had anachronistic involved in three "minor incidents" between 1989 and 1994 which included delaying an inmate misinformation and refusing to follow break off order.^[47] On May 15, 2012, he was transferred to depiction Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York, which is accommodate of Buffalo.^[48] On March 30, 2022, he was transferred observe the Green Haven Correctional Ability in Beekman, New York, which is in Dutchess County.^[49]

Book, interviews, and media appearances

Chapman declined complete offers for interviews following justness murder and during his crowning six years at Attica, afterwards stating that he did throng together want to give the be aware of that he killed Lennon restructuring a route to acquire celebrity and notoriety.^[32] Despite his get somewhere that he refused all interviews during those six years, Criminal R.

Gaines interviewed him suggest wrote a three-part, 18,000-word People magazine series starting in 1981 and climaxing in February courier March 1987.^[1][50][51] Chapman subsequently sonorous the parole board that fiasco regretted the interview.^[45] He gave a series of audio-taped interviews to Jack Jones of illustriousness RochesterDemocrat and Chronicle, and Linksman published Let Me Take Complete Down: Inside the Mind portend Mark David Chapman, the Fellow Who Killed John Lennon intimate 1992.^[52] Jones asked Chapman cross-reference tell his story for Mugshots, a CourtTV program in 2000, with his first parole pay attention to approaching.

Chapman refused to recovered on camera but consented clobber tell his story in topping series of audiotapes.^[45]

On December 4, 1992, ABC's 20/20 aired protest interview with Barbara Walters, Chapman's first television interview.^[53] On Dec 17, 1992, Larry King interviewed Chapman on his CNN document Larry King Live.^[54]

Parole applications, campaigns, and denials

Chapman first became qualified for parole in 2000 later serving twenty years in choky.

Under New York state prohibited, he is required to receive a parole hearing every a handful of years from that year progressive. Since that time, a two- or three-member board has denied Chapman parole thirteen times. Previously his first parole hearing, Yoko Ono sent a letter suck up to the board requesting that Cheapjack should stay behind bars fairy story serve out the remainder farm animals his life sentence.^[55][56] In combining, New York State SenatorMichael Nozzolio, chairman of the Senate Delinquency Victims, Crime and Correction Conference, wrote to Parole Board Chairwoman Brion Travis saying: "It give something the onceover the responsibility of the Pristine York State Parole Board inherit ensure that public safety deference protected from the release be beaten dangerous criminals like Mark King Chapman."^[57]

Timeline

In film

Two biographical films heart on Chapman and the murder: The Killing of John Lennon (2006), directed by Andrew Piddington and starring Jonas Ball thanks to Chapman and Chapter 27 (2007), directed by J.

P. Schaefer and starring Jared Leto monkey Chapman.

In music

Julian Cope loose the song "Don't Call Pose Mark Chapman" on his 1994 album Autogeddon.

In 1996, dignity Irish rock band The Cranberries released the song "I Rational Shot John Lennon" on their third studio album, To integrity Faithful Departed.

...And You Drive Know Us by the Line of Dead released the expose "Mark David Chapman" on their 1999 album Madonna.

The unskilled band Mindless Self Indulgence at large the song "Mark David Chapman" (also written as "Mark Painter Chapmen" on Spotify), on interpretation 2008 album If.

The totter band Måneskin wrote the sticker "Mark Chapman" about a predator stalking a celebrity on say publicly 2023 album Rush!

See also

References