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UPDATE: Boy Who Killed Family in 1983 Wanted in Florida
Peter Zimmer killed his family in Mineral Point in 1983. Now he's wanted for stalking in Florida.
Reporter: Zac Schultz Email Address: zschultz@nbc15.com |
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UPDATE Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2009 -- 4:41 pm
By Zac Schultz
Iowa County: It was a case that shocked Iowa County and the small community of Mineral Point.
In May of 1983, 14-year-old Peter Zimmer violently killed his parents and his brother in their home.
He repeatedly stabbed his 10-year-old brother Perry in an upstairs bedroom, and then went after his mother Sally (44) and father Hans (48). "The mother probably went out the back door first and got into the yard," Iowa County Sheriff Nick Basting told NBC 15 in May of 1983. "As the suspect came down the stairs and shot the father as he was going out the door, probably later catching up to his mother in the yard, and shooting her in the yard."
Police found the father on the porch, the mother in the tool shed.
Peter Zimmer was arrested in Kansas City, trying to use his dad's credit card at a hotel. The 14-year-old was flown back to Wisconsin and convicted as a juvenile. He was released after four years in a juvenile facility.
"It's an interesting case and probably one of the most heinous cases that we've had here in Iowa County," says current Sheriff Steve Michek. He didn't start working with the Sheriff's Department until 1989, but he remembers the case. "It sent some shivers through people throughout the county."
Sheriff Michek was reminded of the case last week, when police in Gulfport, Florida called asking for information. "They had made a connection with Iowa County."
After being released in 1987 Peter Zimmer left Wisconsin. He ended up in Florida, and legally changed his name to Jovan Anton Collier.
He turned 41 years old Tuesday, and he's a fugitive again. Gulfport Police want Collier for three different episodes of stalking his ex-girlfriend. Interim Police Chief Howard Coombs says they consider him dangerous, and that was before a family member told them about the murders in Iowa County.
Coombs says they think Collier is in Georgia. But Michek says they're ready if he comes home to Iowa County. "It makes you wonder what may happen next."
Beyond the killings, the former Peter Zimmer is famous for two different law changes he inspired.
First many say his case was behind the move to allow juveniles to be charged as adults for certain crimes, including murder.
Second, the Zimmer family had no will. The Associated Press reports after Peter Zimmer was released he inherited nearly $177,000.
The law was later changed so killers can no longer inherit their victim's estates.
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Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2009 -- 2:35 pm
By Zac Schultz
Mineral Point: As a 14-year-old boy he killed his parents and his brother. Now, 26 years later he's wanted in Florida for stalking his ex-girlfriend.
In 1983, Peter Zimmer stabbed and shot his family to death in their rural Mineral Point home. He was convicted as a juvenile and was released at age 18.
Today, he has legally changed his name to Jovan Anton Collier, and is wanted for stalking in Gulfport, Florida.
Gulfport police say they arrested Collier in early June for stalking his ex. Now he's gone missing and they think he's in Georgia. Gulfport police learned of his past as Peter Zimmer from a family member and contacted the Iowa County Sheriff's Department for the details.
More on this story on NBC15 News at 6:00 p.m., and later right here on NBC15.com
Latest Comments
Being in the medical field for 20 some years I have found this to always be true. Humans naturally respond the same as animals, we strike out when we get scared. Some of us just do it more aggressively. If any readers still talk to Pete (Jovan) work with him in seeking counseling. The better he understands himself the easier it may be to avoid the violence.
I too knew Pete from high school. As far as I know Pete has never verbally stated "I killed them" might be he can't say it. Whatever really happened may be buried so deep he can't face it himself. There is no human on this planet that can judge whatever took place. This time, when he gets out, there may not be support there for him. Last time he had Belinda. Pete may have coping difficulties with reality - could also explain why he went after Candy the way he did.
I knew Peter. We used to hang out and go the library. He was a normal guy, as far as I was concerned. I went to high school with him. I wanted to date him back then. But he dated a girl named Theresa and her and I used to hang out in the bathroom and talk about him (like girls do). I would imagine the Dec, Feb and May posts and I all know each other. Too small of a town not to know.
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