Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Boy Who Killed Family in 1983 Wanted 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

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