Mark David Chapman Gets Conjugal Visits; Up for Parole

The Daily News takes a look at Mark David Chapman's time behind bars at New York's Attica Correctional Facility; the man who killed John Lennon is up for parole for a fifth time this week. In 2000, Yoko Ono wrote a letter to the parole board, referring to Chapman only as "the subject" and asking that he not be released because "With his one act of violence in those few seconds, [he] managed to change my whole life, devastate his sons, and bring deep sorrow and fear to the world." She recently reiterated those sentiments, and fears that his release would leave her family unsafe--the board has also received around 50 letters from Lennon fans this time around.

It recently came out that Chapman had written a letter of his own, in 1986 to a memorabilia specialist from New Jersey inquiring how much his signed Lennon album would be worth. He writes, matter-of-factly, "On December 8, 1980 I shot and killed John Lennon. Before this, earlier in the afternoon, I had asked him to sign his Double Fantasy album. He did this, also signing the date: 1980. I then placed this album behind the security guard's booth where it was found after my arrest." He continues on to write that he has tried to get the item back, and insinuates that ultimately he would like to profit from it.

Meanwhile, the News also reports that Chapman "has been enjoying conjugal visits with his wife [Gloria Hiroko Chapman] for at least 16 years" of the 28 he's been imprisoned. Under the Family Reunion program, he "gets to spend 44 hours straight with his wife in a special modular private homelike setting." Allegedly she visits about once a year.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on August 11, 2008 3:25 PM

Comments [rss]

MarieW

He deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life. Murder is a hidoeus crime, whether or not the victim is a celebrity. Sometimes, crime is so hideous that the perpetrator will never leave the confines of prison in their lifetime. Manson is certainly one, and Mark David Chapman is another. Chapman was the person who brutally shot John Lennon to death at point blank range on Dec. 7, 1980 outside Lennon's apartment building, the Dakota.

I found this here: John Lennon killer Mark David Chapman turned down for parole. Recently, Chapman became eligible for parole, for the sixth time. The opinion of Chapman on the part of the parole board has not changed. He was rejected parole again. Not a soul can be arguing strenuously for his release any time soon.

shoveitmybeloved

I know that everyone has their own varied opinions of this man, but why is it that when famous people are killed, the killers seem to do more time? Ex:I had a friend murder, one of his killers only got 10yrs, and the other got 22yrs. Doesn't seem fair.

robingee

Why do assassins always have 3 names?

JMH

I love how everyone expects the criminal justice system to work entirely differently than it actually does when a celebrity is the victim of a crime.

NannyState

Hook him up in an electric chair and let Yoko throw the switch.

Snoopy

Hyper you are probably right, but most of that would be caused by heavy drug use and hanging out with a very ugly woman who sleeps most of the day.

Hypersquared

I can't speak for a dead man, especially one whom I never knew personally, but something tells me that John Lennon would have a very different take on things than in the comments I'm seeing above.

AggieAngst

Gee, MDC gets to spend time with his wife? That's more than John Lennon gets to do. They should have ended that waste of resources 20 years ago. Lethal injection.

I *hate* this guy.

Splicer

Parole him. He won't live five minutes on the street with all the people out there looking to make a name for themselves.

PKinNYC

Yeah...let him out and tell him to go to Strawberry Fields so I can kick his ass...or better yet...have him sign a picture of himself so I can shoot him and then sell the picture...is this guy fu*%ing kidding...what an a$$

NYC Stef

Regardless if you were or weren't a fan of John Lennon or the Beatles; the fact of the matter is that MDC's actions did destroy a family so why should his family reunion rights be preserved???

Snoopy

SOOOOOOOO? How much is the album worth?

Future Taliban

Well, I do hope this asswipe gets f*cked for life......

theevilone

Who the heck cares if he gets conjugal visits or not?

eyekantspel

the News also reports that Chapman "has been enjoying conjugal visits with his wife [Gloria Hiroko Chapman] for at least 16 years" of the 28 he's been imprisoned.

I'm guessing his wife hasn't enjoyed the visits that much.