Bio

Jovan Collier, originally named Peter Zimmer, was born on July 7, 1968. He was adopted by Hans and Sally Zimmer, who lived in Wauconda, Illinois. Peter was the couple's first son, adopted when he was just a newborn. Four years later, they adopted another child, a boy named Perry.

The Zimmer family faced challenges when Hans lost his job as an airline mechanic. This led them to move to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in search of a new start. The family lived in a farmhouse a few miles outside of town. Peter enrolled in Mineral Point High School and was viewed as a popular kid who excelled in track. However, some friends from his previous school noticed that he didn't seem very happy in his new surroundings.

During his early teenage years, Peter learned that he was adopted, which was confirmed by his parents after a relative hinted at it. He felt a sense of alienation, believing relatives often spoke ill of his birth mother. Peter struggled with his identity and felt he was treated differently compared to his adoptive siblings.

In May 1983, when Peter was only 14, things took a tragic turn. A counselor at his school received worrying information that Peter had mentioned wanting to harm his family. Shortly after, police discovered the bodies of his adoptive parents and younger brother in their home. Peter was immediately suspected of the murders.

Following the tragic events, Peter fled the area. He was eventually apprehended and charged as a juvenile. Because of his age, he was sent to the Ethan Allen School for Boys, where he stayed until shortly before his 19th birthday. During his time there, Peter did not seek psychiatric help, nor did he publicly talk about his past or the events that led him to the facility.

He left the school with a new identity, becoming Jovan Collier. He also received a trust fund from his adoptive family’s estate, which allowed him to start a new life away from Wisconsin. Jovan moved to Florida to reinvent himself, and he eventually got married and had children, all while keeping his dark past hidden from those around him.

Murder Story

On May 23, 1983, Peter Zimmer killed three members of his family: his adoptive parents, Hans and Sally Zimmer, and his younger brother, Perry. The murders took place at their farmhouse in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Hans Zimmer was shot five times, while Sally Zimmer had been stabbed multiple times and was later found in a shed. Perry, who was only 10 years old, was also stabbed more than 25 times and had defensive wounds.

After the murders, Peter fled the scene in his father's car. He was quickly apprehended after using his father's credit card in Kansas City. Due to his age, Peter pleaded no contest to the killings. He was deemed delinquent and sent to the Ethan Allen School for Boys, where he served just over a year for each murder.

Upon his release at age 19, Peter changed his name to Jovan Collier and claimed his late adoptive family's estate as the sole heir due to his juvenile status. This inheritance allowed him to start a new life in Florida, where he eventually married and had children while keeping his past a secret.

In 2009, after a tumultuous relationship, Collier's violent past was uncovered by a woman he was dating, leading to a cycle of harassment and stalking. He was arrested in 2010 for aggravated stalking, and he later pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence of 3.5 years in a Florida state prison. The case sparked public outrage and led to changes in Wisconsin laws regarding juvenile offenders.