The woman at the center of the William Johnson homicide has died from injuries she received while in the San Juan County Detention Center.
Sierra Collins, 23, was hospitalized Sept. 13 at San Juan Regional Medical Center with “serious medical problems” and “limited brain function,” according to an unopposed emergency motion to modify conditions of release.
The nature of the medical problem was not stated in the motion, but it did state that the San Juan County Detention Center was “unable to properly provide the necessary care” to Collins in order “to maintain her life.”
A motion to drop the charges was filed Sept. 20, and it states, “the defendant is deceased. Consequently, the present matter is rendered moot, and the case is dismissed.”
Collins was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the July 24, 2022, killing of Johnson at his home on County Road 3400.
It was alleged that Collins encouraged Eli Chaffin, 21, and Tyler Chaffin, 25, to shoot Johnson, with whom she was in a relationship. The Chaffin brothers entered into a plea agreement on July 31, admitting to the role they played in Johnson’s death.
Eli Chaffin pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. Tyler Chaffin pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Eli who shot Johnson, when he thought the man was going to shoot his brother.
“I heard a firearm go off. I got out of the vehicle at the end of the back side, I saw Mr. Johnson reaching for a firearm. I yelled at him several times to stop. He would not, so I shot and killed him,” Eli said during the hearing.
Both he and Tyler had driven Sierra to Johnson’s home to “check on her car,” which was “supposedly being worked on by William,” according to the affidavit for arrest warrant.
During the Chaffin brothers’ hearing, Defense Attorney Mark Curnutt alluded to Collins’ “threatening” actions toward Johnson.
“It was very evident that Sierra Collins had the ability to provoke the absolute extremes out of Mr. Johnson.” Curnutt said, adding Collins knew Johnson was a “good guy,” who “did wear his emotions on his sleeve. She played on that. She knew about his prior actions. She could provoke things out of him.”
In one text message dated July 23, 2022, Collins allegedly told William to meet her “to get shot in the face,” the affidavit states.
Collins’ trial was set in December.
