A Cobb County judge told a convicted killer Wednesday he deserved the most punishment the law allowed. And he meant it.
“You’re going to die in prison for what you’ve done,” Judge Gregory Poole told Casey Collins.
Poole then sentenced Collins to two consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years, without the possibility of parole for the May 2013 murder of Edward "Ron" Smith, the Cobb County District Attorney's office said. Collins was convicted last week of killing Smith — his grandfather — and then driving around town in the dead man's truck with his body inside.
Collins, 32, was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, four counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and concealing a death for killing Smith. Smith, 78, was stabbed and strangled with a belt inside his truck and then robbed of his wallet, according to investigators.
“This was a cold blooded, planned, malicious murder of this man’s grandfather. I found the manner of death particularly cruel,” Poole said. “From the Medical Examiner’s testimony, he choked the life from his own grandfather – and he had up to five minutes to stop…I can’t imagine this man dying in any worse form.”
After Smith died, both Collins and his then-girlfriend, Sarah Elizabeth Cook, used his credit cards on shopping trips, buying an Xbox and games. When other relatives were unable to find Smith, Collins and Cook also pretended to be concerned, family members said.
Both Collins and Cook were initially charged with murder for Smith’s death. But in October, Cook pleaded guilty to armed robbery and aggravated assault and is serving 15 years in state prison with no parole, to be followed by 10 years on probation.
Cook testified against Collins at his trial. Prosecutors told the court that Collins wanted to kill his grandfather for not supplying him prescription pills as he had done in the past, the DA’s office said.
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