John Lennon’s Killer Mark David Chapman Denied Parole for 14th Time

Mark David Chapman, the man who murdered former Beatle John Lennon in 1980, has been denied parole for the 14th time, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (via Rolling Stone).

Chapman, now 70, first became eligible for parole in 2000 — 20 years after fatally shooting Lennon outside his Upper West Side apartment building, The Dakota, on December 8, 1980. Earlier that evening, Lennon had autographed a copy of his album Double Fantasy for Chapman, who later waited outside the building before carrying out the killing.

Sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in 1981, Chapman is currently serving his sentence at Green Haven Correctional Facility in New York’s Hudson Valley. His latest parole hearing took place on August 27, though transcripts of the decision have not yet been made public. His next hearing is scheduled for February 2027.

In past hearings, Chapman admitted to the board that he committed the murder in pursuit of notoriety, saying there was “evil in my heart” and describing his actions as “selfish” and “wrong.” In 2022, the parole board rejected his release, citing his “selfish disregard for human life of global consequence” and the lasting void created by Lennon’s death at age 40.

Lennon’s murder remains one of the most infamous moments in music history, leaving fans worldwide mourning the loss of the legendary Beatle and peace activist.