On June 28, 1998, Robbie Middleton celebrated his eighth birthday.<\/p>\n
Late that afternoon, he walked through the woods behind his home to meet a friend for a sleepover. But shortly afterward, he was attacked by a monster.<\/p>\n
A young aggressor tied Robbie at a tree, poured gasoline on him, and lit him on fire in a horrifying crime in Splendora, Texas, according to ABC.<\/p>\n
But thanks to Robbie\u2019s testimony on his dea his deathbed, a boy from Texas could finally get justice after 17 years.<\/p>\n
The perpetrator received the maximum sentence allowed \u2014 and Robbie\u2019s family was awarded the highest damages ever imposed in the United States.<\/p>\n
Robbie\u2019s tragic story begins in the state of Texas.<\/p>\n
He was an ordinary boy who went to school. But on the day of his eighth birthday, he met a monster that would completely destroy him and his family.<\/p>\n
The then 13-year-old Don Collins kidnapped Robbie, tied him to a tree, and poured gasoline on the boy before lighting him on fire.<\/p>\n
The horrible attack took place near Robbie\u2019s home in Splendora, Texas.<\/p>\n
Robbie was on his his way to a friend\u2019s house when he came across Don, writes Huffington Post.<\/p>\n
The inferno left Robbie with third-degree burns to 99 per cent of his body \u2013 no-one expected him to survive.
\nDespite the flames that ate away at his body, Robbie managed to wobble home, collapsing on the street in a ball of burnt flesh.<\/p>\n
His terrified mom found him close to death, with severe blisters covering his whole body and skin hanging off his ankles.<\/p>\n
Hospital staff explained for the Middleton family that Robbie wouldn\u2019t survive. He endured more than 150 operations and spent most of his days at a rehabilitation center after his burns.<\/p>\n
Although he was severely traumatized and disfigured, Robbie quickly became known for his optimism.<\/p>\n
\u201dThe past is the past,\u201d he would say. \u201cYou need to let it go.\u201d
\nSadly, ten years after the attack, Robbie\u2019s body began to fail.<\/p>\n
He received a cancer diagnosis that, according to doctors, was directly linked to his many burns. At the age of 20, Robbie\u2019s third-degree burns turned into deadly skin cancer.<\/p>\n
US courts ruled that his death was a murder. Don Collins had been suspected of the crime, but was released for lack of evidence \u2013 the only witness was an eight-year-old boy.<\/p>\n
But on his deathbed, the Middleton family\u2019s lawyer took new testimony from Robbie. He confirmed that Don committed the horrible crime, with the words: \u201cDon did it\u201d.<\/p>\n
In the video, the court heard Robbie confirm what happened. Just before dying, Robbie Middleton told investigators:<\/p>\n
\u201dDon grabbed my shoulder and poured gas onto my face. After that, I don\u2019t really remember an
\nThe lawyer recorded his testimony and in February 2015, a court in Galveston sentenced the now 29-year-old perpetrator.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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