Nearly 45 Years After John Lennon's Death, His Assassin Is Denied Parole Again

It's been more than 40 years since music icon and former member of the Beatles, John Lennon, was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman. His murder rocked the music world, as John's death meant Beatles fans' hopes of the group ever reuniting were officially dashed.

Against the advice of his lawyer, Chapman pled guilty to second-degree murder in January 1981, reported The Guardian. "He believes he is doing God's will," said Chapman's attorney. He was sentenced to 20 years to life, which began on Rikers Island. From there, he went to Attica, Wende Correctional Facility in 2012, and finally landed at Green Haven Correctional Facility in 2022. Is he still in prison? Here's what we know.

Since his original sentencing in 1981, Chapman has appealed his sentencing 14 separate times, requesting to be released on parole. Every time, he has been denied. His most recent appeal happened in August 2025, and the Board of Parole ruled that he will spend at least two more years in prison.

Per The Guardian, his next opportunity will be in February 2027. Chapman will be 71 years old.

In 2010, Chapman claimed that he assassinated the famous singer because he believed it would make him "become somebody, and instead of that I became a murderer, and murderers are not somebodies."

During his 2018 parole hearing, Chapman expressed clear remorse for his actions.

“Thirty years ago, I couldn’t say I felt shame, and I know what shame is now," he said, according to The Guardian. "It’s where you cover your face, you don’t want to, you know, ask for anything.”

At each parole hearing, John's widow, Yoko Ono (who was there at the time of John's assassination), has submitted a letter reiterating why she believes her late husband's killer should not be released from prison — for the safety of her, her children, and Chapman.

“Someone may attempt or succeed in harming you out of anger and or revenge, or for the same reason that you did John Lennon, to assume notoriety," Yoko wrote in one of the letters, according to Rolling Stone.

Before Chapman's trial, a series of psychiatrists interviewed him in preparation for a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The hundreds of hours of interviews resulted in many of the psychiatrists ruling that Chapman likely suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, manic depression, or a personality disorder.

While his lawyers encouraged him to plead not guilty to the charges, Chapman ultimately decided that he would plead guilty to the charges, after claiming to have talked with God.

Chapman claimed that he had spoken with God on two separate occasions, and in those conversations, God had instructed him to plead guilty. He also claimed, at the time, that he would never appeal the sentencing, regardless of the result.