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More than 40 years after the tragic murder of John Lennon in 1980, Mark David Chapman, the man convicted of killing the iconic musician, remains incarcerated. Chapman, a former Beatles fan, has now been denied parole 14 times.
According to updated digital records from the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Chapman appeared before a parole board on August 27, 2025, seeking release. However, his request was once again denied.
He continues to serve his 20-years-to-life sentence at Green Haven Correctional Facility in New York’s Hudson Valley. His next chance to seek parole is scheduled for February 2027.
Chapman has faced the parole board multiple times over the years, but each time his application has been rejected.
In previous hearings, Chapman has expressed remorse for his actions. In 2020, he described the murder of Lennon as a “despicable” act and said he deserved the death penalty.
He admitted that his motivation was driven by a “selfish” desire for fame. “I assassinated him… because he was very, very, very famous and that’s the only reason, and I was very, very, very, very much seeking self-glory,” he said during his 2020 parole hearing.
Two years later, in 2022, Chapman reiterated his remorse and acknowledged the selfishness behind his crime. “I knew what I was doing, and I knew it was evil,” he stated. “I knew it was wrong, but I wanted the fame so much that I was willing to give everything and take a human life.”
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was fatally shot four times at close range with a .38-caliber revolver outside his Manhattan apartment building, The Dakota. Lennon was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, marking a devastating loss for the music world.
Earlier that day, Chapman had approached Lennon and obtained his autograph on a copy of Lennon’s recently released album, Double Fantasy, before committing the fatal shooting. Chapman remained at the scene until police arrived and took him into custody.
This year marks the 46th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, a somber reminder of the enduring impact of his life and tragic passing.