It's been a full decade since Don Collins was found guilty of murder, a conviction that came after a harrowing deathbed video in which his victim identified him and revealed his horrifying motive.

Collins' savage assault was aimed at his neighbour, Robbie Middleton, who was celebrating his eighth birthday. What should have been a day of joy turned into a horrific ordeal for the young lad when Collins, then just 13 years old, tied him to a tree, doused him in petrol, and set him alight.

Despite suffering burns to 99% of his body, Robbie miraculously survived for over a decade before succumbing to skin cancer caused by his severe burns, according to the Daily Express US.

In February 2015, Collins was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Following the trial, Robbie's mother, Colleen, confessed she had always felt an unsettling aura about her son's murderer.

"He just had the deadest looking expression on his face and eyes, and they just looked cold," she recalled. "Even as a little child, I would look at him, and he was expressionless. His eyes were just blank."

Colleen and Bobby raised three children, with Robbie being the youngest. He was known for his love of birthdays, and June 28, 1998, was no different as the eager youngster woke up early, filled with excitement.

Robbie had only just unwrapped a new tent as a present and was delighted to pop round to a mate's house before returning home to mark the rest of his birthday with his family in Splendora, Texas. However, during his trip back, Robbie encountered Don Collins, who had purportedly assaulted him a fortnight earlier.

Terrified of being found out, Collins, clutching petrol, committed an unthinkable crime.

Robbie, his flesh scorched after being set alight, incredibly succeeded in stumbling from the woodland towards his house, where his mum found him.

Robbie named his attacker on his death bed.

Her severely burnt young son was unrecognisable and would be forever changed. When he reached hospital, it became clear that only the undersides of his feet had escaped the burns, and doctors held little hope for his recovery.

Robbie underwent more than 150 operations and numerous skin grafts, remarkably living for another ten years.

In spite of his severe disfigurement, Robbie's resilience galvanised everyone around him, who were amazed by his positive outlook. The courageous youngster once remarked: "The past is, well, the past. You must let it go."

However, whilst his uplifting attitude provided comfort to his loved ones, Robbie's suffering intensified. His body's growth regularly required further skin grafts and remastering how to walk, and he was eventually found to have skin cancer resulting from the third-degree burns.

Tragically, in April 2011, Robbie lost his life at just 20 years old. However, a mere 17 days before his death, he recorded a video that would expose Collins.

He was attacked by a local youth.

In a harrowing 27-minute recording, Robbie claimed that Collins had sexually assaulted him weeks prior to the fatal attack. Collins, who had failed to register as a sex offender, was already serving time for sexually assaulting an eight year old boy when Robbie's death was determined to be a homicide.

In the wake of this devastating incident, he faced felony murder charges after a deathbed video emerged as crucial evidence. In the distressing footage, courageous Robbie disclosed: "Don grabbed me by the shoulder and threw gas in my face, after that I don't really remember anything."

Collins, who is alleged to have once killed a kitten by stamping on it, was taken into custody days after the attack but was subsequently released with no charges brought against him.

Yet when the incriminating video emerged years later, he entered a not guilty plea, and during the trial, additional witnesses came forward accusing him of sexual assault - claiming he'd threatened to set them ablaze if they attempted to report him.

Robbie's mother described how there was a "perfect outline" of her son's body burnt into the tree after the horrific attack. Following the maximum sentence of 40 years behind bars, a relieved Colleen addressed reporters.

She stated: "I am sure Robert is with us and he is happy. He blamed Don, there was no doubt in his mind."

Sharing her feelings, she continued: "I am just going to enjoy this day and not worry about anything else. I am enjoying the moment, I am very happy."

Prior to the trial, parents Colleen and Bobby were awarded a symbolic $150 billion judgment in a civil lawsuit against Collins. Speaking on the award, Colleen said: "We're never going to see any money. What we thought was please let these people realise Robert was previously, like everybody else's child, and he didn't deserve this. When they came back with the $150billion, I was like: 'They get it.' And that made me feel so good."