John Lennon Murder: Why Mark Chapman Shot him?

In this deep dive episode of Spotlight Murders, host Kieran Caldwell unpacks the twisted story behind John Lennon’s murder and the mind of his killer—Mark David Chapman. From unresolved childhood trauma and religious confusion to LSD use and musical obsession, Kieran explores how Chapman transformed from a Beatles fan into the man who pulled the trigger outside The Dakota in 1980.

This isn’t just another celebrity true crime story. Kieran examines how Chapman’s identity crisis, emotional instability, and fixation on The Catcher in the Rye led to one of the most shocking assassinations in music history. Was Chapman a fame-seeking killer, or a lost soul trying to become someone—anyone?

If you're into true crime psychology, celebrity murders, mental health breakdowns, or infamous American assassinations, Spotlight Murders brings you the raw, researched truth with a human lens. Learn how music, madness, and meaning collided in the mind of one of America’s most notorious killers.

Listen to "Spotlight Murders" with Kieran Caldwell on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Timestamps:

(00:00) December 8th, 1980

(02:01) The Chameleon - Understanding Chapman's Identity Crisis

(03:40) The Absent Father - Chapman's Childhood Trauma

(05:56) The Music That Changed Everything - From Beatles Fan to Drug User

(08:33) The Religious Conversion - Finding and Losing Faith

(11:23) The Todd Rundgren Obsession - A New Musical Master

(15:13) The Catcher in the Rye - Becoming Holden Caulfield

(19:09) The Trip to New York - Meeting the Fans

(22:08) Bonding with the Doorman - José Perdomo

(25:17) The Hypocrisy That Bred Hatred

(28:13) The Demons Dancing in His Mind

(31:45) December 8th, 1980 - The Final Encounter

(34:41) The Wife Who Knew

(37:47) The Psychiatric Enigma

(42:16) Life Behind Bars - From Rikers to Attica

(45:44) Lennon's Dark Premonitions

(49:04) The Reconciliation That Never Healed

(53:14) The Man Who Killed Music's Peace