In the Investigation Discovery series See No Evil, Season 11, Episode 9 “Night Caller,” the focus is on the 2015 murder of Jonathan Cherol, a 33-year-old restaurateur, who was shot dead in his backyard in Bluffton, South Carolina—an exclusive neighborhood. The episode details how CCTV cameras in the area played a crucial role in the investigation, leading detectives on a hunt for a mysterious woman and a strange vehicle spotted prowling the streets. The surveillance footage becomes the key to unraveling the case, as it often does in See No Evil, a series that highlights how security cameras help solve real-life crimes.
At TV Acute, we walk you through what happened to Jonathan, how the killers were caught, and where Colette and Sam Collins are today. This isn’t just a recap—it’s a fresh, easy-to-read take packed with juicy details to keep you hooked!
Who Was Jonathan Cherol? A Life Cut Short
Jonathan Conrad Cherol was a guy who seemed to have it all. Born on December 19, 1981, in Newport, Rhode Island, he grew up with loving parents, John and Celeste Cherol, and a sister, Virginia, whom he adored. As a kid, he was full of energy—kicking a soccer ball around or sketching his wild imagination onto paper. That spark never faded. He went on to study at Allegany College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, sharpening his knack for connecting with people.
In his 30s, Jonathan was thriving as a restaurateur in Bluffton, South Carolina. He owned Pepper’s Old Town Restaurant and co-created the popular Char-Bar on Hilton Head Island. He immersed himself in the food scene, from serving drinks at Catch-22 to launching establishments such as Trinity Restaurant and Rumors. Outside work, he loved soccer, fast cars, and flipping through comic books. Friends called him creative, driven, and kind—a real gem. However, his quiet night turned deadly on October 28, 2015.
The Fateful Night: A Drink, a Shot, and Chaos
It started innocently enough. On October 27, 2015, Jonathan invited his buddy Joe over for a drink at his Bluffton home. Joe rolled up just before midnight, and the two settled on the back porch, chatting away. Then, out of nowhere, Joe heard it—the unmistakable click of a shotgun being loaded. A moment later, a blast erupted. He watched in horror as Jonathan’s head snapped back, blood everywhere. Shaken, Joe grabbed his phone and dialed 911, his voice trembling as he reported the nightmare.
When cops arrived, they found Jonathan slumped over, still clutching his cell phone. Blood splattered the wall behind him, and detectives quickly spotted the fatal gunshot wound. As they scoured the scene, they discovered two shotgun shells in the grass, crucial evidence that would unravel the case. This wasn’t a random hit. Someone had targeted Jonathan, and the hunt was on to find out who.
Surveillance Footage Cracks the Case
Here’s where things get wild. Bluffton’s a tight-knit, upscale spot, and luckily, the neighborhood had CCTV cameras rolling. Detectives pored over the footage from that night and zeroed in on a dark-colored car creeping around Jonathan’s place right around the murder time. Suspicious? You bet. They tracked that vehicle through the streets, piecing together its movements.
Joe dropped another bombshell during questioning. He mentioned a flirty woman showing up at Jonathan’s house two hours before the shooting. Back to the tapes—yep, there she was, caught on camera with Jonathan. Fifty minutes later, her car emerged from his driveway, and surprisingly, it matched the mystery vehicle from earlier. It matched the mystery vehicle from earlier. Cops noticed an odd detail: the car’s passenger-side hubcap had seven holes, whereas the other hubcaps had six. A quirky detail, but it helped lock in their suspect.
Digging into Jonathan’s phone records, they found he’d been texting a couple he was tight with—Seth (aka Samuel, or Sam) and Colette Collins, who lived nearby. When police swung by their place, that same quirky hubcap car was parked out front. Bingo! Colette took ownership of it, and the investigation rapidly intensified.
Colette’s Story: A Tipsy Alibi Falls Apart
Colette Collins was hauled in for questioning. She admitted to visiting Jonathan that night, saying they hadn’t caught up in a while. After their chat, she claimed she left, grabbed some wine from a gas station, and drank it in her car while cruising the neighborhood. Why? Her husband Sam had been sober for a year, so she didn’t want to drink at home. Conveniently, she said she “blacked out” after that and couldn’t recall much else. Hmm, sounds fishy, right?
Then it was Sam’s turn. He told cops he was asleep when his drunk wife stumbled home. When they asked to search the car, he said no but offered up his DNA instead. Big mistake. Four days later, police pulled him over after smelling weed in his ride. A quick pat-down turned up a shotgun shell in his pocket—awkward, since he’d sworn he didn’t own a shotgun. He was unintentionally putting himself in a more vulnerable position.
Sam Collins: The Jealous Husband Unmasked
Time for a search warrant. Cops raided Sam’s house and found a stash of shotgun shells—but no gun. They also snagged a couple of his phones. On one, they hit the jackpot: a text sent to a buddy an hour after the murder, saying he’d stashed a shotgun in the guy’s trunk. That friend confirmed he’d lent Sam the weapon that night. When police recovered it, Sam’s DNA was all over it, and the shells matched the ones at Jonathan’s scene. Case closed—Samuel Collins was arrested in December 2015 and charged with murder.
But wait, there’s more. Rewatching the CCTV, cops saw Colette’s car stop at the murder spot. Turns out, she wasn’t just a bystander. Following a series of exchanges, she revealed the truth. She’d come home drunk, told Sam she’d been at Jonathan’s, and he flipped out. Fueled by jealousy, Sam grabbed the shotgun, and Colette drove him to confront Jonathan. She dropped him off near the house; he snuck up, shot Jonathan, and bolted back to her car. She picked him up, and they sped off. Colette wasn’t the shooter, but she was in deep as an accessory.
The Trials: Justice Served
Sam’s trial was undoubtedly successful. Prosecutors laid out the DNA, the shells, the text, and the footage—airtight evidence. Sam admitted he “panicked” and fled after the shooting. The jury deliberated for just an hour before nailing him with a 50-year sentence in October 2017. He tried to downplay Colette’s role, saying she didn’t know his plan upfront, only after the fact. Too little, too late.
Colette’s trial came next, and Sam turned state’s witness. Prosecutor Kimberly Smith pointed out Sam wanted her to face the music too—she’d left him “high and dry.” Colette was convicted as an accessory after the fact and slapped with the max penalty: 15 years in January 2018. No slap on the wrist here—both were going down for what they did to Jonathan.
Where Are Sam and Colette Collins Now?
As of April 2025, Samuel Collins is serving his 50-year sentence at Tyger River Correctional Institute in South Carolina, a medium-security prison in Enoree. Locked up since his 2017 conviction for murdering Jonathan Cherol, his projected release date is October 26, 2050—still decades away. He’s got plenty of time to reflect on the jealousy-fueled night that ended a man’s life.
Meanwhile, Colette Collins, convicted as an accessory after the fact, is serving her 15-year sentence, likely in a South Carolina women’s facility. Exact details on her location are fuzzier, but she’s still behind bars, with a release potentially around 2033 if she serves the full term. Their marriage? Probably on the rocks after Sam testified against her. This case, reminiscent of Investigation Discovery’s “Night Caller,” demonstrates how a single poor decision can permanently imprison someone. Justice doesn’t mess around!
Extra Tidbits: What We Know
Want more? Jonathan wasn’t just a restaurateur—he was a community guy. His spots were local hangouts, and his love for comics and cars made him relatable. Bluffton, a quiet and upscale town, was deeply shaken by this murder. And those seven-hole hubcaps? A random detail that turned into a golden clue. The Collins duo thought they’d outsmart everyone, but tech and good police work proved them wrong. At TV Acute, we’re hooked on these real-life mysteries—they remind us how fragile life can be and how justice, though slow, usually catches up.
Got questions about the case? Drop them below—I’m here to chat! And if you’re digging this deep dive, stick around for more true crime goodies. Let’s keep the conversation going!
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