John Lennon wrote letters to the New York City police officer who arrested him . He repeatedly tells the officer to read the book , `` The Catcher in the Rye says others `` could -- and would -- have served the same purpose '' as Mark David Chapman . January 15 , 1983. He killed Lennon in 20 years and is serving a sentence of 1980 to life in prison .
John Lennon wrote letters to the New York City police officer who arrested him . He repeatedly tells the officer to read the book , `` The Catcher in the Rye says others `` could -- and would -- have served the same purpose '' as Mark David Chapman . He killed Lennon in 20 years and is serving a sentence of 1980 to life in prison .