First responders discovered Mollie Olgin and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa. A friend said Chapa remembers the night of the shooting. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. The city carved $16 million, or 7%, out of its police budget last year. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 1 most stressful city for workers in U.S. Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen as soon as next week, Houston rap royalty Bun B on returning to Rodeo for another Takeover, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban, Kevin Porter Jr. return can't end Rockets' growing losing streak, W&P Porter bowl review: A container that makes office lunch easy, A new musical spotlights a Texas bank-robbing legend. Ultimately, David Malcolm Strickland was arrested and later found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. December 17, 2021 In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. In a Nov. 30 motion that was previously sealed, Strickland's attorney Cynthia Orr argues a different man whose DNA was found at thescene and on the surviving victimis actually responsible for the crime. Elizabeth Valadez of Corpus Christi, Texas, writes a message on one of the posts Friday, June 29, 2012 as other friends and supporters write messages on a large sheet behind her during a vigil for teens Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. Members and supporters of the gay community held a vigil on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif., at the corner of Castro and Market Streets for Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa, two lesbian teens who were shot on Friday near Corpus Christi, Texas. However, at that point, the authorities had another suspect, Dylan Spellman, who was linked to the crime scene through DNA evidence. A friend said Chapa remembers the night of the shooting. Marshals and Texas Rangers in the San Antonio suburb of Helotes, local media reported. The Portland Police Department released this sketch July 4, 2012, in the attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. WebPortland police solved a 40-year-old murder case by matching DNA found at the crime scene with data in a public genealogy site. He is now appealing the conviction based on new DNA evidence that his attorneys claim prove he was wrongly convicted. The hair was matched to an initial suspect in the crime, Dylan Spellman, who had recently pleaded guilty to his involvement in an armed robbery in Nevada in which he and his cohorts referred to each other by numbers, mirroring the way Mollie and Kristene were referred to as "number one" and "number two" during their assault. The other man, from Nevada,admitted he was at the park that night and lived in the area at the time of the shooting. She is charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the 2012 attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. The type of DNA testing being done uses technology that wasn't available at the time of Strickland's trial. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. The chief described the fathers preliminary actions in general terms. Two young women believed to be in a romantic relationship were apparently shot by a mysterious assailant in Portland, Texas Friday night. U.S. The prosecution did not seek the death penalty and Strickland was sentenced to life imprisonment. A vigil was held for the girls at a local high school Sunday and a candle-lit walk is scheduled to take place in the park on Friday. McFadden was executed in Texas in October 1999 for the murders of three other women. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. More: David Strickland's attorney: Impending DNA testing will clear him of Portland Park murder, Sign up to have news emailed to you daily, David Strickland's attorney: Impending DNA testing will clear him of Portland Park murder, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It was sufficient evidence for the jury, and, regardless of the veracity of this alleged DNA test results is still sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction," the motion states. WebAMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Police say a Texas mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-month-old baby, KFDA reports. Portland police say they don't know the motive for the shooting Friday night that killed 19-year-old Mollie Olgin and wounded 18-year-old Mary Kristene Chapa in Violet Andrews Park. However, the authorities learned that he used to be friends with David before things fell apart. I want to have my independence back.". Under the police timeline, the father killed his family, made the 911 call and then died by suicide. Listen and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Spotify, Stitcher or the ABC News app. Police Chief Randy Wright says there's no evidence that the attack was motivated by their relationship. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Neighbors described Jennifer Phillips as, in the words of KRIS-TV, the heart of the community, and Eli as a playful soul., [Screengrab of memorial for Jennifer Phillips and Eli Garza at their home via KIII], Have a tip we should know? Could David Strickland be exonerated in 2012 Portland double shooting? There were some measures taken by the suspect Mr. Garza earlier in the evening in preparatory of this double homicide, Cory told reporters, according to KRIS-TV. They remained Tuesday in the San Patricio County Jail on no bond. Teen lesbian couple found shot in Texas park, A Visual History of the Gay-Rights Movement, 13-Year-Old Girl Finds Porn On New Cell Phone, These Are North Koreas 28 State-Approved Hairstyles, Mountain Dews Dub the Dew Online Poll Goes Horribly Wrong. Photo: Portland Police Department, Laura Strickland, 23, was arrested June 20, 2014, in Helotes. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. (AP Photo/Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Michael Zamora), A crime scene investigator takes pictures of an evidence marker near some playground equipment Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. Its apparent in the investigation that once the suspect Mr. Garza made the call to the police department, he committed suicide in the bedroom where the wife and child had already been killed, Cory said. Have a tip or story idea? Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head last Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. 47 Two years after a brutal attack on a female couple near Corpus Christi made national headlines, a break in the case has resulted in two arrests. Just come now, Roel Garza said in 911 audio obtained by KRIS-TV. Strickland was found guilty in the 2012 shooting at Portland Park that left 19-year-old Mollie Judith Olgin dead and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa seriously injured. Marshals and Texas Rangers in the San Antonio suburb of Helotes, local media reported. WebPortland police solved a 40-year-old murder case by matching DNA found at the crime scene with data in a public genealogy site. The motion also states the evidence presented at trial is "insufficient to sustain Strickland's conviction. The Portland Police Department released this sketch July 13, 2012, in the attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. Sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1973 for two counts of rape. The women had been sexually assaulted and shot in the head around midnight the previous evening. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. Police have not identified any suspects or announced any arrests. About 100 people came out for the vigil to remember Olgin, who died June 23 at the park, and show their support for Chapa, who is in the hospital in stable condition. WebAMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Police say a Texas mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-month-old baby, KFDA reports. Crimes scene investigators take evidence back to their vans Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. He is charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 2012 attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. Strickland had also inserted himself in the original investigation, talking to investigators and being seen at the crime scene just days after the shooting. Samantha Garrett, Olgins roommate, said that the couple had not received any threats or hateful remarks about their new relationship. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. The 2019 Portland crime rate fell by 29% compared to 2018. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. Olgin died from her wounds, but Chapa is currently recovering in a local hospital. PORTLAND, Texas A husband, wife and their five-year-old son are dead after a murder suicide in the City of Portland, according to police. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. 47 Two years after a brutal attack on a female couple near Corpus Christi made national headlines, a break in the case has resulted in two arrests. U.S. Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Houston facing severe thunderstorms, possible tornadoes Thursday, Oops! WebMollie Olgin was a 19-year-old woman murdered on June 22, 2012 in Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas after she and her girlfriend were attacked and shot. [6], In 2018, advances in testing technology allowed for DNA identification of a hair found on Chapa's body. [2], On June 23, 2012, birdwatchers at Violet Andrews Park called police after discovering two women's bodies lying below a viewing deck. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News, David Strickland, 27, was arrested June 20, 2014, in Helotes. A crowd of over 100 people attend a vigil for Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, at Cal Anderson Park on Friday, June 29, 2012. The Portland, Texas couple was found shot in the head on Saturday, June 23. She was found the next day. [9], Layton Police investigating the burglary had discovered evidence in Strickland's car including two guns, ammunition, a suppressor, gloves and a backpack containing condoms, flex handcuffs, bolt cutters, a knife and other items. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, she holds a Master?s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master?s in sociology from Michigan State University. Here's the latest. Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. The two teenagers were found in tall grass on a park overlook in the small town near Corpus Christi, where one of the two victims attended school. My sympathies and condolences go to the victims and their families who had to endure this wicked act of violence.. Kristene Chapa, 19, in her bedroom at the Chapa residence on June 11, 2013 in Corpus Christi, Texas. [1], David Malcolm Strickland was convicted of the crime in 2014. Members and supporters of the gay community held a vigil on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif., at the corner of Castro and Market Streets for Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa, two lesbian teens who were shot on Friday near Corpus Christi, Texas. His attorney, Cynthia Orr, told the Caller-Times that the type of DNA testing technology that would be conducted on a piece of pubic hair found on Chapa was not available during the time of Strickland's trial. "My body will never be 100% again. Previously, DNA found on a cigarette butt and energy drink can at the scene both matched to Spellman. Portland police say they don't know the motive for the shooting Friday night, June 22, 2012, that killed 19-year-old Mollie Olgin and wounded 18-year-old Mary Kristene Chapa in Violet Andrews Park. It was written from the perspective of a hitman who claimed that someone from Layton, Utah, was responsible for the attacks and had wanted Kristene dead. One girl is dead and another in serious condition after a mysterious shooting in a normally peaceful town. December 17, 2021 In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. Dateline originally aired an episode on the case in 2017 after a San Patricio County Judge found David Strickland, a Portland, Texas, man, guilty of capital murder. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. He contacted family members Friday evening, said Cory, who did not elaborate much. [18]. Since joining the Houston Chronicle staff in 1998, she has covered various beats, including criminal courts and transportation. Chapa was 18 years old in June 2012 when she and her girlfriend Mollie Olgin were shot in the head execution-style at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. Members and supporters of the gay community held a vigil on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif., at the corner of Castro and Market Streets for the two lesbian teens who were shot on Friday near Corpus Christi, Texas. Officers described finding a tragic, horrifying murder scene at the home in northeast Portland. Messages left by NBC News seeking comment from Chapa and her family werent immediately returned. I do miss it a lot and, like, even being able to pick up my niece and nephews. Chapa had to relearn how to walk, talk and even smile again after the attack, she said, noting that she's now "doing well" overall. A psychologist also concluded in 2009 that David had hallucinations and suicidal ideations. Courtesy of Bexar County Sheriff's Office. We've been working very hard to make sure we get him as soon as possible. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But he could smile at my family and taunt them," she continued. At the time, Strickland denied shooting and raping the girls. McFadden was executed in Texas in October 1999 for the murders of three other women. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. In August 1986, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the escape. They believed that the couple was attacked somewhere around midnight, and the assailant bound and blindfolded the women. Thats always something that were looking for, but as of this point, we have not been able to establish that that had anything to do with the attack, Wright said. [11] The charge was dismissed. When police arrived, they found the front door open, and found a family of three, 5-year-old Eli Garza, 36-year-old Jennifer Phillips, and 52-year-old Roel Garza dead in the child's bedroom. [3] There were several witnesses who had seen McFadden close to the scene of the crime on the day of the killings. In May, Strickland'sattorneyCynthia Orr,Fort Worth lawyer Michael Logan Ware and Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project signed afiling for a proposed order requestingaccess to physical evidence, records and results ofDNA testing, hair and trace evidence, jail phone calls andrecorded interviews of the other man. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. The incident was premeditated. [7] He was arrested two days later after the biggest fugitive hunt in Texas state history. On Jan. 31, police announced that Jerry Walter McFadden of Texas had killed Anna Marie Hlavka in Portland on Jan. 24, 1979. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. 0:59 David Strickland was not the person who killed a 19-year-old in a Portland park, and new DNA evidence proves it, attorneys for Strickland say. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. After two hours of being interviewed by Portland police and Texas Rangers, Strickland confessed. He was released on parole in July 1985. This is a carousel. Chapa spoke on Tuesday to "The View's" co-hosts including Sunny Hostin, host of the show "Truth About Murder," who revisits the investigation with Chapa about the attack, her miraculous recovery and testifying during Strickland's trial. McFadden raped and strangled Harrison and dumped her body in a park about 25 miles (40km) from Lake Hawkins. Ashlee Burns covers trending and breaking news in South Texas. Spellman had been staying with his father's best friend just down the street from the scene of the crime. 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