Eyewitnesses also placed Spellman at Violet Andrews Park both before and after the crime. In 2019, one of Strickland's attorneys said a man from Nevada, whose DNA was found at the scene, was actually responsible for the crime. 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. [7], In January 2019, McFadden was linked by DNA via GEDmatch to the July 24, 1979 murder of Anna Marie Hlavka; Anna was found dead by her sister inside her apartment. "It's difficult for the citizens of this community, it's difficult on the officers of this department, It's difficult with everybody that was involved at the scene," said Portland PD Cheif Mark Cory. In July 1987, he was sentenced to death for the murder of 18-year-old Suzanne Harrison, 20-year-old Gena Turner and 19-year-old Bryan Boone. The city carved $16 million, or 7%, out of its police budget last year. [8] The letter accused a Layton, Utah, man of the murder of Olgin; police found that the man had an alibi. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public, as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime. So, lets find out what happened to David then, shall we. U.S. It was higher than in 44.6% U.S. cities. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News, David Strickland, 27, was arrested June 20, 2014, in Helotes. Convicted in 1979 of aggravated sexual assault for kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman at knifepoint. "My body will never be 100% again. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. Police have not identified any suspects or announced any arrests. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. Strickland was sentenced to life in prison without parole, but the new Dateline episode suggests new DNA evidence could prove someone else was to blame. The city carved $16 million, or 7%, out of its police budget last year. 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? 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. 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. "He's behind bars because of me, so he's watching this right now.". The teenagers were shot execution-style and left for dead in a park in Portland, Texas. The chief described the mother as struck multiple times in the head., We had four officers on scene, and it was rough on them, Cory said. Committed the July 24, 1979, murder of Anna Marie Hlavka in. Report: Houston is the No. A birdwatching couple at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas, came across Mollie and Kristenes bodies on the morning of June 23, 2012. Olgin died from her wounds, but Chapa is currently recovering in a local hospital. On Jan. 31, police announced that Jerry Walter McFadden of Texas had killed Anna Marie Hlavka in Portland on Jan. 24, 1979. Gerald Walter McFadden was born on March 21, 1948, in Haskell County Texas. Thanks everyone for the texts, messages, and calls but my family and I are just kinda in shock and just shook up, Chapa wrote on Facebook after the arrest was made. His wife is charged with tampering with evidence. 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. WebPortland police solved a 40-year-old murder case by matching DNA found at the crime scene with data in a public genealogy site. 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. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; Angela Weddle carries a sign during the Pride Bigger Than Texas Parade held Saturday June 30, 2012. "My family was there with me, and then my mom she was a big part of it," Kristene Chapa said. Strickland's appealis still making it's way through the legal system. But she said that it wasn't just her physical state that needed time to recover. At the time, David was accused of burglarizing his home, and the evidence collected was turned over to the Portland police. "All my supporters; they've been there. 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. All rights reserved. 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. She believed the testing could help exonerate Strickland. They remained Tuesday in the San Patricio County Jail on no bond. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. This is still an active investigation. December 17, 2021 In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. The crime went unsolved for about two years before police shifted their focus to Stickland in 2014 after learning about a letter addressed to Chapa's father written from the perspective of a hitman. Three days later, the bodies of Boone and Turner were discovered, with gunshot wounds being the cause of death. There is still a lot to do in order to prepare the case for prosectuion". Olgin, 19, died at the scene. The type of DNA testing being done uses technology that wasn't available at the time of Strickland's trial. The biological evidence then became a point of contention, seemingly highlighting his potential involvement in the crime. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; Nevertheless, the jury found David, then 30, guilty of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault. 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. KRIS 6 News obtained the almost 20 second audio clip of the police call to Portland PD, but some of it was inaudible. Portland Police Chief Randy Wright confirmed the identities of the two girls to local NBC affiliates and to MSNBC. [10], David Strickland and his wife Laura Strickland were arrested on June 20, 2014 and held at San Patricio County jail. Mollie 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. U.S. All rights reserved. We need time to let it sink and just process the news we've waited on for 2 years. [16], In 2017, Kristene Chapa filed a lawsuit against David Strickland, his father Larry Joe Strickland, and Taft Pharmacy, the family business, seeking $500 million in damages. Court document: David Strickland denied appeal in killing of Mollie Olgin in 2012, Defense: New DNA results exonerate man convicted in 2012 double shooting in Portland, 'Truth About Murder with Sunny Hostin' episode about 2012 Portland attack of teens to air, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. While David Strickland was eventually convicted of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. NBCs Dateline: The Overlook chronicles how the police zeroed in on David using a letter sent to Kristenes father. "I struggle with [post-traumatic stress disorder] and anxiety. See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe. She is charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the 2012 attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. U.S. While Mollie Olgin died, her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, miraculously survived. David Strickland was living in Portland at the time of the shootings and has also lived in Utah and Helotes, police said. David Strickland was charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault. [10], Laura Strickland was charged with tampering with evidence. Here's the latest. A crime scene investigator photographs evidence at the end of a sidewalk, June 23, 2012 at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas, where Mollie Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were killed. Sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1973 for two counts of rape. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. Arrested in May 1986 for the rape and murder of 18-year-old high school cheerleader Suzanne Harrison and the murder of 20-year-old Gena Turner and 19-year old Bryan Boone who were shot. Olgin died from her wounds, but Chapa is currently recovering in a local hospital. On Jan. 31, police announced that Jerry Walter McFadden of Texas had killed Anna Marie Hlavka in Portland on Jan. 24, 1979. However, the authorities learned that he used to be friends with David before things fell apart. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (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. While David Strickland was eventually convicted of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman. The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public, as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime. Olgin had already died of a gunshot wound to the head, and Chapa was in grave condition but survived to tell about the ordeal. He is charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. Ive been trying to think of anybody I know that would try and hurt them for any reason, Garrett said, and not one person comes to mind.. William Davis, who worked at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, was convicted of capital murder on Oct. 19. Emailus. Messages left by NBC News seeking comment from Chapa and her family werent immediately returned. "While we know the community has many questions, this is still an active investigation and we would not want to do anything to jeopardize the case," Portland Police Chief Gary Giles said in a news release. [6], In 2018, advances in testing technology allowed for DNA identification of a hair found on Chapa's body. Sister Peggy Ritual and Jason Haas share a moment of silence at a vigil. According to police, around 1:30 a.m., a man called 911 and told officers he was distraught and to go to Escondido St. Marshals, Texas Rangers and the police officers from Portland, where the attack occurred, detained Strickland and his wife, Laura Kimberly, 23. Julie Pousson (left) cries during a candle light vigil held for Mollie Judith Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa Friday June 29, 2012 at Woodlawn Lake. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. 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. The suspected shooter allegedly forced the girls down a steep incline in the quiet bayside park, bound them and shot them in the head. 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. Marshal Christopher Bozeman, a spokesman for the Marshals Service in San Antonio, said it took the team a little over two hours to find the Stricklands in an apartment in the 12000 block of Bandera Road in Helotes, about 25 miles northwest of San Antonio. 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. Roel Garza, 52, allegedly shot and killed wife Jennifer Phillips, 36, and their son Eli Garza, 5. 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. Chapa, now 20, had gone with Olgin that Friday night to Violet Andrews Park in Portland outside Corpus Christi to see where her girlfriend had been baptized. In the days after the attack, police said the women were known to be in a dating relationship but there was no evidence that the attack was motivated by their sexual orientation. Kristene Chapa's girlfriend died from the 2012 attack. Once investigators issued arrest warrants for the Stricklands, they asked the U.S. He is facing charges of capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated sexual assault in the June 23, 2012, attack on Mollie Olgin, 19, who died in the shooting in Portland on the Corpus Christi Bay. Since joining the Houston Chronicle staff in 1998, she has covered various beats, including criminal courts and transportation. On July 9, 1986, he overcame Kenneth Mayfield, a jailer, and escaped from the prison in Upshur County with Rosalie Williams, another guard, as a hostage. Chapa was also sexually assaulted. An expert witness for the defense testified that the confession was false because David was repeatedly told his wife would be charged if he didnt confess. Portland, Oregons, homicide rate soared a staggering 1,900% in 2021, with 20 killings, compared with one during the first three months of 2020. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head last Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. Sign up for breaking news alerts from NBC News. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Man and wife jailed in 2-year-old attack on female couple near Corpus Christi, Portland police still seek leads in teen couple shooting. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. At the time, Strickland denied shooting and raping the girls. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; Gay rights groups have called for a thorough police investigation into the fatal shooting of a teenage woman and wounding of her girlfriend in the park. WebCrime rate in Portland, TX The 2019 crime rate in Portland, TX is 110 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 2.4 times lower than the U.S. average. The investigation is ongoing. My sympathies and condolences go to the victims and their families who had to endure this wicked act of violence.. Just come now, Roel Garza said in 911 audio obtained by KRIS-TV. The 2019 Portland crime rate fell by 29% compared to 2018. Both women were stripped of their clothes and left for dead after being shot execution-style. A man murdered his wife and young son, made a cryptic 911 call and died by suicide, according to police in Portland, Texas. Portland police have not provided details about how Strickland was linked to the case. Could David Strickland be exonerated in 2012 Portland double shooting? He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. 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. 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. Photo: Portland Police Department. Mollie, 19, suffered a gunshot wound to the neck and was pronounced dead on the scene. Then, he took it back. I do miss it a lot and, like, even being able to pick up my niece and nephews. (PHOTOS: Teens in America: Class Pictures). While Mollie Olgin died, her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, miraculously survived. Authorities said last year they didnt believe the attack was a hate crime, but they hadnt established a motive. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. DNA testing was previously pending ona pubichair found on Chapa. December 17, 2021 In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. Previously, DNA found on a cigarette butt and energy drink can at the scene both matched to Spellman. The letter also included a picture of the accused man along with the words, I was told to deliver this or die. 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. Courtesy of Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Jason Haas and Veronika Fimbres embrace during a vigil. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Gerald "Jerry" Walter McFadden (March 21, 1948 October 14, 1999), known as The Animal, was an American serial killer and sex offender who was executed in 1999.[6]. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. PHOTOS: A Visual History of the Gay-Rights Movement. 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