portland, texas murders

The incident was premeditated. 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. The Portland, Texas couple was found shot in the head on Saturday, June 23. Chapa was also sexually assaulted. Two young women believed to be in a romantic relationship were apparently shot by a mysterious assailant in Portland, Texas Friday night. (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. [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. Officers described finding a tragic, horrifying murder scene at the home in northeast Portland. They remained Tuesday in the San Patricio County Jail on no bond. WebAMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Police say a Texas mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-month-old baby, KFDA reports. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The letter included details that hadn't been released to the media. He is charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault. It was higher than in 44.6% U.S. cities. Authorities said last year they didnt believe the attack was a hate crime, but they hadnt established a motive. 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. A friend said Chapa remembers the night of the shooting. 2023 www.caller.com. 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. Chapa is currently taking college courses while writing a book about her experience. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. 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. Garza shot both Phillips and Eli twice, Cory said. "I felt powerful, like I took my power back to be able to stand up against him," Chapa said. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. I do miss it a lot and, like, even being able to pick up my niece and nephews. Police have not identified any suspects or announced any arrests. A psychologist also concluded in 2009 that David had hallucinations and suicidal ideations. First responders discovered Mollie Olgin and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; [10], David Strickland and his wife Laura Strickland were arrested on June 20, 2014 and held at San Patricio County jail. "(Strickland) cannot take the gun, computer or ID evidence away. Strickland had also inserted himself in the original investigation, talking to investigators and being seen at the crime scene just days after the shooting. [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. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; Portland police released two composite sketches of the male shooter, based upon information from Chapa as she recuperated. Olgin died and Chapa continues to recover after the two were shot June 23 at the park. It was higher than in 44.6% U.S. cities. Chief Wright said that although the events did seem more like measured attacks than a random action, they were not currently investigating the murder as a hate crime. Two young women believed to be in a romantic relationship were apparentlyshot by a mysterious assailantin Portland, Texas Friday night. McFadden was executed in Texas in October 1999 for the murders of three other women. Sister Peggy Ritual and Jason Haas share a moment of silence at a vigil. Two young women believed to be in a romantic relationship were apparently shot by a mysterious assailant in Portland, Texas Friday night. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. I hope that it gives them some closure knowing that this person is taken off the street, Portland Police Chief Gary Giles said of the victims families and the community. The Layton man's home had been burglarized that year by David Strickland, a former friend. A birdwatching couple at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas, came across Mollie and Kristenes bodies on the morning of June 23, 2012. Roel Garza, 52, allegedly shot and killed wife Jennifer Phillips, 36, and their son Eli Garza, 5. The episode can be streamed on the NBC app or online atwww.nbcnews.com/dateline. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. The teenagers were shot execution-style and left for dead in a park in Portland, Texas. [15] The appeal was denied in January 2020. More:Could David Strickland be exonerated in 2012 Portland double shooting? 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. The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public, as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime. In August 1986, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the escape. The Portland, Texas couple was found shot in the head on Saturday, June 23. A resident of a nearby home said that she heard two loud bangs the night of the events, but discounted the sounds as firecrackers. A Nov. 13 motion fromSan Patricio County prosecutors argue even if the hair came from the other man, "it does not exonerate" Strickland. While David Strickland was eventually convicted of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Marshals and Texas Rangers in the San Antonio suburb of Helotes, local media reported. Portland, Oregons, homicide rate soared a staggering 1,900% in 2021, with 20 killings, compared with one during the first three months of 2020. The women had been sexually assaulted and shot in the head around midnight the previous evening. Sign up for breaking news alerts from NBC News. 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. Additionally, a firearms expert at the Texas Department of Public Safety testified that the bullet casing at the scene likely matched Strickland's handgun. [12][13], On September 28, 2016, a San Patricio County jury found David Strickland guilty of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault. David and Laura owned a car that matched the description. The biological evidence then became a point of contention, seemingly highlighting his potential involvement in the crime. About 50 people attended a candle light vigil held for Mollie Judith Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa Friday June 29, 2012 at Woodlawn Lake. [9], Strickland was not charged with a hate crime because authorities found no evidence to indicate the women were targeted due to their sexuality but were likely random targets. The following morning, a couple discovered the bodies of the two women in knee-high grass near a scenic lookout in the park, police said. When a dispatcher asked 'what's going on there? Then, he took it back. 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. Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head last Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. Since joining the Houston Chronicle staff in 1998, she has covered various beats, including criminal courts and transportation. See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe. 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. Rachel Timson and Sarah Dime embrace during a vigil. [3] There were several witnesses who had seen McFadden close to the scene of the crime on the day of the killings. The document also requestedthe results of DNA testing conducted ona pubic hair that was found onChapa's body. 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. Carol Christian reports on breaking news for chron.com. Every episode of ABC's award-winning talk show "The View" is now available as a podcast! Olgin was pronounced dead at the scene,[3] whilst Chapa was taken to hospital in critical condition. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, is facing charges of capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated sexual assault in the June 23, 2012, attack. NBCs Dateline: The Overlook chronicles how the police zeroed in on David using a letter sent to Kristenes father. 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. The Portland, Texas couple was found shot in the head on Saturday, June 23. She has recovered those abilities but was still recently undergoing physical rehabilitation. The Portland, Texas couple was found shot in the head on Saturday, June 23. The gunshot initially left Chapa unable to sit or stand, with the bullet piercing the part of her brain controlling movements on her left side. But he could smile at my family and taunt them," she continued. Olgin died from her wounds, but Chapa is currently recovering in a local hospital. Eyewitnesses also placed Spellman at Violet Andrews Park both before and after the crime. 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. 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? David Strickland was charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault. A man murdered his wife and young son, made a cryptic 911 call and died by suicide, according to police in Portland, Texas. The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public, as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. Messages left by NBC News seeking comment from Chapa and her family werent immediately returned. McFadden was executed in Texas in October 1999 for the murders of three other women. Chapa was also sexually assaulted. ', Garza replied 'just come now'. While David Strickland was eventually convicted of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman. "My body will never be 100% again. Have a tip or story idea? Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Houston facing severe thunderstorms, possible tornadoes Thursday, Oops! December 17, 2021 In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. Portland, a small town of 16,000 just north of Corpus Christi, is not known for crime and has not seen a homicide in two years. A series of fortunate events has led us to this point and I'm just very happy that we could help in at least at this point in bringing him to justice., Hes a stone cold killer who thought he got away with murder, but will finally pay for his crime, said Robert R. Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas. These items were turned over to investigators in the Olgin case. The 2019 Portland crime rate fell by 29% compared to 2018. At the time, Strickland denied shooting and raping the girls. The Layton man was tracked down, but he had a solid alibi for the night of the murder. Olgin had already died of a gunshot wound to the head, and Chapa was in grave condition but survived to tell about the ordeal. Shell casings collected from the crime scene then matched one of Davids firearms. But she said that it wasn't just her physical state that needed time to recover. She is charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the 2012 attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. My sympathies and condolences go to the victims and their families who had to endure this wicked act of violence.. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Chapa suffered tunnel vision and lost part of her mobility. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public, as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime. On Jan. 31, police announced that Jerry Walter McFadden of Texas had killed Anna Marie Hlavka in Portland on Jan. 24, 1979. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. In June 2012, Mollie Olgin and her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, were bound, sexually assaulted and shot in the head at Violet Andrews Park in Portland before their bodies were found by bird watchers. Received a 911 call from a distraught male who was advising that he needed law enforcement assistance, Portland Police Chief Mark Cory told reporters. 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. The biological evidence then became a point of contention, seemingly highlighting his potential involvement in the crime. 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. 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. Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. Gerald Walter McFadden was born on March 21, 1948, in Haskell County Texas. Kristene Chapa's girlfriend died from the 2012 attack. 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. William Davis, who worked at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, was convicted of capital murder on Oct. 19. 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. The suspected shooter allegedly forced the girls down a steep incline in the quiet bayside park, bound them and shot them in the head. Jess and Jules Diliberto embrace during a vigil. [2], On June 23, 2012, birdwatchers at Violet Andrews Park called police after discovering two women's bodies lying below a viewing deck. He was released on parole in July 1985. 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. Could David Strickland be exonerated in 2012 Portland double shooting? The 2019 Portland crime rate fell by 29% compared to 2018. Nearly two years after a teenager and her girlfriend were both shot in the head on a grassy hillside in South Texas, killing one of them and leaving the other with serious injuries, authorities have arrested a man in the attack. During her recovery, Chapa worked with police to help identify her shooter. On May 4, 1986, McFadden kidnapped 20-year-old Gena Turner, 19-year-old Bryan Boone, and 18-year-old Suzanne Harrison as they took a trip to Lake Hawkins north of Tyler, Texas. 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. 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