Police said Hlavka had been sexually assaulted and strangled with the electric cord from her clock radio.[1]. Convicted in 1979 of aggravated sexual assault for kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman at knifepoint. This evidence included .45-caliber firearms, handcuffs, ammunition, a lock pick kit, bolt cutters, and other suspicious items. During her recovery, Chapa worked with police to help identify her shooter. The type of DNA testing being done uses technology that wasn't available at the time of Strickland's trial. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. DNA evidence was collected from the bodies at this time. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 16:43. Man and wife jailed in 2-year-old attack on female couple near Corpus Christi, Portland police still seek leads in teen couple shooting. [17] The complaints against Strickland's father and Taft Pharmacy were later dropped from the lawsuit. facing charges of capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated sexual assault in the June 23, 2012, attack, who tried to claw her way out of the thorny brush. [4][7] The Texas Appeals Court affirmed the conviction and sentence in November 1993. William Davis, who worked at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, was convicted of capital murder on Oct. 19. We have a lot of evidence to still continue to process, he said. David remains incarcerated at the William G. McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas. Due to the attacks brutal nature, it received heavy media coverage and resulted in public outrage. Just come now, Roel Garza said in 911 audio obtained by KRIS-TV. The teenagers were shot execution-style and left for dead in a park in Portland, Texas. Officers described finding a tragic, horrifying murder scene at the home in northeast Portland. Wright said that police were operating on the assumption that the two girls were dating based on of information from family and friends. 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. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. In the beginning, the authorities used Kristenes help to create a composite sketch of the attacker. Police Chief Randy Wright says there's no evidence that the attack was motivated by their relationship. Strickland's appealis still making it's way through the legal system. "I struggle with [post-traumatic stress disorder] and anxiety. 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. 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. Though he was suspected by police for two years, hewas never charged in the case. Vigils for the women are also scheduled for Friday in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Texas, among other cities. December 17, 2021 In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. U.S. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. 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. 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. 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. [3], Police used GPS to discover that David Strickland's cell phone had been near the Chapa home when the letter had been hand-delivered. WebPortland police solved a 40-year-old murder case by matching DNA found at the crime scene with data in a public genealogy site. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. Eyewitnesses also placed Spellman at Violet Andrews Park both before and after 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. The letter included details that hadn't been released to the media. 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? Strickland was sentenced to life in prison without parole in September 2016. Portland police released two composite sketches of the male shooter, based upon information from Chapa as she recuperated. 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. In September 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. A couple out bird watching the next morning found the girls Olgin had died but Chapa, who tried to claw her way out of the thorny brush, was alive. [2], On June 23, 2012, birdwatchers at Violet Andrews Park called police after discovering two women's bodies lying below a viewing deck. Roel Garza, 52, allegedly shot and killed wife Jennifer Phillips, 36, and their son Eli Garza, 5. "(Strickland) cannot take the gun, computer or ID evidence away. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. William Davis, who worked at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, was convicted of capital murder on Oct. 19. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Attorneys for convicted killer David Strickland are asking for a hearing along with records they hope will prove someone else was to blame for the 2012 double shooting in a Portland park. He then sexually assaulted and shot them. 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. 5-year-old dead after double homicide-suicide in Portland. Olgin died from her wounds, but Chapa is currently recovering in a local hospital. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. William Davis, who worked at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, was convicted of capital murder on Oct. 19. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. More:Could David Strickland be exonerated in 2012 Portland double shooting? While Mollie Olgin died, her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, miraculously survived. 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 teenagers were shot execution-style and left for dead in a park in Portland, Texas. 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. Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, and her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, 19, were shot in the head at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas on June 22. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. David Malcolm Strickland, 27, was arrested Friday by U.S. A psychologist also concluded in 2009 that David had hallucinations and suicidal ideations. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News, David Strickland, 27, was arrested June 20, 2014, in Helotes. In June 2012, a young teenage couple was found shot in a park in Portland, Texas. "He's behind bars because of me, so he's watching this right now.". While David Strickland was eventually convicted of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman. WebAMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Police say a Texas mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-month-old baby, KFDA reports. 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. 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. 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. Emailus. 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. It was higher than in 44.6% U.S. cities. I stared at him, right, whenever I was testifying, and not one look. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. (PHOTOS: Teens in America: Class Pictures). Jess and Jules Diliberto embrace during a vigil. The document also requestedthe results of DNA testing conducted ona pubic hair that was found onChapa's body. In September 2016, David stood trial for the shooting. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force for help in finding and apprehending the couple. Could David Strickland be exonerated in 2012 Portland double shooting? Garza shot both Phillips and Eli twice, Cory said. Photos of Mary Kristene Chapa (left) and her girlfriend Mollie Judith Olgin that were given to people attending a candle light vigil for the girls Friday June 29, 2012 at Woodlawn Lake. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 motive behind these killings remains publicly unknown, but Roel Garza allegedly planned this. "All my supporters; they've been there. David Strickland was living in Portland at the time of the shootings and has also lived in Utah and Helotes, police 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. Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head last Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. 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. Kristene Chapa's girlfriend died from the 2012 attack. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. The chief described the fathers preliminary actions in general terms. U.S. A birdwatching couple at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas, came across Mollie and Kristenes bodies on the morning of June 23, 2012. The prosecution did not pursue the death penalty, and therefore, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But he could smile at my family and taunt them," she continued. It is one day before the two-year anniversary. Chapa, miraculously survived a hair found on Chapa 's body % U.S. cities ( Strickland ) not. Sketch of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman on the assumption the. Appealis still making it 's way through the legal system of the male shooter, based upon information from as. 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