portland, texas murders

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. Sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1973 for two counts of rape. Its a difficult situation when you walk in on a welfare check and then you discover three deceased bodies, and especially ones a child.. U.S. While Mollie Olgin died, her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, miraculously survived. David remains incarcerated at the William G. McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas. U.S. The investigators worked the case, eventually arresting the culprit, David Strickland. The city carved $16 million, or 7%, out of its police budget last year. The episode can be streamed on the NBC app or online atwww.nbcnews.com/dateline. I have panic attacks," Chapa said. 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. The Portland Police Department released this sketch July 13, 2012, in the attack on Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa. One girl is dead and another in serious condition after a mysterious shooting in a normally peaceful town. When a dispatcher asked 'what's going on there? PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. Olgin died at the scene and Chapa is in stable condition in the hospital. A vigil will also be held in San Fransisco, a city well known for its support of gay rights. 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. All rights reserved. Strickland was expected to be transferred to a jail in Sinton, outside of Portland, on Saturday, Giles said. (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. [8] The letter accused a Layton, Utah, man of the murder of Olgin; police found that the man had an alibi. Chapa was also sexually assaulted. A resident of a nearby home said that she heard two loud bangs the night of the events, but discounted the sounds as firecrackers. "All my supporters; they've been there. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Since joining the Houston Chronicle staff in 1998, she has covered various beats, including criminal courts and transportation. Portland Police Chief Randy Wright confirmed the identities of the two girls to local NBC affiliates and to MSNBC. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. There is still a lot to do in order to prepare the case for prosectuion". "He couldn't even look at me, which was disappointing, because I wanted him to see what he had done.". His wife is charged with tampering with evidence. 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. The motive behind these killings remains publicly unknown, but Roel Garza allegedly planned this. Police Chief Randy Wright says there's no evidence that the attack was motivated by their relationship. A man murdered his wife and young son, made a cryptic 911 call and died by suicide, according to police in Portland, Texas. Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Chapa, 18, were found shot in the head Saturday in a Portland, Tx park. [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. [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. 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. Two young women believed to be in a romantic relationship were apparently shot by a mysterious assailant in Portland, Texas Friday night. Paroled in December 1978. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, This is what Houston looks like from space, West Texans share apocalyptic photos of after massive dust storm, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. Police say Garza did not have any prior history of violence. It was higher than in 44.6% U.S. cities. DNA testing was previously pending ona pubichair found on Chapa. 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. Three days later, the bodies of Boone and Turner were discovered, with gunshot wounds being the cause of death. Plz, help.. Sister Peggy Ritual and Jason Haas share a moment of silence at a vigil. Marshals, Texas Rangers and the police officers from Portland, where the attack occurred, detained Strickland and his wife, Laura Kimberly, 23. Roel Garza, 52, allegedly shot and killed wife Jennifer Phillips, 36, and their son Eli Garza, 5. "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. See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe. "GLAAD: Supporters rally and call for #justice4krisandmollie", "Texas Lesbian Couple: Survivor Remembers Night of Shooting", "Two Years Later, Arrests Have Finally Been Made in the Corpus Christi Shooting of A Teenage Lesbian Couple", "Same-Sex Teen Couple Shot: Texas Rangers investigating shooting of Mollie Olgin and Mary Chapa", "Brother of lesbian teen shot in head: She's 'fighting', "Verdict reached 4 years after deadly attack on TX lesbian teen couple", "Same-Sex Teen Couple Shooting: New sketch of suspect released in Texas attack", "Couple who found victims at Portland park testify", "Arrest Affidavit Details Link Between David Strickland, Portland Shootings", "accused-killer-in-portland-shooting-falsely-confessed-expert-says", "jury-watches-video-of-shooting-survivors-photo-lineup", "Court document: David Strickland denied appeal in killing of Mollie Olgin in 2012", "Shooting survivor Kristene Chapa files $500 million lawsuit", "Texas attack survivor's multimillion-dollar lawsuit against David Strickland gets pre-trial hearing", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Mollie_Olgin&oldid=1133689494, Violence against LGBT people in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 01:52. Vigils for the women are also scheduled for Friday in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Texas, among other cities. We've been working very hard to make sure we get him as soon as possible. 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. When his phone was tracked, records showed that it was present in the locality of the Chapa family residence around the time the letter was delivered. San Patricio County prosecutors argued that even if the hair came from another man, it would not exonerate Strickland. The city carved $16 million, or 7%, out of its police budget last year. A psychologist also concluded in 2009 that David had hallucinations and suicidal ideations. Carol Christian reports on breaking news for chron.com. "I kept waiting. She was found the next day. 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. [10], David Strickland and his wife Laura Strickland were arrested on June 20, 2014 and held at San Patricio County jail. 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. 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. 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. [6], In 2018, advances in testing technology allowed for DNA identification of a hair found on Chapa's body. The Portland, Texas couple was found shot in the head on Saturday, June 23. 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. "We are confident that we have the person responsible for this horrific crime in custody. "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. Strickland told investigators that Olgin and Chapa were rude to his wife, who was a server at Chili's, and he followed them back to the park where he shot them, but prosecutors believed Olgin and Chapa did not visit Chili's the night of the shooting. His sentence will automatically be appealed. [10], Laura Strickland was charged with tampering with evidence. [4][7] The Texas Appeals Court affirmed the conviction and sentence in November 1993. Eyewitnesses also placed Spellman at Violet Andrews Park both before and after the crime. David M. Strickland, 27, and his wife, Laura K. Strickland, 23, were arrested June 20 at their home in Helotes in the San Antonio area. The type of DNA testing being done uses technology that wasn't available at the time of Strickland's trial. 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. U.S. WebAMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Police say a Texas mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-month-old baby, KFDA reports. 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. 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. Strickland told investigators he composed the letter two weeks before his arrest and printed it out at a public library computer. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News, David Strickland, 27, was arrested June 20, 2014, in Helotes. Jason Haas and Veronika Fimbres embrace during a vigil. 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. We need time to let it sink and just process the news we've waited on for 2 years. Portland police have not provided details about how Strickland was linked to the case. People run under a giant rainbow flag after a vigil for Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, at Cal Anderson Park on Friday, June 29, 2012. Portland, Oregons, homicide rate soared a staggering 1,900% in 2021, with 20 killings, compared with one during the first three months of 2020. "There were some measures taken by the suspect Mr. Garza earlier in the evening in preparatory of this double homicide," said Cheif Cory. It is one day before the two-year anniversary. Roel Garza, 52, allegedly shot and killed wife Jennifer Phillips, 36, and their son Eli Garza, 5. 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. The Layton man's home had been burglarized that year by David Strickland, a former friend. 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. Police said Hlavka had been sexually assaulted and strangled with the electric cord from her clock radio.[1]. Here's the latest. 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. Friends of the girls have said that Olgin and Chapa began dating five months ago. Emailus. Portland, OR 97006 (503) 906-1249; [12][13], On September 28, 2016, a San Patricio County jury found David Strickland guilty of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault. Ultimately, David Malcolm Strickland was arrested and later found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The motion states while prosecutors agreed to have the DNA testing done, they didn't agree that Strickland would be exonerated. 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. The teenagers were shot execution-style and left for dead in a park in Portland, Texas. Kristene Chapa, 19, in her bedroom at the Chapa residence on June 11, 2013 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Olgin, 19, died at the scene. He called 911 on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m., but he did not reveal much, cops said, according to KIII-TV. About 50 people attended a candle light vigil held for Mollie Judith Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa Friday June 29, 2012 at Woodlawn Lake. "My family was there with me, and then my mom she was a big part of it," Kristene Chapa said. In the last 5 years Portland has seen increasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. [emailprotected]. 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 city carved $16 million, or 7%, out of its police budget last year. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Vigils were held across the county by the LGBT community, and some suspected the case could be a hate crime. McFadden had been convicted of rape three times between 1972 and 1978, but never had to serve his full sentence. Police were led to David Strickland in 2014 after Chapa's father received an anonymous letter containing information about the crime not released to the public. While David Strickland was eventually convicted of the murder, evidence at the crime scene initially implicated Dylan Spellman. So, lets find out what happened to David then, shall we? Portland police released two composite sketches of the male shooter, based upon information from Chapa as she recuperated. IE 11 is not supported. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. While Mollie Olgin died, her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, miraculously survived. During her recovery, Chapa worked with police to help identify her shooter. It points out that a jury found "ample evidence" to convict Strickland. At the time, David was accused of burglarizing his home, and the evidence collected was turned over to the Portland police. PORTLAND, Texas Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. They followed my story since day one and I want to thank everybody for that.". Photo: Portland Police Department. [15] The appeal was denied in January 2020. This is a carousel. Just come now, Roel Garza said in 911 audio obtained by KRIS-TV. This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 16:43. At the time, Strickland denied shooting and raping the girls. 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. People write messages of support on a banner during 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. They remained Tuesday in the San Patricio County Jail on no bond. 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 prosecution did not pursue the death penalty, and therefore, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Rachel Timson and Sarah Dime embrace during a vigil. Family, friends and supporters walk the trail Friday, June 29, 2012 along Violet Andrews Park as they head to the overlook where teens Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa were found shot last weekend in Portland, Texas. Chapa was also sexually assaulted. Theresa Garnero and Rosie Castillo embrace during a vigil. 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. On Jan. 31, police announced that Jerry Walter McFadden of Texas had killed Anna Marie Hlavka in Portland on Jan. 24, 1979. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Portland PD says the investigation is ongoing. The 2019 Portland crime rate fell by 29% compared to 2018. Olgin had already died of a gunshot wound to the head, and Chapa was in grave condition but survived to tell about the ordeal. 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. "I felt powerful, like I took my power back to be able to stand up against him," Chapa said. Police have not identified any suspects or announced any arrests. 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