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. The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public, as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime.[1]
David Malcolm Strickland was convicted of the crime in 2014.[2]
On June 23, 2012, birdwatchers at Violet Andrews Park called police after discovering two women's bodies lying below a viewing deck. First responders discovered Mollie Olgin and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa. The women had been sexually assaulted and shot in the head around midnight the previous evening. Olgin was pronounced dead at the scene,[3] while Chapa was taken to a hospital in critical condition.[4] Following intensive care and concerns that the bullet may have left her completely paralyzed,[5] Chapa regained mobility in the left side of her body and helped police create a sketch of the offender.[6][7]
Due to the attack’s brutal nature, it received heavy media coverage and resulted in public outrage. Vigils were held across the county by the LGBT community, and some suspected the case could be a hate crime.
Arrest and trialEdit
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.[8] The letter accused a Layton, Utah, man of the murder of Olgin; police found that the man had an alibi.
The Layton man's home had been burglarized that year by David Strickland, a former friend. When questioned about the letter, the Layton man noted a photo of him included in the letter had been taken by Strickland's wife Laura.[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. These items were turned over to investigators in the Olgin case.[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.[3]
Other evidence included in the arrest warrant included the fact that a gun in Strickland's possession was matched to bullet casings at the crime scene. 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] A draft of the letter to the Chapa family was found on Strickland's computer.[10]
David Strickland and his wife Laura Strickland were arrested on June 20, 2014 and held at San Patricio County jail. David Strickland was charged with capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault.[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.[10]
Laura Strickland was charged with tampering with evidence.[11] The charge was dismissed.[8]
Shortly before trial, George Koumbis, a local gun store owner and the husband of a defense witness, was murdered in his own store in an apparent robbery-gone-wrong. Corpus Christi police concluded that the robbery was targeted. [12][13]
On September 28, 2016, a San Patricio County jury found David Strickland guilty of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault. The prosecution did not seek the death penalty and Strickland was sentenced to life imprisonment.[6]
New DNA evidenceEdit
In 2018, advances in testing technology allowed for DNA identification of a hair found on Chapa's body. 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. Previously, DNA found on a cigarette butt and energy drink can at the scene both matched to Spellman. Spellman had been staying with his father's best friend just down the street from the scene of the crime. Eyewitnesses also placed Spellman at Violet Andrews Park both before and after the crime. [12][14][15]
Attorneys for Strickland filed a motion for his conviction to be overturned based on the newfound DNA evidence, which District Attorney Sam Smith dismissed on an updated episode of Dateline. [15] The appeal was denied in January 2020.[16]
AftermathEdit
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.[17] The complaints against Strickland's father and Taft Pharmacy were later dropped from the lawsuit. [18]
ReferencesEdit
^. 2014-11-14. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
^Newcomb, Alyssa (July 2, 2012). "Texas Lesbian Couple: Survivor Remembers Night of Shooting". ABC News. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^ abc"Two Years Later, Arrests Have Finally Been Made in the Corpus Christi Shooting of A Teenage Lesbian Couple". Texas Monthly. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
^Dahl, Julia (June 28, 2012). "Same-Sex Teen Couple Shot: Texas Rangers investigating shooting of Mollie Olgin and Mary Chapa". CBS News. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
^Leitsinger, Miranda (June 18, 2012). . MSNBC. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
^ abBolles, Alexandra (September 28, 2016). . GLAAD. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^"Same-Sex Teen Couple Shooting: New sketch of suspect released in Texas attack". CBS News. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
^ abSabawi, Fares (September 19, 2014). "Couple who found victims at Portland park testify". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
^ abc"Arrest Affidavit Details Link Between David Strickland, Portland Shootings". KIII-TV.
^ ab"Jury hears letter from alleged hit man". Corpus Christi Caller Times. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
^Murphy, Doyle (June 22, 2014). "'Stone cold killer' David Strickland busted in fatal shooting of Texas lesbians". NY Daily News. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
^ ab"Watch Dateline Episode: The Overlook". NBC.com. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
^"Court document: David Strickland denied appeal in killing of Mollie Olgin in 2012". Caller Times. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
^"Shooting survivor Kristene Chapa files $500 million lawsuit". KIII-TV. April 13, 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
^"Texas attack survivor's multimillion-dollar lawsuit against David Strickland gets pre-trial hearing".
October 18, 2023
murder, mollie, olgin, mollie, olgin, year, woman, murdered, june, 2012, violet, andrews, park, portland, texas, after, girlfriend, were, attacked, shot, case, garnered, national, attention, sparked, outrage, amongst, public, homophobia, initially, suspected, . 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 The case garnered national attention and sparked outrage amongst the public as homophobia initially was suspected to be a motivating factor in the crime 1 David Malcolm Strickland was convicted of the crime in 2014 2 Contents 1 The crime 2 Arrest and trial 3 New DNA evidence 4 Aftermath 5 ReferencesThe crime EditOn June 23 2012 birdwatchers at Violet Andrews Park called police after discovering two women s bodies lying below a viewing deck First responders discovered Mollie Olgin and her girlfriend Mary Kristene Chapa The women had been sexually assaulted and shot in the head around midnight the previous evening Olgin was pronounced dead at the scene 3 while Chapa was taken to a hospital in critical condition 4 Following intensive care and concerns that the bullet may have left her completely paralyzed 5 Chapa regained mobility in the left side of her body and helped police create a sketch of the offender 6 7 Due to the attack s brutal nature it received heavy media coverage and resulted in public outrage Vigils were held across the county by the LGBT community and some suspected the case could be a hate crime Arrest and trial EditPolice 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 8 The letter accused a Layton Utah man of the murder of Olgin police found that the man had an alibi The Layton man s home had been burglarized that year by David Strickland a former friend When questioned about the letter the Layton man noted a photo of him included in the letter had been taken by Strickland s wife Laura 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 These items were turned over to investigators in the Olgin case 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 3 Other evidence included in the arrest warrant included the fact that a gun in Strickland s possession was matched to bullet casings at the crime scene 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 A draft of the letter to the Chapa family was found on Strickland s computer 10 David Strickland and his wife Laura Strickland were arrested on June 20 2014 and held at San Patricio County jail David Strickland was charged with capital murder aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault 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 10 Laura Strickland was charged with tampering with evidence 11 The charge was dismissed 8 Shortly before trial George Koumbis a local gun store owner and the husband of a defense witness was murdered in his own store in an apparent robbery gone wrong Corpus Christi police concluded that the robbery was targeted 12 13 On September 28 2016 a San Patricio County jury found David Strickland guilty of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault The prosecution did not seek the death penalty and Strickland was sentenced to life imprisonment 6 New DNA evidence EditIn 2018 advances in testing technology allowed for DNA identification of a hair found on Chapa s body 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 Previously DNA found on a cigarette butt and energy drink can at the scene both matched to Spellman Spellman had been staying with his father s best friend just down the street from the scene of the crime Eyewitnesses also placed Spellman at Violet Andrews Park both before and after the crime 12 14 15 Attorneys for Strickland filed a motion for his conviction to be overturned based on the newfound DNA evidence which District Attorney Sam Smith dismissed on an updated episode of Dateline 15 The appeal was denied in January 2020 16 Aftermath EditIn 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 17 The complaints against Strickland s father and Taft Pharmacy were later dropped from the lawsuit 18 References Edit GLAAD Supporters rally and call for justice4krisandmollie 2014 11 14 Archived from the original on 2020 09 18 Retrieved 2020 12 05 Newcomb Alyssa July 2 2012 Texas Lesbian Couple Survivor Remembers Night of Shooting ABC News Retrieved July 16 2017 a b c Two Years Later Arrests Have Finally Been Made in the Corpus Christi Shooting of A Teenage Lesbian Couple Texas Monthly 2014 06 25 Retrieved 2020 12 05 Dahl Julia June 28 2012 Same Sex Teen Couple Shot Texas Rangers investigating shooting of Mollie Olgin and Mary Chapa CBS News Retrieved July 17 2017 Leitsinger Miranda June 18 2012 Brother of lesbian teen shot in head She s fighting MSNBC Archived from the original on July 1 2012 Retrieved July 17 2017 a b Bolles Alexandra September 28 2016 Verdict reached 4 years after deadly attack on TX lesbian teen couple GLAAD Archived from the original on March 11 2017 Retrieved July 16 2017 Same Sex Teen Couple Shooting New sketch of suspect released in Texas attack CBS News 2012 07 16 Retrieved 2020 12 05 a b Sabawi Fares September 19 2014 Couple who found victims at Portland park testify Corpus Christi Caller Times Retrieved October 17 2014 a b c Arrest Affidavit Details Link Between David Strickland Portland Shootings KIII TV a b Jury hears letter from alleged hit man Corpus Christi Caller Times 2016 09 21 Retrieved 2020 12 05 Murphy Doyle June 22 2014 Stone cold killer David Strickland busted in fatal shooting of Texas lesbians NY Daily News Retrieved October 17 2014 a b accused killer in portland shooting falsely confessed expert says Caller com Retrieved 2021 12 09 Hackleman Esther 2016 09 03 Markle Shooters Depot was targeted Archive caller com Retrieved 2021 12 09 jury watches video of shooting survivors photo lineup Caller com Retrieved 2021 12 09 a b Watch Dateline Episode The Overlook NBC com Retrieved 2021 12 09 Court document David Strickland denied appeal in killing of Mollie Olgin in 2012 Caller Times 2020 01 23 Retrieved 2020 12 05 Shooting survivor Kristene Chapa files 500 million lawsuit KIII TV April 13 2017 Retrieved 2020 12 05 Texas attack survivor s multimillion dollar lawsuit against David Strickland gets pre trial hearing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murder of Mollie Olgin amp oldid 1180485529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
