Back in 1996, Angie Dodge’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 18.
It took 23 years for the truth behind her murder to finally come to light in 2019.
Who was Angie Dodge?
Angie Dodge, a young woman from Idaho, made the decision to move out of her family’s home at the young age of 18.
After a disagreement with her mother over a house rule, she moved into her own apartment. However, three weeks later, she reconciled with her mother during a visit to their home.
Carol Dodge, Angie’s mother, reflected on that moment, saying, “The night that she came over, I rocked her and I said, ‘I’m so glad you’re not mad at me anymore.’ And she just looked up. She said, ‘Not even in a blue moon.'”
Tragically, that would be the last conversation they would have.
What happened to Angie Dodge?
Upon returning to her apartment after the visit, Angie Dodge was brutally raped and stabbed to death.
Her body was discovered by her concerned co-workers who went to check on her well-being.
Carol Dodge received the devastating news the following day, learning that her daughter had been found dead.
The investigation uncovered DNA evidence linking the crime to a single suspect, leading to a breakthrough in the case.
Familial searching techniques were employed to identify biological relatives of the unknown DNA profile, ultimately leading to the apprehension of the perpetrator.
What happened to Christopher Tapp?
Christopher Tapp, who was 20 years old at the time, was brought in for questioning and eventually confessed to Angie Dodge’s murder.
Despite the lack of physical evidence linking him to the crime scene, Tapp’s confession led to his wrongful conviction and a 30-year prison sentence.
After serving 20 years in prison, Tapp was fully exonerated in 2019 when the real perpetrator, Brian Leigh Dripps Sr., was identified and apprehended.
Following his release, Tapp pursued legal action against the city of Idaho Falls for the wrongful conviction and received a settlement of $11.4 million in June 2022.
Tragically, Tapp’s life came to a premature end in October 2023, when he was found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room, ruled as a homicide by the authorities.
He was 47 years old at the time of his death.
