According to Dateline, Kristene Chapa and her girlfriend were sexually assaulted and shot in the park. Continue reading the article to learn more about the case.
Dateline NBC has been sharing Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin’s story about the incident that occurred on June 22, 2012.
The lesbian couple was sexually assaulted and shot dead in the park. Don’t forget to watch the show on NBC and get more updates on the case, its hearing, and how it has affected the life of Kristene and her family.
Dateline: What Happened To Kristene Chapa?
Kristene Chapa is one of the victims of the 2012 double shooting in a Portland park. Though she managed to cheat death, she was completely paralyzed in her left side of the body.
The incident took place on the night of June 22, 2012, when the birdwatcher discovered the teenagers’ bodies lying on a Violet Andrews Park.
They were later discovered to be Mollie Olgin and her girlfriend Mary Kristene “Kris” Chapa. The couple who were just, 19 and 18 respectively, at that time, were reported to be sexually abused and shot in the head.
Olgin was confirmed to be dead at the scene, while Chapa magically survived. However, Chapa regained mobility on her left side only and helped police to arrest the man responsible for the crime.
Because of the brutality of the case and the involvement of the LGBTQ community, the incident has sparked widespread concern and popularity.
Is Kristene Chapa Attacker David Strickland In Jail?
The attacker of Kristene Chapa, David Strickland is still in jail. Although his attorney has filed an appeal to have his charges dismissed based on new evidence, the appeal was denied in January 2020.
Strickland was found guilty of Olgin’s death and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2016. However, in 2019, one of Strickland’s attorneys claimed that the crime was committed by a man from Nevada whose DNA was found at the scene.
His attorney filed an order requesting physical evidence, forensic records and results, jail phone calls, and recorded interviews with the other man.
The document also asks for the results of DNA testing on pubic hair found on Chapa’s body. According to Strickland’s lawyers, the results show that it belonged to the other man.
The DNA on the hair was matched to Dylan Spellman who was the primary suspect in the crime. However, in 2020, their request was denied and it was mentioned that the trial court’s decision is upheld by the court, according to Caller-Times.
Where Is Kristene Chapa Today?
Assault victim Kristene Chapa is a survivor, student, and writer as of today according to her Twitter bio. She is seen raising funds for her recovery through the GoFundMe page.
Her supporters have also compiled a TikTok video on Kristene Chapa & Mollie Olgin for inspiring donations.
However, she has not been seen active on Twitter since 2020. She frequently used the hashtag #ITakeBullets to remind the users what she and her friend have gone through.
Despite the fact that Chapa is still in rehabilitation and has had to live her life without using her left hand and arm, she writes that she is “performing well.”
According to Distractify, she still has issues with muscle tone on the left side of her body, severe migraine headaches, PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Meanwhile, she has been invited to join the Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement (SCLA), a national honor society.
We can follow her on Instagram, however, her account is private under the handle, @thesurvivor9.