An Idaho murder case from 1996 is coming under new scrutiny with the help of the Idaho Innocence Project. On Friday, Aug. 24, NBC-Dateline will air “The Confession. A mother fights to free the man convicted in her daughter’s murder.”
The Emmy award winning program will showcase an all new one-hour special about Angie Dodge’s murder in her Idaho Falls apartment and the confession of Chris Tapp, who currently is serving a sentence of 25 years to life for the crime. The show airs at 9 p.m. on KTVB Channel 7.
The Idaho Innocence Project believes that Tapp is innocent. Biology and criminal justice professor Greg Hampikian is working on DNA aspects of the case, which is being handled by Rick Visser, IIP assistant director and staff attorney. Several Boise State students also have assisted in research and investigation.
I was curious as to why more investigation has not been done on the “unknown” (killer’s) DNA! If it is indeed similiar the victim, why have male family members’ DNA not been tested? Horrible as it may be, incest does happen / on her call to her mother shortly before her death: “I’ve done something stupid”… may have been the start of a confession to such. It is not inconceivable that the murder was as a coverup. As well as the Dateline story/case was presented, it would have been good to know if this angle was pursued, (with such obvious DNA) and/or subsequently dismissed and what were the conclusions?
The way Dateline set up the case, I was expecting a surprise, so I went looking for one as I watched. Questions that came up for me: Did the detective also know the victim as well as the accused from his work as a school resource officer?, He was a young married man with children at the time. Was there any relationship between the victim, that might have been related to the victim’s confession, “‘I’ve done something really stupid.” Did anyone note the body language of the Mayor(det) as HE was being interviewed? He looked very uncomfortable. Was the then det. the only one who actually was in the room when the accused visited the crime scene for “recall purposes?” Did anyone notice that Mayor’s wife appears to be a large blonde woman, as was the victim? Just the creative process, enhancing the story I”m sure!
False Evidence Appearing Real! Also, speculation, not fact.
To Fay Livings post Sept 3, 2012, 9:23pm
Howdy
What is your source for “Did anyone notice that Mayor’s wife appears to be a large blonde woman, as was the victim?”
Thanks, Lyman
i want to thank you guys at the innocence project for helping n chris’s case. i also wanted to expres to u guys that I hope chris knows/feels that he has many people who knew him then who have never stopped believing in him. spending time talking with friends who care about him its funny what keeps coming up. with the girls its always his hugs. chin up and hang in there.
Test DNA on that detective the major with the suddenly funky memory. He’s guilty. Fuhriman is the guilty man.
What expert/professional investigator made the crime scene investigation?
How much time was spent investigating the scene, inside and out?
When was the crime scene turned over to the landlord?
Was all semen/pubic hair collected at the scene and from the victim the same donor?
Lyman
Of course the mayor says he’s guilty. He doesn’t want egg on his face. So instead of making himself look bad by admitting you coerced a confession out of an innocent man you say he’s guilty
I am sickened that they threw out the 20 hours of “questioning” WHAT??? This is beyond a classic false confession, I’m disgusted that they offered up all the crime facts to “jog his memory”. This was clearly a single offender, sexually motivated crime (very similar to the BTK killer). wow, the cops managed to destroy more lives than the real murderer!!!
Why is this chris not free yet and all this dna evidence is pointing to some killer that could still be out here in idaho thats scary!
Jared Fuhriman is completely without any intellectual depth. As a former detective he is a national disgrace. Idaho Fallls should be embarrased to have him as a janitor, let alone a mayor. He’s dispicable. He couldn’t find a murderer if he had a 8X10 photo of the killer. He couln’t get a real confession out of a 3 year old.
He’s not even a man. He disgust me, and everone else who watched “The Confession” Ha! That’s no confession.
There’s a killer out there who killed a girl. And Idaho Falls has a moron of a former detective who is now mayor and is too smug to care. I want to puke.
Chris Tapp couldn’t be convicted in a banana republic.
Dump that creep and ride him out of town.
I’m furious.
Thank you innocents project. If it wasn’t for you many people like Chris would have no hope.
I can not agree anymore with all the supportive comments for Chris Tapp and the families involved. I am a life long friend of Chris’ and his voice until he is free and able to scream from the roof tops on his on. His support is heard from all of us on a daily basis. Your support is not going unheard. He thanks you and wishes each of you to continue your support and never give up on him and finding the real killer! WRITE TO IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO ANd/Or F.B.I. DEMAND ANSWERS SOMEBODY KNOWS THE TRUTH…IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO FIND A KILLER….HELP US TO FIND ANSWERS! Thank you so much for your support. ~Chris’ Voice
Let former detective now mayor Jared Fuhriman know what you think of him: mayor@idahofallsidaho.gov