How you can help solve the 1996 Angie Dodge murder
Have something to say? ADD A NEW POST!
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to the newsletter or RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
We are going to solve Idaho Falls‘ 1996 Angie Raye Dodge murder. This is an extremely ambitious goal, but solving this murder is vital for a local family to get closure, for our community to finally know what happened, and possibly to expose official misdeeds at that time. The stakes are high to solve the murder now, because the more time that passes the less likely folks will remember what happened.
Twelve years have passed since Angie Dodge’s brutal rape and murder, so every passing day reduces the chance to uncover what happened and solve this mystery. New details have been revealed by Carol Dodge, Angie’s mother, and it seems the Idaho Falls Police Department botched the murder investigation. Authorities may also have intentionally not pursued suspects because of narcotics informant relationships. IFPD blunders are part of this story, but I don’t want to solely focus on them because the main story is about Angie Dodge’s murder.
Carol Dodge observed her daughter’s murder mystery has never been picked up by a major media outlet. We see all the time on Oprah and other outlets how murder mysteries get re-enacted and an hour dedicated to airing the story nationwide. The hope is always that someone out there knows something and will be brave enough to finally come forward. If you know anyone who works at a major media outlet that produces this content, please contact them immediately and ask what needs to happen for Angie Dodge’s story to get aired.
Immediately after Angie’s murder, many possible suspects and witnesses were involved in drug business. Witnesses who knew some things may have been understandably reluctant to come forward with their information, possibly fearing prosecution or retribution. However, now twelve years have passed, we would hope most of those people are not involved with the same folks they were back then, and hopefully they now feel safer to share their information.
The following excerpt is reprinted with permission, and contains several details of Angie’s murder investigation which I had not heard before:
Mother still seeks closure of her daughter’s murder case
By Elizabeth Laden
…
[Angie Dodge] graduated from Idaho Falls High School with the class of 1995. In high school she participated in track, honor society, and the Renaissance Club, an organization honoring academic achievers. Her friends describe her as upbeat, outgoing, likable, and caring.
…
…she was raped and murdered in her Idaho Falls apartment on I Street, not far from the greenbelt, early in the morning of June 13, 1996. She was 18 years old.
…
…the one person convicted of the rape and murder is now claiming he was unjustly convicted and is asking for a new trial.
Christopher Tapp is serving a life sentence for the crimes, but claims in a civil suit that his attorney did not adequately represent him.
…
In a detailed, graphic, videotaped confession in January 1997, Tapp told police investigators he held Angie down while a man named Benjamin Hobbs and a person he knew only as “Mike,” raped her. Tapp told detective Jared Fuhriman, now the mayor of Idaho Falls, that Hobbs forced him to stab Angie. He also testified that Hobbs slit the young woman’s throat. Angie’s neck was nearly severed from her body.DNA evidence has not been linked to Hobbs, so Tapp was the only person charged in the crimes. District Judge Ted Wood sentenced him to 30 years to life in prison.
…
[Tapp is also trying to work a learning disability into his defense argument.]
…
[Mother Carol Dodge] says. “I want to know how my daughter died, who was there, why it happened.”
…
[Bonneville County Prosecutor Bruce] Pickett argued that the videotapes show that Tapp was aware of the seriousness of the charges he was facing, and knew his rights.Dodge says Tapp describes the murder and rape in horrific detail, so much so that any claims that he was repeating anything he had heard from another person cannot be true.
…
Also of great concern to Dodge is frustration with those who investigated the crime scene and interviewed witnesses. Idaho Falls police did the typical thing of first looking for suspects among family members. Dodge says this wasted valuable time.The Dodge family also charges that investigators did not handle all the physical evidence properly. For example, Dodge was given some items that were in her daughter’s apartment. She put them in storage, not having the heart to go through them. But after some time had passed, a friend helped Dodge open the storage containers. Dodge said they were shocked to find substantial physical evidence that demonstrated a violent act. Police were notified and an investigator cut some of this evidence from the items and claims to have taken it to a lab. Dodge has never heard the results.
Also puzzling is that the city of Idaho Falls claims it has no taped records of any 911 calls the night of the murder. Dodge says this means there is no evidence that Angie had tried to call for help.
Dodge is also angry that the crime scene was released within the 24-hour period after the discovery of Angie’s death. Reports state that Angie’s body was taken from the crime scene at 5:05 p. m. However. the chief of police released the crime scene shortly after 10 a.m. the following morning to the owner of the apartment building.
“Less than a 24-hour crime scene investigation on a brutal murder?” says Dodge.
The owner then called a cleaning and restoration service that painted the walls and removed the carpet. Dodge said she contacted this service and was told that investigators had not removed any pieces of the carpet. Knowing that the carpet could have held physical evidence, Dodge asked investigators why no samples were taken. She later learned that after she had called the investigators, they contacted the cleaning service to obtain a carpet sample, and the service said the carpet had been hauled to the landfill.
Dodge also said that the police department removed a wallet that was found in a shoebox taken from the crime scene at Angie’s apartment. However the wallet belonged to someone that a police department employee knew. This wallet was released to the owner’s father immediately. The young man was interviewed, and he claimed he had lost the wallet outdoors, he barely knew Angie, and she must have found it on the ground. Dodge questions the legality of releasing any evidences within the first 72 hours into a murder investigation.
Because Angie had known Tapp, although not well, and Tapp was in a circle of people who were known to have been playing around with drugs, Angie’s autopsy included a toxicology report. It was clean for drugs and alcohol. Although some may say Angie may have been involved in some risky behavior on a limited basis, it is more likely that she would have encouraged others to stop using drugs. Angie was an honor student and a hard worker with specific goals she hoped to achieve, Dodge notes.
However, some say Angie seemed troubled and withdrawn a week or so before her death. In fact the night Angie was murdered, Carol said, Angie came and visited with her for a few hours and Carol recalls those lasts moments of seeing Angie alive. Angie pulled out of the drive-way at 10:24 p. m. Carol will be forever grateful for her last words to Angie, which were, “I love you.”
During that visit, Angie told Carol she had “done something stupid,” Carol says. Carol replied that everyone does stupid things sometimes, and Angie replied that she had done something “really stupid.” Carol said she did not press her daughter for an explanation. She said Angie also told her she wanted to get out of town and planned to visit her father the next day. He was working in security at Colter Bay on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park.
Later, Carol learned that Angie had gone to Stucki’s Gas station after their visit, and Angie told a friend there that if she did not have to work the next morning at Beauty of all Seasons, she would leave right then, because she needed to get out of town. This was at 10:45 p. m. on June 12.
Dodge said some of Angie’s friends recalled that Angie seemed quiet and withdrawn at times during the two weeks before the murder.
Also not long before her death, Angie had taken a short plane trip out of Idaho Falls. What happened on that plane trip, and who else may have been involved in the trip, could be clues to solving the crimes, Dodge says. Dodge said an airport security person who knew Angie saw Angie at the airport shortly after 5 p. m. a week or two prior to her death, wearing a long skirt and Birkenstock sandals, carrying a backpack, and appearing to be happy. And, she saw Angie return that same night. Dodge said investigators never followed up on that plane trip, to her knowledge.
This is another reason why giving the case regional and national exposure could help. Maybe a flight attendant, airport worker, ticket salesperson, or other passenger remembers seeing Angie and knows the flight’s destination. Maybe they saw Angie with another person at the airport or on the plane.
Another concern is that there were tips that a confidential informer working with narcotics agents was part of Tapp’s crowd.
Idaho Falls investigators have often reported that they did not think drugs were involved in the case, or that the murder was premeditated. Dodge said she has always felt uncomfortable with this because the investigators know that some of the people Angie hung out with were involved with drugs. Angie’s anxiety prior to her murder also implies that she feared she was in danger.
In an early story on the case, the Post Register reports that one detective said the case is “frustrating because people who might have valuable information about the murder are in the local drug culture and are not likely to speak to police.” But then the detective went on to say he did not believe the murder was drug-related.
Investigators interviewed around 200 people, once they got through with the family, said Dodge. These included Angie’s friends and strangers who hung out in the neighborhood and on the greenbelt.
More than 75 DNA samples were taken from people who were interviewed. In 2007, a Florida laboratory determined that whoever raped Angie was 96 percent Caucasian and 4 percent Asian.
When the DNA results were announced, Detective Capt. Roger Smart of the Idaho Falls Police Department said, “It is basically a cold case, but it is not a closed case. We run down every piece of information we get.”
Benjamin Hobbs — the man Tapp says slit Angie’s throat — has never admitted any role in the rape and murder. Hobbs is in prison in Ely, NV. for first degree kidnapping, sexual assault, and battery with a deadly weapon committed in January 1997 on a young woman from Nevada. Hobbs is originally from Las Vegas Nevada, and lived in Idaho Falls at the time of Angie’s death.
Again, because of the lack of regional and national exposure to the case, someone may be out there who knew Hobbs before he was arrested for the Nevada crime and could link him to Angie’s murder.
Dodge said it has also been difficult to accept that in June, 2001, Bonneville County Prosecutor Kipp Manwaring decided to not pursue an accessory charge against Jeremy Sargis, formerly of Idaho Falls.
Sargis faced the accessory charge in 1997 after he was accused of withholding information about Dodge’ s murder from authorities. The charge was dismissed after Manwaring said he would seek the charge again at the end of convicted murderer Christopher Tapp’ s court hearings, according to court records.
Sargis testified at Tapp’ s 1997 preliminary hearing on murder and rape charges, but he pleaded the Fifth Amendment when asked questions.
Dodge was found dead in her bedroom by a co-worker from the Beauty For All Seasons company, who was concerned that she had not come to work. There was no sign of forced entry into the apartment. There were signs of a short struggle. Dodge’s landlady, who lives downstairs, told police she did not hear anything unusual Wednesday night, just a stereo playing in the early evening.
Angie had moved into the apartment around a month before her death, and had no roommates.
Until just before her death, she worked part-time at Stucki’s, and then at Beauty For All Seasons.
In the early days of the investigation, some of Angie’s friends said Angie had learned that her then-boyfriend, Christian Grebstad, had been in touch with an ex-girlfriend.
Grebstad had dated Angie for around six weeks, until just before her murder, and was reported in a Post Register story as having said he’s “still in shock” about her death. The relationship ended when Angie found a letter Grebstad had written to his ex-girlfriend and got the wrong impression, he said.
The Dodge family have created a website dedicated to Angie Dodge, on which they state their appeal to the Idaho Falls Police Department. Their appeal consists of opening Angie’s case “for outside investigation by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI or any other organization who may be able take a fresh look at her case and help to solve it”, “investigate areas above and beyond the Christopher Tapp version of what happened”, and “allow Angie’s family the same access to Angie’s file as the local news paper and others have had”. Does this seem unreasonable, since the IFPD has seemingly been stuck for twelve years on this important case?
Getting down to business: Did you live on around Angie Dodge’s I Street apartment in that summer of 1996? Did you know Angie Dodge in any way? Did you hear anyone talking about Angie Dodge? Did you know Christopher Tapp or Benjamin Hobbs or Jeremy Sargis or Christian Grebstad? Did you know who Christopher Tapp or Benjamin Hobbs or Jeremy Sargis or Christian Grebstad hung out with? Did you hang out with any of them, or did you hang out with people who hung out with them? Did you ever see them at a party? Please feel free to state people’s names and relationships, even if you do not think they are a realistic suspect, because those names and relationships may not have been explored before, and they could be clues that lead to the truth.
Do you know anyone affiliated with a national program who could possibly get this story aired nationwide? If so, please share this story with them so Angie Dodge at least gets a fair chance at national exposure to solve her murder.
Do you think the Idaho Falls Police Department should ask an outside agency to investigate how the IFPD handled this investigation? Do you think the Dodge family should have the same access to Angie’s files as the Post Register had, and/or do you think the Post Register should share all their notes from that story with the Dodge family?
What do you think?
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Vote:
0 
0 Why after all these years, hasn’t this family hired a private investigator to look into this case? If the IFPD bungled so much of the evidence and this investigatio in general, that should have been their first clue that they needed to hire someone from the outside to look into this case. They can’t expect the FBI to just pick up a random murder case, not when their are tens of thousands of random unsolved murder cases throughout the country.
Good luck to the Dodge family. Hopefully they’ll get the break they need in this case.
Vote:
0 0 I would expect that even with training, brutal murder cases are not easily worked by a small town police department that gets fewer than 1 such case a year on average. I would expect many mistakes to be made, and most of them to be innocent ones, by the persons handling this case. I’m also aware that they are as human as the rest of us.
From the outside looking in as a non law enforcement individual, it’s easy to armchair detective and say that mistakes were clearly made. What would make me more impressed is if the police department themselves asked for an outside and independent investigation, with the expected outcome being some lessons learned that they can use when/if this happens again. But maybe they don’t dare do this, for fear of admission of liability and the inevitable lawsuit.
But I’d be hopeful they believed solving this case, or learning about mistakes they made and can now avoid in the future, was more important than avoiding a lawsuit.
4% Asian? That’s news to me. I wonder if such a small percentage is even noticeable in an individual? (Don’t cry racism, we all tend to carry some physical characteristics common to our heritage.)
One more thing. Is it possible that some knowlege was made available but prosecution was traded off, due to intel on other drug situations? Who was our dear prosecutor at the time?
Vote:
0 0 I’m a little confused here: the title of this blog refers to an “unsloved” crime, yet someone confessed and is serving a life sentence for the crime. . . is there reason to think this person was lying when he confessed to the rape and murder of this poor girl?
Vote:
0 0 There were at least two others involved. It is unsolved in that we are not sure who those two others were. Benjamin Hobbs has not admitted his role, and his DNA was not found at the scene (although you have to wonder if his DNA could have been found on that carpet or items that the IFPD missed). The third person is almost completely unknown.
Vote:
0 0 A few years ago this case was re-opened and investigated by IFPD and Bonneville County jointly. Asking for an outside agency to give a hand and maybe a different opinion has already happened. So now I guess we will hear that Bonn Co is too close to IFPD for this to have been a fair and impartial examination of the case.
I’ll just say that for now. No sense in throwing too much out there at one time.
Vote:
0 0 Um, More of the story #6, you stole my argument! 
I do think the Sheriff’s Department is too close to the situation to help the IFPD do a good review. Many of local law enforcement staff were either trained by the same people, or worked with the same people, and maybe even worked for the same agency before switching over (lots of that happens, I’m told) so there’s bound to be similar approaches (and therefore something that might stand out to an outsider would be accepted as SOP here).
I wasn’t looking for blame, I was looking for some insight on better ways to handle this situation. Someone from the outside might be able to have a fresh eye on the investigative techniques and could provide some beneficial tips for the locals to consider the next time they encounter this type of situation. I don’t think an outside review would solve this case, but it might provide ideas to use when the next case happens.
Even if I didn’t advertise that I was doing it, I think I’d want to invite this look just to help out my department for future cases.
Vote:
0 0 And it’s established fact that many BCSO end up working for IFPD, so it’s difficult to imagine they want to step on IFPD toes.
When did BCSO jointly investigate, and what actually happened? Was BCSO asked to check some locations in the county, or was BCSO asked to review the entire case for places the IFPD may have missed and make recommendations?
Vote:
0 0 Joe, actually the entire case was reviewed all over again. Also, either ISP, or someone else was on board as well, can’t remember who.
Looking back on this posting, I think it is just going to end up like all the other posts dealing with IFPD, where people either glorify them or castrate them. I don’t think that is the actual intent here. I think it was written more as a way to develop new leads, not argue the merits of what’s been done in the past. That way lies madness.
I don’t think posting all of Carol Dodge’s complaints was really fair. She has an agenda, and while it may be a justified agenda in her mind, we all know that that kind of thing can screw with you. Yes, the IFPD made mistakes, but that is done and gone. You can’t fix it. They also did a lot of good work too, despite Carols accusations. Some of those accusations are flat out wrong by the way. If you read above, some of them actually stick out on their own.
I feel Joe should have spent more time on this piece in helping to develop information for leads than repeating Carol’s accusations and tearing down the cops. It’s just going to lead to more of the same-ol-same-ol that goes on here all the time.
I really would like to see some new leads on this case. Someone really butchered this girl and they need to be caught. But no outside agency is really going to find anything buried in the old IFPD files. It will take new information to really get any where with this.
Vote:
0 0 I’m going to make one more comment on this side issue and then give up, because I don’t think I’m making myself clear and it’s not really germane to the post, which was created to try to find out who killed this young woman.
I think the outside agency would not develop any new clues or reinterpret any old evidence for this particular case. But I do believe mistakes were made (from what I’ve read), and that’s where an outside agency could be of use…they could point out, “in this situation, you’d have been better served by doing x instead of y” or ” you missed out on this potential evidence when you forgot to do this”.
Nothing that could help Angie’s case but as it seems some missteps were made in this case, an outside observer would be able to point them out better than someone close at hand who might have done the same thing due to similar training. That kind of insight could help with the next murder investigation. If I were a police chief I might welcome the extra training for my investigators. (And who knows, maybe all their decisions would be validated, which would be good to know, too.)
Now. I’ll drop that issue for the remainder of these comments, and let the rest of the comments focus on new leads or possible evidence to help the local police solve this horrible crime. I did not mean to create a threadjack here.
Vote:
0 0 If one of the killers was involved in this circle of people as a confidential informant, would he be given up by his handler to face the consequences of this crime or would he be protected so that he could continue to assist the narcotics agents? I can hear both sides of the argument now. Being an informant is not an excuse/pass for criminal behavior (although it happens all the time) or what’s done is done and giving up a valuable informant won’t bring Ms. Dodge back now. Nemesis may have a bigger point than he realizes. If an informant was involved, an outside agency would have no vested interest in protecting him/her, only in solving the crime.
Didn’t a national news show want to do this story a few years back and Chief Livesey refused to give permission to view the file as it was an ongoing investigation?
Vote:
0 0 The original article asks why no national media covered this story. I don’t intend this to sound mean from a personal standpoint but the simple truth is that murders happen every single day and quite simply there is nothing about Angie Dodge’s case which makes it stand out from the rest. Rape / murders happen every day somewhere in this country. And Angie’s is very ordinary and average. There just quite simply isn’t anything about the case that is unusual or spectacular in a media sense to make it stand out compared to the rest. And its 12 years old to boot.
To be honest if any case in this area deserves more attention I’d say its the Tonya Teske case which I imagine most of you have probably forgotten about. Tonya is the girl whose body was found dumped along US 20 just outside Idaho Falls. Its never been solved either.
Vote:
0 0 Was Tonya the runaway whose body was dumped at the Ucon off-ramp on US 20?
Vote:
0 0 yes
Vote:
0 0 I disagree, the unexplained plane trip a week earlier, the warning sign of Angie saying she did something stupid, the warning sign of her saying she would get out of town immediately if she did not have to work the next morning, at least three guys involved but only one admitted it, one guy completely out on the loose no idea who he is, the police messing up the investigation by not collecting the carpet samples and other clues, the possibility suspects or people who knew the suspects were involved in undercover narcotics operations?
I’ve seen plenty re-enactments that didn’t come close the “interesting” aspects (if that is not too vulgar a term) of this case. Plus they seem to always depict the pretty young blonde girls anyways, so should Angie be excluded?
If you know remember your son or daughter went to school with or worked with or hung out with these people for awhile back then, call them up and ask them about it, try to get more information and comment it here.
Vote:
0 0 Here’s my uninformed theory after reading about and talking with friends about Angie’s case for 12 years.
I don’t think Angie was doing drugs herself, the toxicology report found no drugs or alcohol in her. Metabolism and such create different factors, but anyone know generally how long a time period back they can detect drugs (like if drugs were taken a week before, or a month before?)
I think Angie did get mad about her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, and I think she did something like threaten to kick her butt or talked spit about the girl at a party, the word got around to the ex-girlfriend, and this ex-girlfriend probably had a posse of homies who were hopped up on drugs and aggression. When they heard of a “preppy girl” dissing one of their own, they made some threats of their own, either in person or over the phone, and Angie realized she had run her mouth and probably should not have.
Then I think those three guys went over to rough her up, and while roughing her up they had her pinned down and decided to rape her, and after raping her decided to cut her throat, probably realizing they were getting in deeper trouble and not wanting to get caught. They probably spent some time in the apartment cleaning up after themselves to get rid of as much evidence as possible.
That’s just my theory at least, but if true it means others in their posse of friends would have certainly heard them talking about going to “get that girl” beforehand, probably a couple days beforehand.
Does anyone know the exact I-street address of Angie’s apartment? Is it one of those buildings around the corner from Midget Market?
Vote:
0 0 El Diablo, although I agree that there are murders every day around the world, doesn’t the handling of this case sound rather like the Ramsey case in Colorado? Look at the media coverage on that one. I would imagine it would be difficult despite all the training for our local officers to know exactly how to handle a murder case as we all know book-learning and hands-on are two entirely different things. Thankfully we don’t have many murders here. Some of that would be due to our community make-up in general and some of that is to be credited to the police for doing a good job of detecting and defusing problems before they escalate to that point. I lived outside the area for a few years and was appalled at the local attitude in those areas towards this kind of violence. It was so every-day to them. It was good to come home.
I agree with Joe. I think someone out there in our community has the key to this mystery and I believe Carol has the right to some closure. I cannot even imagine the burden she bears not knowing who did this to her darling child. God bless her and let’s hope we find the answers she seeks and that she gets some small comfort at the very least from our efforts to help her.
Vote:
0 0 I agree with Another Guest on this one. And Joe, given what’s been written here and what I remember, I think this is a reasonable assumption.
It also seems to me, that given the fact that Tapp obviously did not act alone, he knows the others who were part of this. And it seems that as long as he’s not willing to cooperate by giving up those names, he should have the book thrown at him in every way possible. No quarter.
Vote:
0 0 Everybody watch Judge Joel Tingey give Tapp a new trial. Remember Tingey is a liberal judge we have been commenting about his light sentences on sexual offenders. I suspect the decision will be coming down in a few weeks.
On another front, Hobbs was on felony probation at the time of the murder. He had taken off and stopped reporting. Perhaps the Correction records should be scowered by police to tie any associations or references in the files. Perhaps Hobbs went to treatment or counseling with some of the suspects or friends of the suspects. These guys meet and start hanging out together. It is all about establishing relationships and examining the circle of friends here to arrive at a pool of suspects or persons that can lead an investigator to more suspects. From my understanding, the police never checked this angle out either.
Vote:
0 0 Joe:
Thank you for your support, your time and your efforts in helping to put the Island Park news story on your website regarding Angie’s murder.
I am so thankful for you and your efforts.
I would love to talk to you if you have some time.
Please call me:
***-**** (Cell)
***-**** (Home)
Again thank you,and then a million Thank you’s for your kindness,support and concern.
Carol Dodge
Vote:
0 0 From The Island Park News 2008-03-28
Mountain Views
The tragedy of unsolved crimes
We are committed to being a true local newspaper that also covers greater Yellowstone issues, so we seldom print stories about events outside Fremont County or Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks.
We made one of those rare exceptions by publishing the Angie Dodge story.
The story does have a small local angle. Stonegate resident Richard Nelson, a relative of Angie Dodge’s mom, Carol Nelson Dodge, told me about Angie’s case two years ago. Richard spoke with deep passion about Carol’s search for answers and closure. He reminded me of the case a few times after that until I finally visited the Angie Dodge Web site to learn more, and then contacted Carol to ask what I could do to help.
I was working in Hardin, Montana, when the murder took place and read the Billings Gazette every day. Although that paper covers regional news, we never saw a story about the Angie Dodge case. After we moved back to Island Park to start this paper, we read the Post Register from time to time, but apparently never when the paper printed an update of the story.
We then learned that the story has received little coverage beyond Idaho Falls. This is a travesty because crimes like the Angie Dodge murder can be solved when they have regional coverage. People in her circle and age group are often transient, and someone out there knows something. There are people or maybe just a person who can help break this case.
The Dodges have not had the network or other resources that people like Utahan Elizabeth Smart’s family were able to employ when Elizabeth went missing. If Elizabeth’s face and story had not been nationally published and kept in the news month after month she may not have been recognized and rescued.
And so we are helping by taking the first step - writing a story that will be used as the foundation of a television news story on the case.
Besides the need to cast a wider net to search for Angie’s killer or killers, there is something else that the Angie Dodge story shows us. Idaho is a fast growing state, and crime increases when communities grow. Although Bonneville County and Idaho Falls put considerable resources into the Angie Dodge case, more resources and better trained investigators could have been employed.
Anyone who reads the story in this paper about the other unsolved crimes in and near Idaho Falls will conclude that the community has too many cold cases.
Communities that embrace growth should have the money to pay for increased law enforcement and highly trained investigative staff and courts that can adequately handle addressing heinous felonies like murder and rape.
Fremont County’s jail is overcrowded, yet developments are being planned that will double the county’s population in a short time. Who will pay for a new jail, more law enforcement officers, and more court services?
Angie Dodge’s case is a tragedy that extends beyond the broken hearts her family and friends live with every day. It is a tragedy on a social, community level because the media and the criminal justice system, although they maybe worked as hard as they could, did not have the resources to solve the case and ensure that the story spread far beyond the Idaho Falls community.
It is never too late. Help spread the word about this unsolved crime that took away a young girl’s life. Please take the time to read Angie’s story and the summary of other cold cases. These are also available on line at http://www.IslandParkNews.net and http://www.HenrysForkCountry.com. Please copy the on line versions into your e-mail program and forward to everyone you know.
Elizabeth Laden
ipnews@mac.com
Vote:
0 0 Awesome write up Joe. Kudos. I have a suggestion/idea for anyone who reads this link and would like to try and help. I didn’t live here, but some of you did. Either way, let’s do this: Copy and paste the link to this article into a personal email to all of your associates, friends, etc. who did live in IF in 1996. Ask them to read it and forward it on to their contacts who were living here then. Then they can forward it, on and on. Say something like, if you have info, contact the IFPD or something like that.
Life experience and common sense tells me we all have connections, who have connections, who have more connections who will eventually link into someone who might know something. It’s won’t take but a few minutes to copy, paste, and email. Why not? If it was your daughter you would want all the help you could get.
P.S. Mrs. Dodge, did you see this story on dateline nbc a few weeks ago? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23592456/
It was about a family who had no idea who their father’s killer was. He was a respected Chicago doctor. The trail seemed cold, and what few clues they had, they created a myspace page about the murder, knowing the likely suspect was now part of the myspace generation. They found the killer but the story is not over yet, the French are trying to decide what to do with him. Might be an idea? Read it and see what you think. Good luck, from one mother to another.
Vote:
0 0 I don’t know about the whole email suggestion, but it couldn’t hurt for Mrs Dodge to try and contact Dateline with her story to see if they’d be interested in airing it. All they can do is say “no”. But if they say yes, that could make all the difference in the world.
Here’s their email….send them the facts about your case and ask if they can help. It’s worth a shot. dateline@nbcuni.com
Vote:
0 0 The Idaho Falls Police Department considers the Angie Dodge case active and will not release any files. This is making it difficult for Carl Dodge and me to get a national producer to agree to do the story - we have been working on this for a while now. Our next step is to petition the court to overrule IFPD’s decision. Surely some of the files can be released.
Thanks to all who are the sending story link.
Elizabeth
Vote:
0 0 Oh, for a case this old, to say it’s still “active” and therefore they won’t release files to a national news show and accept that extra kind of help seems a little suspect…
Unless, they REALLY have some hot new leads they are in the middle of, then I can see them not wanting to jeopardize anything.
Someone who knows insiders stuff on this, unless there’s something breaking now, why would it be unreasonable to release these records after all this time and ask for help?
Vote:
0 0 The IFPD’s position does not sound logical, I would like to hear from someone in their shop on this. Maybe they do have a logic to it that makes sense. However, why do other murder cases get files released sooner so national programs can do stories on them?
Does IFPD blocking this lend credence to the idea that a drug informant was involved?
Vote:
0 0 Hi Carol god bless you and Roger we all love you so much. Sorry about dad passing away. I hope you find the jerks responsible. does anyone know a guy who uses a st name of Panther?? I heard he might actualy know alot. But its all hear say unless someone actualy knows him.
Vote:
0 0 Not a cop again but I am good friends with an IFPD officer who wasn’t working for the IFPD at the time of the murder and as suchis in no way involved in the investigation but he did mention to me one time that he’s heard there have been 30 or so different people confess to the murder. There is nothing like an unsolved murder to bring out the attention seeking kooks. Thats why police in real life and on TV often hold back key pieces of evidence from the public so they can weed out the false confessions. Just a guess but that might be why they aren’t releasing the files.
Vote:
0 0 I doubt it….but like you said, “just a guess”.
Guess again I say. There’s something fishy going on and it stinks to high heaven. The records should be made available to the family after all these years. Period!
Vote:
0 0 Hey, 007, welcome back. I agree that something doesn’t seem to be right, here. The speculation about the informant is looking like more than speculation.
Vote:
0 0 I do know that what made Chris Tapp’s confession stand out from all the other confessions is that he accurately knew things about the murder scene that only the police knew. Thus his was judged to be real.
Vote:
0 0 Thanks Nemesis! Good to be back. Looks like I’ve got alot of “catching up” to do this weekend.
Take care & have a great wknd everyone!
Vote:
0 0 Once again this is turning into a dump on the police blog instead of actually trying to develop any leads. By the way, the IFPD currently has, and had during this case, several officers who have been to the FBI academy in Quantico Va, and other high profile criminal schools, just like other big city departments. It has nothing to do with the so called “small city inexperience” which has been alluded to. The IFPD made mistakes for sure. But so did the LAPD during OJ. So stop cop bashing and get to the point of this post which was to develop new leads. The police would love to solve this case just as badly as Mrs. Dodge would, there is no reason to accuse them otherwise. If they are withholding information then there is a reason, not some secret sinister plot to let killers roam free. Maybe someone would like to contact the new Chief and see if he may be willing to open up this case to others. I doubt anyone has actually discussed this with him yet.
Vote:
0 0 But conspiracy theories and police bashing are much more fun!
Well said Here We Go Again.
Vote:
0 0 Wouldn’t the IFPD be able to release copies of their files with the 2 or 3 key secret factors blacked out?
Vote:
0 0 To be quite honest I find it laughable and absurd that anyone would think the IFPD would sabotage an investigation for the sake of not outing a drug informant or whatever the conspiracy theory is.
I’m sure forensic mistakes were made. I’m sure that with 20/20 hindsight there are avenues of investigation that should have been taken differently back then. I’m sure this is true of any investigation by any police. And while criticizing the police back then, many of whom no longer work for the IFPD, may be warranted it doesn’t help solve the crime. All it does in fact is create a wall between current police and you guys because the police are going to look at this thread, see the police bashing, and think “here we go again” as the previous poster alluded to. To do anything productive with this thread except police bashing we need to stick with reality not absurd fantasy conspiracy theories.
Vote:
0 0 Here for example is a possible avenue of investigation for going forward. Who has the key to this investigation: Chris Tapp does. Obviously he isn’t talking though so he needs an incentive. Right now he is trying to get a new trial. Perhaps the best thing that could happen would be for him to get a new trial. Then perhaps the prosecutors could cut a deal with him - plead guilty to manslaughter, give us names that lead to an arrest, and we’ll recommend time served. Yes Tapp would probably be getting off easier than he should but better that than the others going free which is where we are at now. And since Tapp’s DNA apparently does not match that found on Angie’s body it sounds as if he was probably not the main bad guy of those who were there.
Vote:
0 0 Our community needs to wake up. Crime is running rapid in Idaho Falls.
Our community is sleeping, in denial and being fooled. The WAKE-UP call comes when YOU are a VICTIM of a violent crime or a VICTIM of the judicial corruption. Only then… your eyes are truly opened, and harsh reality smacks you in the face. It’s sad but true; the system will give you an education and hardcore lessons that you will never forget. Through out the past 11 years many individuals have suggested that the murder case of Angie Dodge needs National media attention. However, little does our community know… that the Angie Dodge murder case has an untold story! The police records in the Dodge murder case are not accessible to anyone outside the law enforcement department. A national media entity needs access to police records and that will never happen. The former Idaho Falls police chief made sure of that. According to the Idaho Statistics register the Angie Dodge murder is listed as a solved case. However, the City of Idaho Falls classifies the case as unsolved and no one can access the records in an open investigation. Christopher Tapp was convicted in 1997 by his confession only, there is no physical evidence linking Tapp to the murder of Angie Dodge. The case remains unsolved because of an unidentified DNA found at the crime scene, which has never been matched to anyone. WHY?…. because, Christopher Tapp will not give up the true identity of the other people involved. In TAPP’S confession he implicated that Benjamin Hobbs slit Dodge’s throat and that Jeremy Sargis raped Dodge before and after her death. However, Hobbs and Sargis were never charged with murder because their DNA did not match either. December 1996 - Ben Hobbs was arrested in Ely, NV for assault and rape of a Nevada woman. Hobbs was convicted and is now serving time at a Nevada prison. January 1997- Jeremy Sargis and Tapp were both arrested for being an accessory to a felony in the Dodge murder case. However, the case against Sargis was quickly dismissed and his records were sealed by the courts. The accessory charges against Tapp were also dismissed but Tapp was then charged with First degree murder and rape of Angie Dodge. Sargis pleaded the Fifth Amendment at Tapp’s trial. The scale of justice was out of balance. Within the Idaho Constitution a VICTIM has few constitutional rights, but the CRIMINAL on the other hand has many rights. Within the Federal constitution the VICTIM has no rights at all, while the CRIMINMAL is given an abundance of federal rights. Very few people lobby for changes in Crime Laws. The laws are in desperate need of change because the laws were written decades ago for the crimes of those times. The crimes committed in today’s world are punished by old laws. However, the out cry for change falls on deaf ears when the evil dollar has more value than a man’s integrity and honor. It is time our community stands together and demand answers from our elected city leaders, including elected county commissioners who consistently divert justice and deny funding for law enforcement training, equipment, and adequate police staffing that is desperately needed in our community. In closing, shame on the elected City and County officials for turning their backs on all the unsolved crimes in our community and shame on former Idaho Falls Police Chief and fellow-officers for the spiteful actions and words towards survivors of horrific crimes.
IT IS TIME TO VOTE FOR NEW CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS….WHO HAVE HONOR AND INTEGRITY. Politics and Religion are a horrible combination; it plunders all honor and integrity to nonexistence.
Vote:
0 0 I don’t know what post SOME of you are reading, but I haven’t seen anybody “bash” any cops here. All some of us are saying is “why won’t they at least let the family see all the evidence and files regarding this case”???? There’s no reason for it, period! So if some of you want to call that “cop bashing”, than I’ll say it to your face……I’m a HUGE “cop basher”!
I’m sure if this was YOUR child, you’d feel the same way. But obviously you feel that surpressing evidence is just fine and dandy for the local police force. Perhaps you have some cop friends and are a little sensitive to the issue or perhaps you are a cop yourself and the truth hurts. (it often does in debates like this)
Vote:
0 0 Wow, well said Open Minded!
I don’t think this is about cop bashing, however I do think many of the cops on this site are way too sensitive.
Joe, good for you for doing this, so many people are haunted by this case. I also heard (from very reliable sources) that the investigation was not handled properly, I.F. just didn’t have the know how.
What has always bothered me about the infamous “mike” is that there was never a description of him. Has anyone ever heard other wise? Considering most crimes are solved by citizen input not police investigation, withholding that info seems stupid.
Vote:
0 0 I had to self censor my comments about 3 times because I kept getting too snarky and that doesn’t further the debate, it only inflames others who are already looking for a fight.
We do question things that seem very weird, untoward, and out of the realm of realistic expectations. That questioning arises out of information contained in other comments, and I agree it is a kind of threadjack to the “who has information to help solve this murder” point of this post.
To suggest about the questions ” All it does in fact is create a wall between current police and you guys because the police are going to look at this thread, see the police bashing, and think “here we go again” as the previous poster alluded to.” doesn’t give credit to the good people on the force who realize that outsiders like most of us would be confused by what we’re reading, and would be genuinely interested in knowing what’s really going on.
After all, isn’t that what they have a spokesperson for? Couldn’t someone enlighten us without telling us we’re bad people for asking these questions and raising these concerns?
Maybe, when threads get hijacked like this, we should have a link that we can go to, to express our questions and concerns. That way, the actual post and comments following are on point and people don’t have to wade through all the off topic stuff if they don’t want to…
Joe? Can that be done here, since the off topic stuff is a valid concern, but not germane to the actual post?
Vote:
0 0 On of the main reasons the IFPD may be sensitive to releasing information could be due to Carol Dodge herself. When this investigation first came about, Carol was kept well informed of all leads and information that the IFPD came across. Because the police were not arresting people left and right to Carol’s satisfaction, she began to go out and badger and harass witnesses, suspects, and anyone else she could associate with this crime. Pretty soon people began to stop cooperating. Also, she began to stalk people and yes, even cops in the city. She would accost officers who were taking calls in an area where she was doing her “surveillance” while the officers were in the middle of other crime investigations. After a while she became a thorn in every one’s side.
Now I know some of you will say it is her right to do these things given what happened to her child, and you may be right. You may also wish to then ignore the fact that by her own behavior, Carol Dodge may have inadvertently scared off or p*ssed off a lot of people who could have helped her and the police solve this crime. In the end, the IFPD felt it was better to cut off their information to Carol, than continue to detail to her any leads that she might then interfere with. I’m sorry it happened but that’s thee way things go sometimes.
Now with a new Chief, maybe IFPD would be more interested in getting some outside help. Due to the actions mentioned above, many people involved have left this area and national coverage may reach some of those who are now gone. They might feel more secure in giving information now than they did back then. Some may not even know the investigation is still active. I absolutely support a national outlet covering this case.
In the end I could really care less about Carol Dodge or the IFPD on this issue. What I care about more is that Angie Dodge was brutally murdered and I have never felt the true killers and their accomplices were held accountable for this crime. But if we are to help in solving it then all the facts, no matter how unpleasant need to be thrown out on the table, and not just one slanted view of things.
Vote:
0 0 Still doesn’t answer my question, was there ever a description of Mike.
Vote:
0 0 Nemesis: yeah I’ve thought of scenarios for that, but there are big obstacles to make work, and to explain it would threadjack it more! 8^) I’m not too concerned, conversations meander and sometimes the off-topic comments on old stories actually regenerate the original discussions.
guest22: I’ve also wondered if there was ever a description of Mike, the person Tapp identified as being there. Maybe that description is one of the clues the cops are keeping secret so they can weed out the egomaniacs? It seems difficult to get the public to help though.
Someone wrote that Jeremy Sargis was involved in the murder? I thought he was just a person of interest? Where did you get that information?
For the cops, I hear your concerns about more cop-bashing, but what are we supposed to do? If nobody talks about this case or tries to help, we have twelve years of unsolved murder. If we try to get involved and help, we get accused of cop-bashing. Is there a boundary you could help define for us, or at least give us some directions to go?
Vote:
0 0 Wow. Good info #42, and I can totally see Carol’s point of view, as a mother trying to get some justice.
But as an outsider I can also see why it would really create problems for the police, too (if there was a genuine effort being made by the police to solve this case, her actions could be a hindrance).
Joe, thanks for the explanation about side threads, too. I’m okay when things stray a bit (obviously, as I participate!) but I thought the persons who had the complaint had a valid point.
It’s possible that someone who doesn’t realize they have some information might get bogged down in all the side issues and stop reading. (The implication being that had they continued on, something later might have jogged their memories…)
Vote:
0 0 I don’t think the appropriate term for the case is “active”. It seems “actively stagnant” or “actively going nowhere” is better.
Therefore, national attention and new ideas for exposure is altogether appropriate more than a decade later! I wonder if the young IF mother who is still missing, who left the infant at home alone, is still considered “active”. Perhaps the IFPD needs to lay down a few egos and think out of the box on these two cases. Clearing homicides will only help them at this point. Look at all the recent media attention Pocatello PD has been giving their unsolved female homicides from the 1980’s over the last year. The have willingly participated in newspaper and local tv exposure. Why is IFPD so close lipped? Suspicious. I do understand case loads may be tight now, but have they considered a one time national media blitz on the two?
This is only one of many articles on the Pocatello girls. Investigators are still actively having summits and meetings and interviewing people. Is IFPD doing this much, or are both cases effectively filed?
http://www.idahostatejournal.com/articles/2007/01/20/news/local/news02.txt
Vote:
0 0 Comment #42…. ALONG FOR THE RIDE
It must have been a rough and spiteful ride for you this past nearly 12 years.
Wow! I can’t imagine anyone being so important that they are chosen by the IFPD to be there just for the ride on a brutal murder case. What a profound pitiless statement you have made regarding Carol Dodge, the mother of a brutally murdered child.
My your observation of the ride cuts deep into a soul. I must ask you!! When you were there for the ride, did you also walk in Carol Dodge’s shoes and take the pain away from her even for a moment? DID YOU CARE LESS back then too?
If she became the thorn in your side,
WHAT DID YOU BECOME?
“Quotes from your statement”…
1. In the END, the IFPD felt it was better..etc.
2. In the END I could really care less about Carol Dodge or the IFPD on this issue… ETC.
My question is! What END are you referring to?
I am not aware that there was an END.
Do you also care less… about the effect that your words have upon others; Everything that we say has a positive or negative impact. Although, you could care less… WE CARE! Even a small mustard seed can make a difference.
Vote:
0 0 TITLE CORRECTION
Comment # 42
WAS THERE FOR THE RIDE
Vote:
0 0 Anyone know the truth to this? I don’t how true this is but I’ve heard it more than once. I didn’t say anything before this because I can’t confirm it but post #42 dovetails with it. I fully admit this is all hearsay and I can in no way back it up so if I’m wrong I’m wrong. Story I hear is that Carol Dodge really screwed up the investigation in the early going. She apparently hadn’t been happy with the crowd that Angie was hanging out with and was trying to scare her away from it. One of the ways she tried to scare Angie straight was by leaving threatening anonymous notes to her daughter on her car. So when Angie gets murdered the IFPD jumped at the possible stalker angle and Carol didn’t admit it had been her doing it for several weeks thus forcing the investigators to start all over on the investigation.
Vote:
0 0 I also heard some of the same things that #49 is saying. I am willing to bet that one of the reasons that we aren’t hearing from Law Enforcement on this is because they are trying to spare Mrs. Dodge any additional pain and throwing stones doesn’t help anybody.
Vote:
0 0 All good possible ideas for why this investigation may have stalled. But again, does anyone know if they have any fresh leads they are working on?
Because unless they do, there should be no reason why a national news organization couldn’t take the pieces that the police can release publicly, and run with it to generate fresh leads, as they have in other stories.
People mention this “Mike” guy. I remembered that at the time I first heard the name I was wondering, was this Virginia’s son? But I had forgotten all that until I read the comment.
Seems to me that the popularity of those shows couldn’t hurt the investigation, and as someone mentioned above, could be combined with the investigation for the other missing young women.
Vote:
0 0 It disturbs me to read insinuations that Carol is to blame for the IFPD’s failure to solve the case. The IFPD should have pursued more than one idea or theory from the very start. Do you think IFPD released the scene so fast and let a cleaning service restore the apartment, removed a wallet from evidence, gave the family a container filled with physical evidence without testing it first, etc. because they thought a stalker was involved?
And how about their failure to investigate where Angie went on the airplane?
They did these thing and more for reasons we may never discover.
In all the murder and missing person cases I have written about that include a slow moving PD and things the Dodge family has had to deal with, the parents and other family members and even close friends involve themselves in the search for truth out of frustration.
Law enforcement officials have to remain detached from the emotional reactions these caring people so often have and stay on a professional path. In the Dodge family’s case, their reactions and criticism are justified.
This should be all about finding the rapists and killers.
Elizabeth Laden
Vote:
0 0 Reply to Comment 35.. We are filing a request in court for the files since IFPD sent us a letter refusing to provide them
Elizabeth at IslandParkNews.net
Vote:
0 0 Comment # 42- Was there for the ride
Several people called me after reading your comments on the blog. Your true identity was shared with me. Yes, you were there for the ride… I remember it very well.
Comment 43 - Guest 22
Chris Tapp’s describes “Mike” as being one of Ben Hobbs friends from the Vegas area. He is about 5’8”, 170#, medium built, dark hair.
Comment # 49 - El Diablo
Yes, I know the truth about the note left on Angie’s car. I was the author. In fact,the note was part of the conversation that Angie and I had the last time I saw her alive. The note had nothing to do with the crowd Angie was running with and it definitely was not written to scare her. The note was about someone Angie had been dating. Regarding your comment of the story you heard; Quote …. “Carol Dodge really screwed up the investigation in the early going”. FYI …When Angie was murdered IFPD immediately focused on the family. Within 72 hours DNA samples and finger prints were taken from the immediate family and Angie’s boyfriend. DNA results were back in the hands of IFPD 5 weeks later. The investigation started over when the DNA results did not match the family. IFPD had my finger prints 72 hours into the investigation. My prints were on the note? IFPD failed to give me an instruction book of their rules on do and don’t. Remember,I was labeled by IFPD as the“Crazy grieving mother” or known as the thorn as comment # 42 put it.
Comment # 51 - Nemesis
No, there are no fresh leads.
The name “Mike” is just a name Christopher Tapp through at the investigators when the DNA did not match Ben Hobbs or Jeremy Sargis.
By the way… who is Virginia?
Please call Detective Hoffman if you have information
Thanks to Elizabeth Laden at Island Park News.
The article has generated a lot of good things.
Vote:
0 0 We have created a blog on the Angie Dodge case at Blog Spot:
http://angiedodge.blogspot.com/
We have also created a Care2.com group
Unsolved murder of Angie Dodge
I invite you to join Care2.com and to then join the Angie Dodge group. Care2 is an awesome networking community. Much better than MySpace in my opinion and it has been around much longer.
Elizabeth
Vote:
0 0 I don’t have a problem that the police immediately looked into family members first. Thats simply good police work as statistically most murders are committed by a family member, neighbor, or so called friend. So the police would not have been doing their job if they not eliminated family first - imagine if the police in California had ignored family in the Lacy Peterson case and how everyone would howl if much later they had finally looked at family and considered Scott. Naturally that is going to upset the family but the police don’t work for the family, they work for Angie.
Vote:
0 0 Something else to consider about all the forensic evidence and possible lack thereof. This murder was in 1996. The world wasn’t like CSI back then and the real police world isn’t like it now. But especially not in 1996. For sure some things could have been collected and if there was a failure by the police at that time then I don’t defend that. But lets not forget that forensic technology has changed as much since 1996 as cell phone technology has changed - anyone remember those big shoe box phones people carried around that time?
Furthermore, did anyone read the recent Post Register articles about the time delays at the state forensic labs. The article talked about the Ruben Diaz case, he is the samarai sword attacker who just got sentenced last week. It took the state lab over TWO YEARS to get the results back to the IFPD on it. I doubt it was any better in 1996. So fingerprint and DNA evidence from anyone, including the family, wouldn’t have told investigators anything after collection - for instance the note on the car that has been brought up - as it would have been quite a while before it was determined whose fingerprints were on it.
My real point is that DNA and forensic evidence are useless if they don’t match anyone and matching could take months or years. So of course in the case of a true who-dunnit the police are going to start the investigation with those close to Angie, including family, and work their way out.
Vote:
0 0 live free: In post #27 you ask about someone who goes by the st name “panther”. Yes there is someone around that is known as “panther”. His mother named him William I believe, and he DJs around town. I know that he DJs at Ford’s Bar occasionally and is known to hang out at the local restaurants for coffee with his friends. Most of the wait staff woudl know who he is even if they do not know his given name.
Vote:
0 0 Would William be William Alan Fountain? Fountain has a criminal record in Bonneville County and hung out with the drug crowd back then.
Vote:
0 0 Also, the police should checkout Deborah Elaine Rogers. She was in with the drug crowd about then and suprisingly looked alot like Angie. I always suspected she knew alot about this group.
Vote:
0 0 I can’t believe any DECENT human being would stoop so low as to insult Carol Dodge. I can’t imagine a worst nightmare than what she goes through. I’d go crazy too, the fact that someone who raped and murdered my child was free….
Vote:
0 0 Post #59: No it is not William Fountain. I happen to know who he is, not a friend, but know who he it.
The person I am talking about had shoulder lenghth hair and often wore a trench coat, fingerless gloves and a large brimmed hat. Some said he looked like the professional wrestler “Undertaker”, but that was a while back.
Vote:
0 0 And remeber, I said he DJ’s around town (I know for a fact he has been at Ford’s bar recently) and William Fountain works at the Toyota dealer (last time I saw him a couple of years ago).
Vote:
0 0 This is in response to the comment about 1996. I have sent my file on Angie’s case to the person who fact checked my novel on abortion clinic terrorism, Angels of the Unborn, who is retired FBI, and to two working CSI’s. You do not just gather and catalog and PROTECT evidence for lab reports. You do it because it tells a story. Maybe the first few reads do not produce any leads. You keep reading. You protect and take care of the evidence to honor the victim.
All three of the people I contacted for help are experts who have dealt extensively with violent crimes. All have critical things to say about how the evidence was handled and say it has nothing to do with the year the crimes were committed.
Also, DNA analysis had been around for quite some time, although the length of time for the tests to return has been shortened.
Far more difficult crimes have been solved than this in our nation’s history. One factor that breeds success is a focused and devoted police department working hand in hand with a well trained, focused crime reporter in at least one media outlet.
I have to challenge the “small town” excuse. It does not matter. My grandfather was a detective in a small town in New York that even now is still smaller than Idaho Falls is today. He solved all kinds of cases that at first seemed impossible. I grew up hearing about how he would leave town for days in search of killers until he found them. And he often “partnered” with reporters at the morning and evening papers.
It’s all about PASSION. I believe anything can be accomplished if people have fortitude and passion. Carol Dodge has both - she needs our support and she needs others who share her passion and fortitude.
If we make excuses for law enforcement, we say we accept mediocrity. We make it part of our community. Let’s not do that!
Vote:
0 0 Sorry- I forgot to sign the above post.
Elizabeth Laden
Island Park News
Vote:
0 0 well I would really like to see the police go test his DNA.
Vote:
0 0 [edited by site admin]
Vote:
0 0 Did someone already comment about the family having DNA checked? I see that Roger has had a few run in’s with the law including battery, disturbing the peace, and indecent exposure (all convictions). Did anyone look at him as a suspect? …
Vote:
0 0 [edited by site admin]
Vote:
0 0 RESPONSE TO COMMENT # 67-68-69
Is it necessary for some you to be so cruel?
Who are you to make such cruel statements and judgment of Roger?
Roger has suffered enough pain in his life.
Roger just returned from a one year tour in Iraq.
The US Government did an extensive background check on him before he deployed. There is no way that the OUR government would allow anyone into a foreign county with the issues that YOU are claiming to know so much about. Further more, this blog was created to help find the killers of Angie Dodge. It is not for you to bash
the Dodge family. To answer your question about DNA, every member of the Dodge family’s DNA….. DID NOT MATCH!!!!!!!!!!
Clean your own doorstep off and check your own skeletons in your closets.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH……
Vote:
0 0 Some folks have said they think comment #67 is threatening, what do you think? I do not read a direct threat on anyone, at worst it appears to be a vicarious, passive-aggressive thing, and being directed at Angie’s killers so I’m inclined to view it as more spouting off than an actual threat to kill whoever was/is responsible.
About the others, if it’s not facts related to this case I wouldn’t sweat it. People hold opinions and you can’t change that, just disagree and think to yourself what an idiot they are for muddying the waters of this discussion.
So what’s the status of this case and these files? I keep hearing different things. Is the case closed or open, active or inactive? Do these status’ truly impact the IFPD’s ability to release files for a national broadcast, or is an IFPD administrative decision? I liked the comments where people started hinting at people who knew people and hung around others back in that day, we need more of that to connect the dots.
And again I ask because there was no response, what is it the public is supposed to do? If we don’t talk about this we have 12+ years of unsolved murder. If we do talk about this cops get their feelings hurt because some cops made a few mistakes 12 years ago.
I held this article for a few days before publishing to make sure it came across correctly as a search for the truth rather than a cop bashing. What happened happened so the IFPD needs to get over that and let’s all move forward with what we can do now to solve this.
What’s the case status? Why won’t the files be released? What can the public do? What information does the police need help with?
Vote:
0 0 Joe- see RULE Number 4 of your own blog - you should remove the comments about Roger and others.
Also, you oughta read the blog- I have already stated that IFPD says the case is OPEN and therefore will NOT release the case files. I have already stated that we are appealing that decision to the court.
This and a lot of other discussions on this site have too many negative, cruel comments.
Elizabeth Laden
Island Park News
Vote:
0 0 Does Roger have a conviction record? Arrested for threatening someone at the river? If these are public records, Joe shouldt delete then. If no then do delete.
Vote:
0 0 This should not be about Roger Dodge and all the libelous and slanderous (depending on how you view what a blog is) comments about individuals - Roger and others- should be removed. Joe is not responding to the requests that the comments be removed.
Elizabeth Laden
Vote:
0 0 https://www.idcourts.us/repository/partySearch.do
Search for Roger Dodge fourth result convictions for battery and indecent exposure unless it is a different Roger Charles Dodge. Totally irrrelevant to the discussion of what happened to Angie but faacts are facts.
Are cases aired nationally all closed? Some must be open, how can htose be aired but this cant?
Vote:
0 0 Comment 67 states that he hopes [...]. If that’s not the portrayal of a violent act, I don’t know what is. Joe, you’ve edited much tamer comments in the past. This one seems quite violent to me.
Vote:
0 0 I just got in, let me take a minute and think here.
Vote:
0 0 Good points, I had not interpreted it that way, but I know I’m not the smartest cookie here so that’s why I ask others to point out what I’ve missed. Looking back over those comments you should see the worst information removed. The convictions are facts verified at the Idaho Courts website. I think they are irrelevant, and I think it was stupid to post it because it does not seem to help.
I did a quick search and see a couple other discussion-oriented sites where this case has been posted:
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/idaho-falls-id/T201J84M2HL4R2GRB
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=17382&pst=911962
That last one has a couple interesting “tips” I don’t know if they are facts, but alleging a Melissa Davidson may need to be questioned. Anyone know her?
Vote:
0 0 The battery conviction against Roger Dodge is relevant to the issue simply because the victim was Jeremy Sargis, at least I assume since I’ve heard he got arrested for beating up Jeremy. Knowing that though I think you can probably say the battery was a brother trying to take revenge on the guy he thought helped murder his sister. I can honestly say I probably would have done worse. And I think you can safely say it in no way means anything at all towards pointing to him as a possible suspect.
Vote:
0 0 The paint will not cover up the DNA someone can come in there and sample underneath the paint to get a sample, the missing carpet
doesn’t mean blood is not in the wood beneath where the carpet was.
The informer probably DEA knows plenty I would wager probably down to who did it any why, I would bet that she was in to drugs and the stupid thing she did was owe these people somehow. But this case is simple
you FIND the informant and nail his ass with obstruction of justice. I would not worry about the cops in the area from what I can gather
about half of them are probably owned by the local drug culture ( in the pocket) as a matter of fact the informant spoke of earlier would be able to give testimony of this and that is plenty grounds for
re opening the case on a basis of non cooperation/ criminal activity and bias.
This sounds less like a problem with evidence and more like a problem breaking through a local corrupt police system.
You need a lawyer with experience dealing with undercover police operations,if internal affairs is not involved an important question is why. I would fight for a change of venue as well on this case where as the drug dealers deal with an enormous amount of average citizens you have no idea who on the jury is on the local payroll.
Make sure both birds don’t get away. If she was found in her bedroom and there was no forced entry then they had to come from the inside out right? Did anyone ever think to ask who had a key?
Look you have media to use if the news networks don’t find it newsworthy then Youtube certainly will. Find every big city
Free Press magazine run by artist and college students I guarantee
you will get a hit somewhere.
Vote:
0 0 Her blood was already tested for drugs and came up clean….but it seems that you have all the answers and will probably solve this case in no time!
Vote:
0 0 Either that or a black helicopter will come and take him away.
Vote:
0 0 Could a cop have been the real killer? It would explain the mistakes since we know cops would cover for their own.
Vote:
0 0 Wow. Reopening this thread produced SO much of value. (Okay, boys, there’s my snarky sarcasm I usually try to avoid.)
I’m sorry, Anonymous #83, but even though I feel we should be open minded and allow for all angles to be discussed in these forums, I’m thinking your particular angle being voiced here gets us absolutely nowhere.
If that was in any way a possibility, would there be a doggone thing that we could do about it? Are you wondering if making that comment would generate an outside person’s interest, and then they could break through the blue wall and solve the case?
We already have such a bad rep with local law enforcement, who think we are anti-cop on this site.
Vote:
0 0 Ahh the beauty of free speech.
People are free to say anything they want, and other people are free to say that what was said came out of left field with no basis or merit. If anonymous has a legal theory besides “maybe it was a cop” I’d like to hear it, but without motive and suspect I don’t see it happening.
Vote:
0 0 Joe V.
Excellent Point. As a matter of fact that boils down to every comment on this site. I know I’m much more apt to beleive a comment when it has some factual proof that I can look up, rather than the good old corruption statement. I guess to me it seems the easy way out when you don’t have something to back your claim.
Vote:
0 0 Group Helping Convicted Killer Chris Tapp Prove His Innocence
From KPVI
Chris Tapp was convicted of the 1996 murder of Angie Dodge in Idaho Falls.
As Tapp continues to appeal his conviction, he’s now getting additional help to possibly set him free.
The Idaho Innocence Project, based on the campus of Boise State University, confirms it’s going to fight for Tapp’s innocence.
The Idaho Innocence Project is a fairly new organization to Idaho and it takes on cases of prison inmates who say they were convicted of a crime they did not commit. Innocence Projects across the country have given freedom to more than 180 men and women who all suffered false imprisonment and now, the project is taking on the case of Chris Tapp.
Some of the finest legal minds in the state offer free legal help for those they believe may be wrongly convicted.
Tapp is the only person serving prison time for Angie Dodge’s sexual assault and murder. Idaho Falls Police firmly believe Tapp was involved - but that he was not the only one.
DNA evidence taken from the crime scene 12 years ago doesn’t match Tapp, but is of another Caucasian male.
Idaho Innocence Project Director Doctor Greg Hampikian says the sample has not been subjected to modern DNA testing.
Dr. Greg Hampikian: “He’s (Tapp has) written to us with a claim of innocence. There’s evidence to test that could identify, at least possibly identify, the perpetrators of the sexual assault and that would help us fill in his story and investigate his claim of innocence and that means that there are probably at least people it looks like from the DNA who were involved in this crime who are still out in the community.”
Tapp’s attorney, John Stosich, says he’s been in communication with the Idaho Innocence Project and believes this new DNA testing is pertinent to his client’s post-conviction relief. As for Angie’s mother, Carole, she says Tapp’s videotaped confession proves he was there. She just wants the others who were involved to be brought to justice.
As far as Tapp’s post-conviction relief, we’re still awaiting a judge’s decision on whether Tapp could get a new trial. That decision could come at any time.
Vote:
0 0 Comment #67 was not a violent comment and I was only saying having a very close tie to the Dodges I know for a fact what Roger would do if he finds the guy first. I never once threatend I would do it. I have no way of proving that now because my comment was removed so I guess anyone can say anything they want now.
There are so many stories going around its real hard to determin any names or possible suspects. I have heard so many different things I would have to say 99% of it was BS. There is 1 fact I do know. I was with Angie earlier the day she was murdered and I did not notice anything unusual about her behavior I also know for a fact she wasnt using drugs and she was not having a baby. I miss her so much she was like a sister to me. She was dating this guy named Christain. She was so in love with him. Angie had a job and her own place and a nice car she was excited she had just started her life on her own. Then some jerks came along and ended it all. I hope the police find these creeps and put them away for ever. I will also say we saw Ben at Rigby lake a while after the murder and he did not seem different at all.
I was so devestated by the murder I did not even goto the funeral or viewing I could not take it. I was heart broken and very angry someone did that to her I was also scared for my life because we did not know who did it and the police had us down as prime suspects because we had been the closest of friends to her. My cousin was destroyed by the murder he was closer to Angie than I was. I am sorry people took my comment #67 wrong I woudl never say anything bad about Roger he is like a brother to me. I just know him well enough and know how bad he has suffered and I know for a fact he would be hard to stop if he found the guys who did it.
I could always tell some of the rumors we have heard I guess. ummmm
This one person told me this guy named John did it to her over drugs. I know that was false because she doesnt do any drugs and if she ever has it was only pot on a few occassions not enough to be involved with any dealers.
Another story was she got involved with a local cult that had summond an evil demon with a black top hat on his head that can apear from anywhere if he is spoken of and kill. They also said a guy who goes by Panther is the one who actualy wanted her dead and killed her. So far that was a dead ended story and nothing ever came of it.
this one gal named Kelly said she knew who did it but she wouldnt say and also suspected we tried to tape record her saying who it was.
I also heard Ben did it because Angie threatend to tell his woman that the had sexual contact and Ben flipped out and stabbed her then scared Tapp into doing it too and everyone else fled the scene. This sounds like it could be a possible story. I knew Angie had a big mouth sometimes and loved to spout it off till people get angry. I have even been in a few arguments with her over her mouth a few times lol she loved to gossip that is for sure. I alos heard Ben hobbs also raped and killed another gal in the same manor in Nevada and is serving a long sentence in prison. I have no idea if any of the stories are true or not.
1 time I was hanging out with a few freinds and this guy Rodney was there he worked at Mitchells truck stop diner on Iona road as a cook. He warned me not to ask who did it becuase he knew they would kill me. My freinds even heard him say he knew who it was and I better shut up and not ask around anymore or I could be next. I became angry and told him I will kick his Bu** he better tell me who it was!! He would not tell me anything and told me to leave the party.
The one guy with the dark hair in the sketches looks familiar I have seen this guy at many local parties in the past but after the murder he hasnt been around I wish I knew his name.
I wish if someone out there knew the real truth they would talk and let everyone know who it was or atleast call the detectives and tell them ASAP before they kill more people. I knew Tapp he is a panzy and is not capable of killing Angie alone someone made him do it he is a wimp and a scared person he has always been a wimp. I have chased him home from school many times and kicked his rear. Christopher Tapp is not a cold blooded murdering type he is the save his own life do what he is told I am not a hero type. I also think Jeremy Searges knows more then he has told detectives it must be nice to have a Grandpa that is a senator and can pull strings. (so I have heard have not confirmed that) some one should check and find out who is the senant member in his family.
Vote:
0 0 Sorry I could not be more help Carol. You do not need to ask Joe who I am I will tell you that by letting you know this. Remember what me and Roger did with the beer on his truck one day when we went shooting??(Roger called it moose piss ) Please do not let anyone on here know my real name its a secret. PS Micky is getting big and we are doing well for now I will e-mail you later and tell you some more. I do not think your are a thorn in the IFPD’s side. I would do the same for my daughter. I think you are a dager in thier side and they better work harder on this because you will never give up hope on finding these guys. I will not give up at all. I always take leads serious even though they sound strange and untruthfull. I think there is a real truth out there since you know my real full name carol you can e-mail me. Here is my e-mail clue. the first four letters of my last name and the first four of my first name @ ISU dot edu. Get ahold of me and lets talk sometime I really miss you and Roger. We have had a tough 5 years and have been roaming the State.
Vote:
0 0 If you had read this post from the very beginning, you would have noticed that the Dodge family website was posted and you can contact them via email with any personal information you may have.
http://www.angiedodge.com/
Vote:
0 0 wdbbfjeibpguewea
Vote:
0 0 wdbbfjeibpgueweaboooo u suchucks
Vote:
0 0 IFPD wants to unionize! I hope the community raises hell about this. They do not deserve it. They continue to REFUSE to arrest Angie Dodge’s murderer, and they know who it is. This is NOT an isolated example.
Vote:
0 0 Uhhhhh….last I checked IFPD has been unionized for over 5 years now. Ummmm…how do they know who the murderer is? (Can’t wait to hear this one)
Vote:
0 0 What are the other examples of why the community should raise hell about the IFPD unionizing? I’m with Mike, I can’t wait to hear how they know who the murderer is. Please tell us and while you are at it, please tell us how you know this and who it is.
Vote:
0 0 She is probably talking about the Hobbs guy who is already in prison in Nevada for murder. I don’t know if there is enough evidence to convict him or not but does it matter? Hobbs is in prison and going nowhere. If the try him all they do is spend a LOT of money for nothing. He is still going to be in a Nevada prison.
Furthermore, Angie Dodge died twelve years ago. Over half the current IFPD has hired on since that time. Should they be held accountable for mistakes made when some of them were still in junior high school?
Vote:
0 0 And in case she is talking about Jeremy Sargis, the IFPD did arrest him. The prosecutor’s office dismissed charges and none of those involved in that decision work for the current prosecutor’s office Be angry if you want but lets keep blame where it belongs. Not on Dane Watkins who hadn’t even graduated law school yet when Angie Dodge was murdered.
Vote:
0 0 Mike, I had not heard the police were currently unionized. I think they should be able to do so if they want to, (but what do I know, I’m not a cop) and the news makes it seem that they are being told they can’t unionize.
I especially think that if the firefighters and the city electrical workers are unionized (and again, I got this from the tv news) then they should allow the police to do so.
Unions are not mandatory membership (closed shop) in Idaho, so if an officer doesn’t want to join, they don’t have to do so. It seems very fair (although the union reps may not believe it to be fair, as the benefits they work to develop end up applying to all officers, even those who chose not to join and pay dues…)
Calderagirl, you play with fire when you make a statement about the identity of the murderer being known. You are in the news business and you should really be a bit more wise in these kinds of statements. And I agree with the comments made, if it was either of those two individuals you were speaking of.
An officer can do everything possible and still end up with the case being unfinished because of the decision of the prosecutor. I don’t know that the police did everything they could in this case (and it sounds like there were plenty of mistakes made) but I wouldn’t try to punish them by denying them basic rights of employees…
Vote:
0 0 Reference Union Rights for the City Of Idaho Falls:
You can look up the Union Representation for Idaho Falls Firefighters at http://www.idahofallsfirefighters.org. They are represented by International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1565.
It is my understanding that the State of Idaho does have to recognize Unions for firefighters but nothing else.
You can contact the Electrial Dept. (Jackie Flowers (Manager)), and they too will verify they are represented by Union. They are represented the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Their Local Union number is 57. This Union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
According to Officer Brad Landes, President of Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge #6, they are not represented by Union. They tried once and the City Council said no. From my understanding this was their second attempt and again they were told the answer hasn’t changed.
If the City Council wants to show they are fair in “All” their dealings I don’t see why they will not let the police unionize. You can’t give it to the electrical dept and tell another dept you can’t.
Calderagal,
Your comments made are quite biased by your last statement. If you are in media aren’t you supposed to be unbiased? It makes no sense for you to claim the police know who the murder is in this case; and then say they should get nothing they want because of this accusation.
Lets entertain the thought, even though your claim has yet to have support to this, that they do have another suspect. You should know that unless they have proof this doesn’t mean a whole lot in court. Can you not only share with us how you know the police have another suspect, and what proof they would have to go to court to get a conviction to this accusation?
Vote:
0 0 I just read the PR version of the story for police unions, and I guess the issue is that they have a formal organization that officers can join, but the city does not recognize it as a valid organization.
So the push is to have the city recognize the union as a valid representative of the member officers.
And I’m sorry, CalderaGal, to have written your name incorrectly before (I just noticed that I did it). I’m sure you are not a girl and it was unintentional on my part. But I do agree with POV that as a media rep you don’t appear to be unbiased in this issue. If you have more information, could you share?
Vote:
0 0 It is my recollection that the reason the city recognizes the firefighter and electrical worker unions is that there is a demand for those workers in other areas and the city does not want to lose those workers to other employers. However, the opposite is true with the city police force. The IFPD actually has people leaving other law enforcement jobs to work for IFPD. I don’t know if this is correct but I remember hearing it before, maybe the last time the union issue came up.
Vote:
0 0 The firefighter union as the power of state law behind it. None of the others do. The city must recognize the firefighters but not the cops. Electrical plays the “hard to replace us game”. That sucks because they get twice as high a pay raise ever years as anyone else does, including firefighters.
Calderagal, thanks to your biased rant, your article on the Dodge case now makes more sense. I always felt it was pretty biased against the cops, especially with so many assumptions about how they screwed up. Now I know beyond any doubt why that is.
Vote:
0 0 Guest123,
I’m answering your recent comment but I’m going to do so in the thread that already exists at IFZ about the police union. The Angie Dodge thread is not where this discussion should be taking place.
Vote:
0 0 Well aren’t you the bossy one! 
Vote:
0 0 How is it biased to state that IFPD knows more about the Angie Dodge case than it is releasing, and that they have not made an arrest they could make? It is unsubstantiated, not biased. As soon as IFPD does its job and solves the case, all facts possible will be substantiated by all the media, most likely. And yes, the broader discussion about the union should be in the group dedicated to that topic. This is a BLOG not a news source, BTW.
Vote:
0 0 Maybe you should get in there and take over the investigation, sounds to me like you know everything about everything and could get this overwith in an afternoon!
Vote:
0 0 CalderaGal,
Your quote, “IFPD wants to unionize! I hope the community raises hell about this. They do not deserve it. They continue to REFUSE to arrest Angie Dodge’s murderer, and they know who it is. This is NOT an isolated example.” You can say that isn’t biased but I think you’ll find it hard to convince people otherwise.
I do find it intriguing that you now refer to your previous comment as, “It is unsubstantiated, not biased.” This totally refutes your above comment of, “they know who it is.” Looking up the synonyms for the word unsubstantiated: unproven, not confirmed, unsupported, not backed up. As a matter of fact since you are referring to your entire comment as unsubstantiated it comes down to just that: unproven, not confirmed, unsupported, and not backed up.
Like I said before knowing who committed a crime will do nothing for the IFPD, when it comes to the legal process. As a journalist you should know you have to have, “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” to convict someone of murder.
Entertaining the thought again of them having a “name”. So let’s say they have the “name” and they put out to the media. Now the media plays the “name” over the news so everyone hears. In reference to the above comment, referring to not having proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the “named” person is let go through the judicial process. Can you imagined if this happened. I would venture to guess your comments would then be the IFPD doesn’t deserve anything because their screw up in not getting enough evidence before they released the “name” or arrested the “named person”.
There is just no reasoning in the thought of, “They continue to REFUSE to arrest Angie Dodge’s murderer…” Do you happen to know if they have the proof to get the conviction of murder? I guess I should be clear in stating that I’m asking for substantiated knowledge and not unsubstantiated. The reason why I ask is because arresting a person is a step in the judicial process. Broken record playing: No proof beyond a reasonable doubt, for murder, leads to an acquittal of the charge.
CalderaGal your comments would have much more weight to them if you could give us some substantiated comments that we could verify.
Vote:
0 0 I forgot to add one more reason on why the IFPD would be wise in not releasing a name if they don’t have proof to get a conviction.
It would stand to reason, and by example from others, that if someone who wanted for murder saw their face on TV, or heard their name on TV they would be on the run. It’s pretty typical for them to leave the state or go to the other side of the country.
I believe the IFPD would be smart in not releasing the alleged name just so they could please some of the public by showing that their making progress.
Vote:
0 0 who ever were the other two who killed Angie Dodge, they will get the lime light here soon. two people to look at and really nail and drill them with questions are 1) Hector Huerta he went to Skyline high school. 2) Emmalena Knox she got into a physicall brawl with Angie before graduation and she knows something and is hiding something. check those two out!
Vote:
0 0 If you have information, why don’t you take it to the IFPD instead of posting it on a blog? (or have you already?)
Vote:
0 0 I checked IDOC inmate search. the two names mentioned have never been on probation or in prison I am still going to search and see what I can find about them. I am going to check myspace next and yahoo and MSN. I need to see a picture of these two people and see if I even know them. I think you should call IFPD and talk to Detective hagen and tell him. He is the best cop on the force that you can trust and isnt crooked.
Vote:
0 0 AJ BOWLE do you know how to contact these two people? I can not find anything about them. I think you should e-mail Carol Dodge from the angiedodge website or call the police ASAP.
Vote:
0 0 Carol Doge put fresh flowers on her daughter’s grave this weekend. The anniversary of Angie’s murder is next month.
Vote:
0 0 FYI post #111
There is no Detective Hagen at the IFPD. There used to be a Captain Hagen, perhaps thats who he meant, and he is retired.
Vote:
0 0 AJ Bowle’….
If you have information that would help solve the Angie Dodge murder case please contact
I.F Police Chief Steve Roos at (208) 612-8663
You can also remain anonymous by contacting angiesweb03@yahoo.com with any information or details you have.
It will be twelve (12) on June 13th that Angie Dodge was brutally murdered, let’s help break the code of silence.
Vote:
0 0 FYI Post #109
I think there is also another site that you can email information.
It is justice4angiedodge@yahoo.com
Vote:
0 0 wow he retired? see I need to come home and visit more often I havent seen hagen in like 3 or 4 years lol see how much I know jees. I miss Idaho falls
Vote:
0 0 one man is behind bars….two more men to go. if carol gets to see this message…..”carol justice will be served” my name is AJ and a ghost….but i’m here to help Angie…
Vote:
0 0 Emmalena Knox shows up on idcourts.us looks like she has been in trouble before, nothing on the other person
Vote:
0 0 The news ran a story today about how the 12th anniversary is tomorrow, here’s the link and comments from her mom and the investigator.
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8483966
IMO, Chris Tapp can rot in prison and should never be considered for a new trial until he can decide which one of his many fantasies is the truth, and finally give police real information that actually leads to the other killer(s).
Vote:
0 0 Comment # 116 by Mor Blah on May 24, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
FYI Post #109
The email address is angiesweb03@yahoo.com
Vote:
0 0 yes i feel they should get outside help to solve this case and many others. this area has alot of unsolved cases for as small as it is and i would like to see some answers. not to bash the police but with as many unsolved cases that we have something is wrong or not being handled correctly. what happened to chris holverson for instants?
Vote:
0 0 Chris is my step brother. I would like to know what happend to him.
Vote:
0 0 No one made a big deal out of his disapearance. His GF and step dad know exactly what happend to him and wouldnt even talk to the police. We know they moved his vehicle and lied to the cops. The police did not do enough to find out what happend to Chris Holverson. My dad still has not got over it. My mom is still upset and I know Brian did not take it to good. Can someone start a new thread please for Brian Holverson? I do not want to register and be known to well not even by Joe can someone put up a solve Chris Holverson disapearence dp a search for the missing persons in Idaho and you can find out more info. I will get Dad to poast some stuff on here too.
Vote:
0 0 I looked up the missing report after his name was first mentioned, couldn’t find any more info than that he left his tent at midnight while camping with friends and after having left his car in a friends driveway. Do you have more info? People don’t just disappear into thin air!
Vote:
0 0 did you recieve my last statement? yes chris disappeared into thin air. i would help don’t know how to find out what really happened. my support goes out to carol would like to see if outside help could sollve this case and put the real ones involved behind bars. not safe for our children and grandchildren if these people are walking our streets.
Vote:
0 0 Is there a chance he ran away? I don’t like the idea of living in an area where people are disappearing, that really scares me.
Vote:
0 0 yes just disappeared. i feel it might be benificial to have someone new from the outside looking in so to speak maybe they would see something we don’t and solve angies case and maybe others if invited to help
Vote:
0 0 run away vary unlikely
Vote:
0 0 I know chris did not run away. I know his freinds all had something to do with it. The police dogs never found any trace of him at the supposed camp site. I bet they moved sites and burried his body somewhere. I also heard from Dad that the GF step dad was not cooroperative with the police detective at all. He remained silent. Chris Holverson is my step brother.
Vote:
0 0 The Queen of England is my Grandmother. 
No, seriously.
Vote:
0 0 i hope they or someone can solve this case along with angie’s and there are alot more unsolved cases in idaho falls that need attention . carol let me know if i can do anything more to help .
Vote:
0 0 I did not know Angie very well. Only knew of her, and since then I have heard of her. Many of my friends now, traveled in her pack then. I do really wish her murder would be solved. I even have talked to some of the people about her murder. people that are supposed to know something. Either they are lying, or they know nothing. Chris was a good friend of mine though. I had not talked to him in a very long time before his disaperance, did not even know he was gone untill recently, would like to learn more about it, could anyone direct me?
Vote:
0 0 http://www.angiedodge.com read about chris on there
Vote:
0 0 oh you mean Chris Holverson? sorry man my bad. goto a search browser and type in Chris Holverson and you will get the info about his disapearence.
Vote:
0 0 You do not get much information though. All it tells you is he has disapered and tells you he left the tent at midnight.
With Angie though, I was talking to people that knew her better then I today. Including my brother who went to school with her, and some very close friends of hers, and some not so close friends.
If they know something, I do not understand why they wont talk after 11 years…
Vote:
2 0 As a Criminal Justice Major, with a friend who is a Private Investigator, and and a Retired Homicide Detective who is brilliant at solving Cold Cases, I was wondering how much of the file we might be able to review on your behalf. References are ALWAYS provided (They are stellar!)…This story (like so many) break my heart. Please let me know if you would like further information, and if you would like to see if there is anything we can try to do to help.
Vote:
0 0 I’m guessing you’re addressing Angie’s Mother (AM) when asking how much of her, Angie’s file you’d be allowed to review. AM continues to be an active participant in tracing down those responsible for the deaths of her daughter. Upon meeting with you, she’d allow you to assist in the investigation of the death of her most beloved daughter.
Of course you do recognize the first step in making that contact is via the IFPD. Thanks for your concern, and willingness to assist and bring to justice he or they who took young Angie from us.
Vote:
1 0 Investigator (#137), the case of the State vs. Christopher Tapp is public record. You should be able to go to the courthouse and see the court file. Just ask the clert; Bonneville County probably has a fee to make any copies or even to access the file at all. Filings in his civil case, against his attorney, are also public record.
Obviously, any information on the continuing investigation into other suspects is confidential.
Vote:
0 0 Has anyone ever looked into Jon Lancaster? I know that he has made statement to some of my friends about knowing how to use knives and that he is into the drug scene and has been arrested several times but mysteriously has never gotten any jail for his arrests. He made a comment to one of my friends about how good it geels to carve someones up. This was just after the murder. All is heresay but maybe worth something if looked into. I also know he ran around with all those people. He is a big bully and alot of people are scared of him.
Vote:
1 0 Unsolved crimes are a disease in all communities, and there are so many in Idaho! The victim’s loved ones live day to day with a cloud of darkness in their hearts that can never go away — unless the crime is solved.
That darkness is also part of our communities. Every unsolved crime reflects flaws in the law enforcement community. It compels us to wonder if all procedures were followed, if all possible resources were used to search for the criminal or criminal. In Angie’s case, there were many failures, and there continue to be failures.
Ask yourself — what if your loved one was murdered and the case never solved?
As a journalist who has covered this case and a friend of Carol Dodge’s, I ask all who read this to never forget Angie, and to pray that her killer or killers are found.
For more info, go to the blog: http://angiedodge.blogspot.com/
and Web site: http://www.angiedodge.com
Vote:
0 0 2 of her 3 killers, Chris Tapp and Ben Hobbs, have been found Caldera gal. Hopefully the 3rd is found someday but you make it sound as if no one has been caught.
Vote:
0 0 Good point Anonymous. I also disagree with the statement “every unsolved crime reflects flaws in the law enforcement community”. Just because every crime isn’t solved or every criminal put behind bars for every single crime doesn’t mean our men & women of law enforcement aren’t doing their jobs. This isn’t CSI or Law and Order, but all too often people expect these crimes to solved just as easily and that simply isn’t possible in the real world.
Vote:
0 0 Every time this thread pops back up I read it over and I feel like I must be missing something. If 3 people were responsible for this horrible crime, and two have been caught, then there are two people with the knowledge of the 3rd person. Eyewitnesses, right?
Is the problem that the investigators and prosecutors haven’t either put on enough pressure of some sort or offered a big enough carrot to get one of these two to disclose the identity of the 3rd party?
Vote:
0 1 I think a cop murdered her. This has blue written all over it. I can’t prove this but if i was the detective i would check into that and even try to trick tapp in telling them it was a cop. As matter of fact I would start with the narcotics officers. Take DNA samples from them. and the other officers that worked back then for the department especialy anyone suspected of being a dirty cop.
Vote:
0 0 gotta love a good conspiracy theory. highly improbable though.
Vote:
0 0 My 16 year old daughter has been a runaway for 2 months!!! I am at the end of my ropes trying to ‘be patient and have faith in the police’…not sure where to go and what to do to find her now…Everybody seems to know that she is in Boise with her grandmother, so they seem to think that she is safe…SHE IS NOT!!! I need my daughter home, her little brother needs his big sister home…my heart has stopped and can not restart until she returns home safely…then I may be able to sleep again…
Vote:
0 0 What is her name?
Vote:
0 0 dinatwn, I run Shaddow Domain, and I get quite a lot of teens and young adults in here. I’ve had parents post flyers in here looking for runaways before, and it seemed to help.
If you would like to put together a flyer with her pic, name, and your contact information, bring it in and I’d be glad to put it up for you.
We are 2 blocks south of the museum, or you can call me at 552-5036.
My heart goes out to you.
Vote:
0 0 If your daughter is in Boise as everyone says why aren’t you in Boise collecting her? If she truly is with her grandmother the Boise PD could go with you to get her and arrest the grandmother. Methinks there must be more to this story.
Vote:
0 0 Thank you for your help and concern. My daughter’s name is Victoria, we have been in your shop before, she really liked going there.
As far as why I have not gone to Boise to collect her…I have tried…I posted something somewhere else about it, I am not in a place to defend my actions…speculate all you wish, and do so on somebody elses watch, thank you…I am a single mother of 2 children…I feel like I am dieing inside with her being gone…and my other child has to do his best to deal with my distance and worry and my lack of attention to him as I use to share with them both…but…again…very soon, I PRAY, she will be back home and the grandmother will no longer be able to cause harm…
Vote:
0 0 Why would you assume her grandmother is “causing her harm”? I would think it would give you some piece of mind to know that she’s with her grandmother as opposed to living on the streets or with a 25 y/o boyfriend. Most children run away because of issues at home their unhappy with. Hopefully you’re focusing on improving those issues so when she does decide to come home she’ll be more comfortable staying there knowing that the problems she was running from have been addressed.
Best of luck to you, I hope everything works out.
Vote:
0 0 Bradley Wood…Just a name that was thrown around at that time.
Leave Your Comment
Our Community's Comment Guidelines:- Please stay polite and on topic.
- Your email will never be published.
- No profanity or euphemisms for profanity.
- No personal attacks, name-calls, put-downs, or baiting other guests, races, genders, or religions.
- Express opinions, facts, logic, and reasoning; just don’t argue for argument’s sake.
- No commercial links (unless absolutely relevant to the discussion) and no religious proselytizing.
- No religious discussions (for or against). Go to http://religion.idahofallstoday.com for religious discussions.
- Use the "I" word as much as possible to demonstrate responsibility.
- Limit yourself to using one name per thread to demonstrate responsibility.
- If you think a comment is inappropriate, ask Joe to review it.
Loading ...
Vote:
*** Self edited, how about that? I said something about a feature that turned out to not work well, that’s all. ***