Shock twist in case of murdered teen, 18, with damning evidence revealing real killer 20 years later
A MAN who was wrongfully convicted in the rape and murder of an 18-year-old girl has been granted a settlement.
Christopher Tapp, 45, spent two decades in prison for the wrongful conviction in Angie Dodge's 1996 murder.
The actual murderer, Brian Leigh Dripps, 55, was arrested in 2019 and pleaded guilty to rape and first-degree murder. He is now serving a life sentence.
reported that officials in Idaho Falls agreed to pay Tapp approximately $12million for the wrongful conviction.
Tapp was released from prison in 2017, and two years later, DNA evidence cleared his name.
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reported that Dodge was stabbed and cut 14 times, left half-naked, and was ejaculated on.
Police had a sample of the killer's semen from the crime scene.
At the time, police didn't get a match to the DNA sample, but new genetic genealogy technology showed that Dripps was the actual killer and not Tapp.
"No dollar amount could ever make up for the over 20 years of my life I spent in prison for crimes I did not commit," Tapp said in a statement. "However, the settlement will help me move forward with my life."
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reported that Tapp sued the city and its police department in Oct. 2020. The city asked for the lawsuit dismissed but opted to give a settlement on Thursday.
In June 2021, Tapp was awarded approximately $2million by the city for the error.
According to the law, if Tapp received more money from the lawsuit, he would have to pay back the other money he received from the city.
"Please accept this sincere apology to you and your mother, Mrs. Tapp, for the city's role in your wrongful conviction and subsequent incarceration, as well the harm and damages that you and your family have endured over these many years," Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper wrote in a letter to Tapp.
The mayor also said that the city would review its practices to avoid another wrongful conviction.
Even though his DNA didn't match and he repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, Tapp admitted to the rape and murder after spending more than 28 hours of interrogation over 23 days, reported.
Tapp said that his confession tape was a lie. He worked with Dodge mother, Carol Dodge, to clear his name prior to his release.
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"While watching his interrogation video, Tapp said: "You can see 'em specifically pointin' out facts to me. Or — or giving little innuendos … or hints of how the murder went down,"
reported that two co-workers discovered Dodge's body in her apartment after she failed to show up for work.
