Idaho Falls Man Faces Murder Trial Accused In Attack On Woman; Another Man Also Investigated

A man prosecutors allege participated in the rape and murder of Angie Dodge a year ago was ordered to stand trial after the first public airing of the evidence against him.

Christopher Conley Tapp, 20, of Idaho Falls will be arraigned July 8 before 7th District Judge Ted Wood, Bonneville County Magistrate L. Mark Riddoch ruled at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors presented no physical evidence against the only suspect in custody. Almost all the evidence was based on statements made by Tapp, and prosecutors admitted that someone else actually killed Dodge.

They tried to use Tapp’s friend, 18-year-old Jeremy Sargis, to link Tapp and other suspects to the killing. But Sargis frustrated those attempts by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Sargis was arrested Jan. 30 and charged with being an accessory to a felony. Officials later dropped the charges without explanation.

On Tuesday, prosecutors showed a videotape in which Tapp told an investigator Dodge let him and two other men into her apartment sometime late June 12 or early June 13, that she fought with Benjamin Hobbs and that Hobbs hit her, stabbed her and then raped her. The other man, whom Tapp identified only as “Mike,” also raped Dodge and then Hobbs cut her throat, according to Tapp’s statement.

Tapp said Hobbs, now in prison in Nevada on an unrelated attack on a woman there, ordered him to stab Dodge once.

Dodge, 18, was found dead in her apartment by a co-worker after she failed to show up for work.

Tapp was arrested Jan. 30. He has never admitted to actually raping or killing Dodge, but because authorities believe he participated he faces the same charges as if he committed the crimes, Bonneville County Prosecutor Kipp Manwaring said.

Police have made three trips to an Ely, Nev., prison to interview Hobbs. They have no hard evidence implicating him in Dodge’s murder, but Manwaring said officials have plenty of time.

“We know where he will be for the next 20 years,” he said.

Hobbs is serving time in Nevada for sexual assault, battery with a deadly weapon and coercion. He also faces escape charges.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jared Fuhriman testified Tuesday that none of the DNA evidence collected at the scene matches Tapp’s or Hobbs’, and there is no other physical evidence placing either of the men in Dodge’s apartment.