County approves independent investigation of Tapp conviction

Bonneville County commissioners have approved hiring an independent investigator to revisit the investigation and conviction of Christopher Tapp for the 1996 murder of Angie Dodge.

Two reports released earlier this month by an independent advocacy group called Judges For Justice point to flaws in the Idaho Falls Police Department’s investigation of Tapp and concludes that Tapp’s confession was coerced and false.

At the request of Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Bruce Pickett, up to $25,000 will be spent to hire an independent investigator who will focus on these reports.

“These reports were impressive due to the amount of time and effort put into them and it raised some questions,” said Pickett.

Tapp is currently serving a 25-year-to-life prison sentence after confessing to his involvement in the crime. But Tapp’s public defender, John Thomas, said the report claims the confession was coerced and without merit.

“Once I really dug into the case and watched all of the interrogation videos and reviewed all of the volumes and volumes of investigative materials that I reviewed, I came to the conclusion that Chris Tapp had not done it,” Thomas told Local News 8 earlier this month.

Pickett said the important thing is for citizens to have faith in the justice system.

A nationwide search will be made for an independent investigator.

“Someone from the outside is certainly going to be independent. They’re going to have the ability to take a fresh look at this and make sure that it’s not biased,” said Pickett.

Dodge was found dead in her Idaho Falls apartment on I Street in June 1996.

Reporter Luke Jones will have more tonight on Local News 8 at 5 and 6 at KIDK Eyewitness News at 5:30.