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Matter of Record.

Murder of Audrey Hoellein

Vancouver · Washington · United States · 1994

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Audrey Hoellein, 26, was found dead in her apartment in Vancouver, Washington, on the evening of 17 Jul 1994. The coroner ruled the death a homicide by strangulation the next day. The case went cold. In 2019, DNA from discarded cigarette butts led Vancouver police to Richard Eugene Knapp. He was arrested in the Fairview, Oregon area on 28 Apr 2019. On 30 Nov 2022, before jury selection, Clark County dismissed the murder charges without prejudice. The state said new evidence meant it could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. He was released that day. There was no verdict and no sentence.

At a glance

Defendant

Richard Eugene Knapp

Charges

Murder with a sexual motivation

No upcoming court dates are scheduled — courts do not always announce dates in advance.

Timeline· 5 entries

A dated record of reported developments and proceedings.

  1. 17 Jul 1994 · Sunday

    1. Death reported, investigation event

      Death of Audrey Hoellein

      flashalert.net

  2. 22 Jul 1994 · Friday

    1. Update, investigation event

      Print

  3. 28 Apr 2019 · Sunday

    1. Arrest, court event

      Arrest of Richard Eugene Knapp

      flashalert.net

  4. 24 May 2019 · Friday

    1. Plea, court event

      Not-guilty plea

      columbian.com

  5. 30 Nov 2022 · Wednesday

    1. Court ruling, court event

      Charges dismissed without prejudice

      Court document

Coverage· 1 entry · 2 episodes

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Only one item indexed so far.

  • DNA: ID

    Podcast · 2 episodes about this case

    Two-part episode on the 1994 Vancouver killing and the genealogy case that ended with the charges dismissed.

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