Podcast Summary: I Wish You Were Here
Episode: "A Mom Spent 23 Years Doing What Police Couldn't. She Found Her Daughter's Killer"
Host: Michelle Cuervo
Date: March 23, 2026
Episode Overview
In this powerful episode of "I Wish You Were Here," Michelle Cuervo tells the gripping and emotional true crime story of Angie Dodge—an 18-year-old woman brutally murdered in Idaho Falls in 1996—and her mother Carol’s extraordinary, decades-long quest to bring about real justice. From initial heartbreak to police errors, a coerced confession, new friendships, and the breakthrough use of genetic genealogy, Michelle walks listeners through the twists, failures, and triumphs of a case that redefined what a mother’s determination could accomplish.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Crime and Its Aftermath (00:30 – 08:00)
- Angie Dodge’s background: 18 years old, beloved daughter and friend, recently moved into her own apartment, close-knit family.
- Discovery of the Crime: Friends concerned for Angie find her murdered in her bedroom—her mother recalls her last loving words with her daughter, unsure it would be the last time they’d see each other.
- Crime Scene Details: No signs of forced entry but clear struggle, unidentified male DNA left a "pristine profile" (07:30).
2. Initial Investigation and Community Pressure (08:00 – 13:30)
- Community Shock: The brutality rocks Idaho Falls; Carol Dodge determined to get justice.
- Focus on Angie’s Social Group: “River rats”—local group of young people, including suspect Benjamin Hobbs, DNA did not match.
- Early Frustrations: Carol criticizes law enforcement:
- “It makes you wonder what they’re doing, if they’re doing anything. They’re just not qualified. These detectives are street cops that have been promoted.” (10:30)
- Family's Active Role: Carol prints flyers, offers $5,000 reward, pushes for progress as the investigation stalls.
3. The Wrong Man: False Confession and Conviction (13:30 – 25:00)
- Christopher Tapp’s Interrogation:
- Friend of Hobbs, repeatedly questioned, psychologically broken by detectives.
- Coerced confession after over 100 hours of questioning, despite DNA mismatch.
- Quote: “I was broken. There is no other way to explain it. I was just broken and confused and scared. I just wanted to get away from them. I just gave them whatever information they wanted because I assumed that it would get me out of this situation.” — Christopher Tapp (17:00)
- Police Manipulation: Threaten Chris with death penalty, push him to implicate himself:
- Officer: “If you were forced to do it in fear of your own life, that's a different story. We could go with a different charge rather than life imprisonment or death… Protect your own ass. You got trapped.” (18:30)
- Chris: “Alright.”
- Conviction and Sentencing: Life in prison; Carol believes at first that justice is served, but doubts linger about the unmatched DNA.
4. Carol Dodge’s Fight for Truth (25:00 – 35:00)
- Revelation Through Interrogation Tapes:
- Years later, Carol watches Chris Tapp’s interrogation tapes, realizing his confession was coerced.
- “She got so mad at the police. After seeing those tapes with her own two eyes, Carol Dodge was convinced that the wrong guy was behind bars.” (25:45)
- Relentless Advocacy: Carol collaborates with Chris's new legal team, working tirelessly to overturn his conviction.
- Quote:
- "My fight was to find my daughter justice. Every road I went down, somebody tried to put up a barricade or a roadblock. Everywhere I turned, somebody said, you can't do this, you can't do that. I said, just stand back and watch me do it." — Carol Dodge (30:00)
5. Breakthrough: Genetic Genealogy and the Real Killer (35:00 – 47:00)
- Chris’s Release (2017): After 20 years, Chris Tapp is released but not legally exonerated. He and Carol form a close bond in their ongoing search for the truth.
- Technological Breakthrough: A new police chief and DNA expert CeCe Moore (2018) use genetic genealogy—uploading the crime scene DNA profile to GEDmatch—to build a family tree.
- Initial False Leads and Renewed Hope:
- Trace family lines, several close matches—false lead brings heartbreak:
- “Carol said that in that moment, she felt like Angie was in the room telling her, ‘Mom, you're almost there. You've come so far, you can't stop now.’” (41:30)
- Trace family lines, several close matches—false lead brings heartbreak:
- Final Puzzle Piece:
- The true suspect, Brian Lee Drips Sr., was missed due to a surname change. He had lived directly across from Angie’s apartment in 1996.
- DNA Match and Confession: After covertly retrieving his DNA from a cigarette, police confirm a perfect DNA match (45:30). Brian Drips confesses:
- “I guess it just happened while I was there. I remember the essay part, but that's all I remember from that evening.” — Brian Drips (46:00)
6. Justice, Exoneration, and Legacy (47:00 – 52:30)
- Drips Convicted: Sentenced to 20 years to life.
- Tapp Exonerated: All charges dismissed. Emotional statements follow:
- “I was able to tell my mom that my name is clean. That was the most important thing to me in this world... Carol, she has been like a second mom.” — Chris Tapp (49:00)
- Carol's determination credited as pivotal by Chris and others.
- Tragic Aftermath: Chris Tapp marries but sadly, both he and his wife die in 2023—she in a car accident, he from an accidental fall (51:00).
- Remembering Angie and Chris: Host Michelle closes by honoring their lives and legacies—Angie as a beloved friend and daughter; Chris as an advocate for the wrongfully convicted.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Carol Dodge:
"My fight was to find my daughter justice. Every road I went down, somebody tried to put up a barricade or a roadblock... just stand back and watch me do it." (30:00) - Christopher Tapp:
“I was broken... I just gave them whatever information they wanted because I assumed that it would get me out of this situation.” (17:00) "I was able to tell my mom that my name is clean... but Carol, she has been like a second mom. If it wasn't for Carol's perseverance and drive, then none of this would have ever transpired for me."(49:00) - Brian Drips:
“I guess it just happened while I was there. I remember the essay part, but that's all I remember from that evening.” (46:00) - Michelle (Host) on the case’s resolution:
“They were just so glad to finally have found Angie justice... nothing could ever fill that hole that Angie's death had left, not only in their family, but in anyone who knew her and loved her.” (50:00)
Important Timestamps
- 00:30 | Episode introduction & background on Angie Dodge
- 03:30 | Discovery of Angie’s body
- 07:30 | Pristine DNA profile found at the scene
- 10:30 | Carol Dodge criticizes police efforts
- 16:00–18:30 | Christopher Tapp coerced confession details
- 25:45 | Carol watches interrogation tapes, realizes wrongful conviction
- 35:00 | Chris’s release and ongoing quest for truth
- 38:00 | Introduction of genetic genealogy technique
- 41:30 | Emotional setback and Carol’s renewed determination
- 45:30 | Brian Drips’ DNA match and confession
- 49:00 | Chris Tapp exoneration and moving statements
- 51:00 | Chris Tapp and wife’s tragic deaths
Closing Thoughts
Michelle Cuervo delivers both a compassionate and critical look at the tragic murder of Angie Dodge, the failures and dangers of wrongful conviction, and the nearly superhuman persistence of Carol Dodge. The episode stands as a tribute to a mother’s love, modern forensic breakthroughs, and the importance of questioning authority in the pursuit of justice.
Listeners are left with a sense of heartbreak for the lives lost and upended, but also hope—showing what can happen when one person refuses to let the story end before the truth is told.
“If you enjoy this podcast, thank you so much for listening to it. It means more to me than I could ever put into words.” — Michelle Cuervo (52:00)