Texas teen Kristene Chapa is on the mend, recovering from a horrible attack in June that left her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, dead with a bullet to the head.
On her Facebook page Chapa wrote “Today marks 3 months since my accident. I’ve learned life is so fragile and cherish the people you have in your life love them don’t take things for granted…”
The couple were in a park in Portland, TX, when an assailant shot them both with a large-caliber handgun. Olgin, a freshman in college, died on the scene; Chapa was discovered the next day by campers and taken to a local hospital.
Details about the attack are sparse: No suspects have been named but police, who are currently parsing through dozens of leads, released a sketch earlier this summer The perpetrator is described as a thin white man in his 20s with a scruffy beard, approximately 5’8″ and 14
0 pounds.
Chapa is still at a rehabilitation facility recovering from brain injuries and paralysis, but seems to have a positive outlook, commenting that she’s taking her recovery “one step at a time.” “I still need time but I am happy,” she wrote. “I’m moving on.”
Earlier this month Chapa also posted that she had found a new love: “I know people deal with things different and I’m not gonna sit in my room and cry over what happened,” she wrote. “I was heartbroken but I’m not gonna be single for the rest of my life … she’s in my heart but I needed something else. I wanted a girl to be there for me and understand what I’m going through.”
It’s easy to cast judgments on Chapa for starting a relationship so soon after her girlfriend’s death—but who among us knows how they’d react to such a traumatic situation? (And keep in mind she’s only 18.)
Mollie Olgin’s father told reporters he’s determined to see that justice is served in his daughter’s murder. “There was no reason to take her life the way they did,” he told KIII-TV. He says he’s comforted by the thought that Mollie is “in a better place.”
While members of south Texas’ LGBT community have been vocal in condemning the murderous attack, Portland Police Chief Randy Wright says his department is not currently pursuing it as a hate crime: “There’s no evidence to suggest that this crime was committed as a bias against the girls or their lifestyle.”
niles
There is so much about this case that does not add up. How curious it is that she refers to “her accident” and has already “moved on” with a new girlfriend?
Charlie in Charge
@niles: Don’t make accusations like that; it’s irresponsible.
People staging an attack to commit a murder don’t paralyze themselves and wait a day to be discovered by campers.
MickeyP.
@Charlie in Charge: Excellent answer,Charlie! Sometimes people don’t THINK before they post!
Seth
OMFG, I recognize that man!
It’s Repo Man era Emilio Estevez!
Allen D.
“My girlfriend and I were shot a few months ago… she died. I didn’t. Meet my NEW girlfriend!” Typical lesbian.
TJCMMNSNSE
@Allen D.: No typical 18 year old.
MickeyP.
@Allen D.: Wow! all lesbians are NOT like that! I agree with TJCMMNSNSE. More like typical 18 year old! Allen,be careful,you sound like Paris Hilton!