Amy Lynn Preasmyer: The Tragic Saga Of A 1997 Murder
The summer of 1997 in Lancaster, California, was shattered by a crime that shocked the community and left an indelible mark on those involved. At the heart of this tragedy was Amy Lynn Preasmyer, a young woman whose life took a dark turn, leading to a calculated murder that would forever alter her destiny and the lives of many others. This article delves into the harrowing details of the case, exploring the circumstances, the investigation, the conviction, and the current whereabouts of Amy Lynn Preasmyer.
The story of Amy Lynn Preasmyer is not just a recounting of a crime; it is a complex narrative of desperation, betrayal, and the devastating consequences of choices made under immense personal pressure. It’s a case that continues to intrigue and prompt questions about motive, justice, and the human capacity for extreme actions.
Table of Contents
- Who is Amy Lynn Preasmyer?
- The Unraveling of a Relationship: Amy Preasmyer and Ricky Cowles Jr.
- The Desperate Plan: Soliciting a Murder
- The Tragic Night: Ricky Cowles Jr.'s Murder
- The Investigation and Arrests
- The Trial and Conviction of Amy Lynn Preasmyer
- Where is Amy Lynn Preasmyer Now?
- Reflections on the Amy Preasmyer Case
Who is Amy Lynn Preasmyer?
Amy Lynn Preasmyer became a notorious name in criminal justice records following the murder of her boyfriend, Ricky Cowles Jr., in August 1997. At the time of the incident, she was a high school student, just 16 years old, entangled in a relationship that, from the outside, appeared to be one of deep affection. According to their close friends, the two were madly in love and looked happy. However, beneath this seemingly idyllic surface, a storm was brewing, fueled by an unexpected pregnancy and a desperate desire to escape a perceived burden. This internal turmoil would ultimately lead Amy Lynn Preasmyer down a path of unimaginable violence.
While specific biographical details about her early life are not widely publicized beyond her involvement in this case, her identity is inextricably linked to the crime she committed. The details that emerged during the investigation and trial painted a picture of a young woman overwhelmed by circumstances, leading her to make choices with irreversible consequences. Her story serves as a stark reminder of how personal struggles can escalate into public tragedies.
Personal Data & Overview
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amy Lynn Preasmyer |
| Crime Committed | Murder (of Ricky Cowles Jr.), Conspiracy to Murder, Soliciting Murder |
| Victim | Ricky Cowles Jr. (16 years old at the time of the murder) |
| Date of Crime | August 12, 1997 |
| Conviction Date | 2009 (for conspiracy to murder, murder, and soliciting) |
| Sentence | Life sentence without the possibility of parole |
| Current Status | Inmate, serving life sentence |
| Current Facility | Central California Women's Facility (CCWF), Chowchilla, California |
| Past Facility (not current) | Elmwood Correctional Women's Facility, Milpitas, CA (mentioned in data, but CCWF is current) |
The Unraveling of a Relationship: Amy Preasmyer and Ricky Cowles Jr.
The relationship between Amy Preasmyer and Ricky Cowles Jr. was, by many accounts, typical of young love. Friends described them as "madly in love" and observed that they "looked happy." However, this facade began to crack significantly in the summer of 1997 when Amy discovered she was pregnant. By August of 1997, Amy Preasmyer was already 15 weeks pregnant, a situation that she perceived as a catastrophic turn in her life. She believed her boyfriend, Ricky Cowles Jr., had "ruined her life by burdening her with a baby." This profound resentment and feeling of being trapped became the driving force behind the horrific events that would soon unfold.
The pressure of an unplanned pregnancy at such a young age, coupled with Amy's apparent inability or unwillingness to accept the responsibility, created a volatile environment. What began as a seemingly happy relationship devolved into a source of deep-seated anger and a desire for drastic measures. This emotional turmoil set the stage for a series of decisions that would lead to Ricky's untimely death and Amy's lifelong incarceration. The narrative highlights the tragic irony of a situation where a new life became the catalyst for the end of another.
The Desperate Plan: Soliciting a Murder
Driven by her conviction that Ricky Cowles Jr. had "ruined her life" by getting her pregnant, Amy Preasmyer began to formulate a sinister plan. She sought a way out of her predicament, a permanent solution to what she saw as an insurmountable problem. This desperate mindset led her to consider the unthinkable: arranging for Ricky's murder.
The Conception of a Scheme
The initial steps of this dark conspiracy involved Amy Preasmyer approaching local store clerk William “Billy” Hoffman. The intent was clear: she "paid William Hoffman, a former store clerk, to kill the father of her unborn child." This act of soliciting murder was not an isolated decision; it was part of a larger, meticulously planned scheme. "Killing Time" chronicles how Amy Preasmyer and Jennifer Kellogg planned the murder of Amy’s boyfriend, Ricky Cowles Jr. Jennifer Kellogg, a friend of Amy's, became an accomplice in this horrifying plot, solidifying the conspiracy. The plan was to eliminate Ricky, thereby removing the "burden" of the pregnancy and allowing Amy to reclaim the life she felt she had lost.
The Unforeseen Confession
However, even the most carefully laid plans can unravel. The individuals involved in such a dark enterprise often find themselves facing unexpected complications. In this case, the man they hired to kill Ricky soon confessed to the crime, a critical turning point that would lead authorities directly to the conspirators. This confession served as the first major crack in their seemingly foolproof plan, providing law enforcement with the crucial information needed to begin piecing together the truth behind Ricky Cowles Jr.'s disappearance and eventual discovery.
The Tragic Night: Ricky Cowles Jr.'s Murder
The city of Lancaster, California, was shaken up in August 1997 following the brutal murder of Ricky Cowles Jr. The specific date of the murder, as later determined by the jury, was August 12, 1997. Ricky, who was only 16 years old at the time, was found in their Lancaster loft room, having been "pulsated with a hook mallet and shot." The scene was horrific, indicating a violent and premeditated attack.
On August 27, 1997, a frantic call was made to 911 by high school student Amy Preasmyer and her friends after discovering Cowles Jr., Preasmyer’s boyfriend, lying in a pool of blood. The audio of the 911 call reveals Amy Lynn Preasmyer's distress, as she made the call when she found Ricky Cowles Jr. shot and bleeding at home. She cried out, "Help me, please," to the 911 operators. However, she became too hysterical to talk, and her friends had to take over the call. Initially, it was unclear what the motive was, and authorities investigating the scene failed to find any signs of forced entry, which immediately raised suspicions about the nature of the crime and who might have been involved.
The discovery of Ricky's body and the subsequent 911 call marked the beginning of a complex and chilling investigation. The lack of forced entry, combined with the extreme violence of the murder, suggested that the perpetrator was either known to Ricky or had been let into the residence, pointing away from a random act of violence and towards a more personal motive.
The Investigation and Arrests
The initial 911 call from Amy Preasmyer and her friends, coupled with the perplexing scene at Ricky Cowles Jr.'s loft room, immediately triggered a thorough police investigation. The absence of forced entry was a significant detail that led investigators to suspect the involvement of someone close to Ricky. The case quickly gained public attention, as Dateline/NBC later covered what happened to Ricky Cowles Jr., highlighting the tragic nature of the crime and the mystery surrounding it.
As the investigation progressed, the confession from the hired assailant proved to be a pivotal breakthrough. This confession, along with other evidence gathered by the police, began to expose the intricate web of conspiracy behind Ricky’s murder. The authorities soon arrested Amy Preasmyer and Jennifer Kellogg, recognizing their central roles in planning the crime. Furthermore, a third conspirator, David Ashbury, was also apprehended. All three were subsequently charged for their roles in Ricky’s murder, bringing the shocking truth to light and confirming the premeditated nature of the crime.
The arrests sent shockwaves through the community, as it became clear that Ricky Cowles Jr. had been the victim of a calculated plot orchestrated by those he knew, including his own girlfriend, Amy Lynn Preasmyer. The swift action of the police in identifying and apprehending the conspirators was crucial in bringing the perpetrators to justice and beginning the long process of legal proceedings.
The Trial and Conviction of Amy Lynn Preasmyer
The trial of Amy Lynn Preasmyer was a highly anticipated and closely watched legal proceeding, as it sought to unravel the full extent of the conspiracy and hold those responsible accountable for Ricky Cowles Jr.'s murder. The prosecution's case was built on compelling evidence and a clear motive, leading to a decisive verdict.
The Prosecution's Case
Prosecutors guaranteed Amy Lynn Preasmyer's culpability, asserting that she was the mastermind behind the murder. Their primary argument revolved around the motive: Amy Lynn Preasmyer was found guilty Monday of soliciting a man to kill Ricky Cowles Jr. in 1997 because he got her pregnant and ruined her life, prosecutors said. This motive, born out of desperation and resentment over an unplanned pregnancy, painted a chilling picture of premeditation. The prosecution meticulously presented how Amy, along with Jennifer Kellogg, conspired to hire William Hoffman to carry out the murder. The testimony of the hired killer, who confessed to the crime, was undoubtedly a critical piece of evidence that solidified the prosecution's case against Amy Lynn Preasmyer and her co-conspirators.
The Verdict and Sentencing
The jury carefully weighed all the evidence presented. A jury found defendant and appellant Amy Lynn Preasmyer guilty of the special circumstance, lying in wait murder of her then fiancée, Richard Cowles, Jr. This verdict underscored the premeditated and particularly heinous nature of the crime. The charges against her were comprehensive: she was in 2009 convicted of conspiracy to murder, murder, and soliciting murder. Amy Lynn Preasmyer was sentenced for homicide in the killing of her sweetheart, who was 16, when he was pulsated with a hook mallet and shot in their Lancaster loft room.
The conviction carried a severe penalty, reflecting the gravity of her actions. The court's decision was a testament to the justice system's commitment to holding individuals accountable for such grave offenses. The sentencing marked the end of a long and painful legal battle for Ricky Cowles Jr.'s family and the community, bringing a measure of closure to a deeply tragic event.
Where is Amy Lynn Preasmyer Now?
The question "Where is Amy Preasmyer now?" is frequently asked by those who remember the case or encounter it through true crime narratives. After her conviction, Amy Lynn Preasmyer was sentenced to a life term, a sentence that she continues to serve to this day. Her current whereabouts are a matter of public record, reflecting the ongoing consequences of her actions in 1997.
Preasmyer is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at Central California Women's Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, California. This facility is one of the largest women's prisons in the world, housing a significant number of female offenders in the state. Her sentence of life without parole means that, barring extraordinary legal developments or successful appeals, she will spend the remainder of her life incarcerated, with no prospect of release back into society. This serves as a definitive answer to "Where is Amy Lynn Preasmyer now," confirming her continued imprisonment.
It is worth noting that while the data also mentions Amy Lynn Preasmyer is (or was recently) an inmate currently at the Elmwood Correctional Women's Facility, located in Milpitas, CA, the most current information indicates her presence at CCWF. Prison populations can shift, but her status as a life-sentenced inmate remains constant. If you are wishing to visit, the visitation hours are limited by the facility's regulations, as is common for correctional institutions.
Life Behind Bars
Life inside a maximum-security prison like CCWF is starkly different from the world outside. For Amy Lynn Preasmyer, it has been over two decades since her conviction, a period marked by confinement and the constant reality of her life sentence. While details of her daily life within the prison are not extensively publicized, the data does offer a glimpse into her experiences there. In April 2013, she and another individual were falsely accused of sexual assault, an incident that, while seemingly unrelated to her original crime, highlights the challenging and often volatile environment of prison life. This accusation, though later proven false, underscores the complex realities faced by inmates. The outcomes of parole suitability hearings scheduled from May 1st through May 31st, 2024, would not apply to Preasmyer, given her sentence of life without the possibility of parole, emphasizing the finality of her judicial outcome.
Her story, from a high school student to a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, is a somber testament to the irreversible impact of violent crime, not only on the victims and their families but also on the perpetrators themselves. Amy Lynn Preasmyer remains a figure whose name is synonymous with a shocking crime, forever confined by the consequences of her actions.
Reflections on the Amy Preasmyer Case
The case of Amy Lynn Preasmyer and the murder of Ricky Cowles Jr. remains a poignant and disturbing chapter in true crime history. It encapsulates the tragic consequences that can arise when personal desperation meets a willingness to commit unspeakable acts. The initial perception of a happy young couple, shattered by an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent decision to resort to murder, serves as a chilling reminder of the hidden complexities within human relationships.
The details that emerged from the investigation and trial—the frantic 911 call, the brutal nature of the murder, the calculated solicitation of a killer, and the eventual confession of the hired assailant—paint a vivid picture of a crime driven by a profound sense of being "ruined." What do you think of the Amy Preasmyer case? For many, it highlights the severe emotional and psychological pressures that can lead individuals, even young ones, to make catastrophic choices. It also underscores the meticulous work of law enforcement and the justice system in piecing together complex conspiracies to ensure accountability.
The fact that Amy Lynn Preasmyer is currently in prison, serving a life sentence at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California, without any possibility of parole, brings a definitive end to her legal saga. Her story is a stark illustration of how one decision can irrevocably alter the course of multiple lives, leaving behind a legacy of loss, pain, and the enduring question of what might have been had different choices been made. The case of Amy Lynn Preasmyer continues to be a subject of discussion and analysis in true crime circles, a somber narrative of a life derailed by desperation and violence.
Conclusion
The story of Amy Lynn Preasmyer is a harrowing account of a young life tragically intertwined with murder, a narrative that began with a perceived burden and culminated in a life sentence without parole. From the initial desperate plea of "Help me, please" during the 911 call to her current incarceration at the Central California Women's Facility, Preasmyer's journey serves as a stark reminder of the irreversible consequences of her actions. The deliberate planning with Jennifer Kellogg and William Hoffman to eliminate Ricky Cowles Jr., fueled by her belief that he had "ruined her life by burdening her with a baby," led to a conviction for murder, conspiracy to murder, and soliciting murder.
This case, deeply rooted in the personal turmoil of Amy Lynn Preasmyer, underscores the critical importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of crime and justice. It highlights how quickly a seemingly ordinary life can descend into extraordinary darkness, leaving a lasting impact on victims, their families, and the community at large. The meticulous work of investigators and prosecutors ensured that justice, though painful, was served, leading to her definitive sentence.
We hope this comprehensive look into the Amy Lynn Preasmyer case has provided valuable insights into this complex and tragic event. What are your thoughts on the motivations and outcomes discussed? Share your perspectives in the comments below. If you found this article informative, please consider sharing it with others who might be interested in true crime stories, or explore other detailed case studies on our site.
Where is Amy Lynn Preasmyer now? | The US Sun
Amy Preasmyer - A Tale of Crime & Fate
Where is Amy Lynn Preasmyer now? | The US Sun
