Richard Lynn "Ricky" Cowles Jr., a 21-year-old resident of Lancaster, California, was tragically murdered on August 12, 1997. Ricky was found dead in his apartment by his girlfriend, Amy Preasmyer, who was 16 years old and 15 weeks pregnant at the time. Upon returning home around 10 PM, Amy discovered Ricky lying unresponsive in the master bedroom, bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to the head.
The initial investigation revealed that Ricky had been shot at close range, leading to his immediate death. Surprisingly, there were no signs of forced entry or robbery, suggesting that the crime was an inside job.
The investigation into Ricky's murder was challenging due to the lack of immediate leads. However, it was eventually uncovered that Amy Preasmyer had orchestrated the murder. Amy, who resented Ricky for getting her pregnant and believed he had ruined her life, solicited the help of William "Billy" Hoffman, a local store clerk. Amy offered Billy money to kill Ricky, and with the assistance of their mutual friend, Jennifer Kellogg, they planned the crime in detail. On the night of the murder, Billy ambushed Ricky in his apartment, beating him with a claw hammer before shooting him in the head.
Billy Hoffman was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder in 1999, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. During his trial, Billy initially claimed that another man was responsible for the murder, but he later confessed to his role in the crime, expressing remorse and stating that he had become a Christian. Amy Preasmyer, who had initially evaded suspicion, was eventually charged with murder in 2005 after further investigation revealed her involvement. She was found guilty of murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder. Amy was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Jennifer Kellogg, who had also played a role in the planning of the murder, was charged and awaited trial. Another accomplice, David Ashbury, was sentenced to two years in prison for being an accessory to the murder. The case of Ricky Cowles Jr.'s murder highlights the tragic consequences of a young woman's desperation and the lengths to which she went to escape her perceived predicament. The thorough investigation and subsequent convictions brought some measure of justice for Ricky and his family.
