‘He left us all too early.’ Funeral services held for Christopher Tapp
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IDAHO FALLS — Christopher Tapp was remembered as a “superhero walking among us” during his funeral Tuesday morning.
Family and friends filled almost every seat at Coltrin Mortuary in Idaho Falls and hundreds watched online as the 47-year-old was honored following his death on Nov. 5. He died due to serious head injuries sustained in an accident while in Las Vegas.
“He left us all too early. It is incredibly sad. His life is a great story. It’s the stuff of legends, of movies, and we got to witness it. His story is about good over evil, truth over lies and justice over injustice,” said Mike Heavey, a retired Washington judge and co-founder of Judges for Justice. “If Chris could talk here today, I think he’d say, ‘I had a good life.'”
Heavey spent years working to prove Tapp’s innocence after the Idaho Falls native was wrongfully convicted in 1997 for the rape and murder of 18-year-old Angie Dodge. Tapp tried multiple times to appeal the conviction and it was later discovered his DNA did not match DNA at the crime scene. He was eventually released from prison in 2017 and exonerated in 2019 when investigators arrested 54-year-old Brian Dripps.
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“Chris knew the price of freedom and he lived his life a free life,” said John Thomas, Tapp’s attorney. “He wasn’t hardened by what life had thrown at him and he overcame the hardship.”
Thomas recalled meeting Tapp for the first time in prison and their relationship led to a friendship that developed over the years. He once asked Tapp what he thinks about those who were responsible for his 20 year incarceration.
“I’ll let God deal with them. I just don’t have the time,” Tapp responded, according to Thomas. “Would you be able to forgive like Chris did? Would you be able to move on like Chris did? Would you be able to live like Chris did?”
Vera Tapp, Tapp’s mother, sat directly in front of her son’s casket during the funeral. Carol Dodge, Angie Dodge’s mother, was also in attendance.
Athena Jenkins and Teresa Brown, a family member and friend, spoke about Tapp’s life and read comments left online from people across the country following his unexpected death.
“The world has lost one of the best examples of mankind. It was an honor to know you. Until we meet again, rest in peace and fly high,” Brown said through tears.
You can watch the funeral service in the video player above.